Both the Hunt library and Google are significant resources for information. The world of online connectivity has enabled us to have access to almost instantaneous information at any given point in time. That information even extends to handheld devices like phones and tablets. If I'd like to have access to a variety of delicious recipes or directions to a new destination Google is a great resource. Even if I am looking up basic information on subjects that I am interested in, there are a variety of websites for any given inclination.
The question then becomes, why do we even have resources like the Hunt Library in an age of Google and Wikipedia? The answer is simple. You can't tell if the sources you are getting from Google are trustworthy. If I were to look up a variety of information online the sources I would have access to could range from online encyclopedias to blogs to wiki answer sites. Most of these are not scholarly resources.
The Hunt Library has a variety or ways of searching information online. These include books, articles, videos and a tab for research help. Using the Hunt Library online gives you access to thousands of books and articles instantly. Sometimes as humans we tend to mimic water flow. We like to follow the easiest route possible. Sometimes we like to think this means using resources like Google or Yahoo. Unfortunately this means that often the information we are privileged to isn't from scholarly sources. When doing research it is imperative that we use information that has been proven, researched and tested.
The Hunt Library allows you to search for information from a number of different sources. When needing to search these sources you can search the databases by subject also. When you search the term "leadership concept" on the Hunt Library it gives you 299,757 possibilities. You can narrow this down more by refining your search. This can be done in any number of ways from subject term to content type to publication date to language. After three simple clicks I can narrow the possibilities all the way to 12,760. Once I narrow the publication date and articles that have been peer reviewed it brings the possibilities down to just over 1,000. This may sound like a lot but when compared to the almost 300,000 listed before it has been reduced significantly. In reality this is a simple and effective way to find scholarly information that can be used for research and paper writing.
When comparing the usefulness of the Hunt Library to that of a source like Google it seems like there is no contest. When searching for useful, scholarly information the Hunt Library is by far the best and most effective source.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
A500.2.3.RB_MilliganSteven
A500.2.3.RB_MilliganSteven
Tell Your Story
LIfe is full of complicated gray areas that require a lot of critical thinking and standards that will help you to guide yourself through life. Without these standards life's difficult questions can be impossible to answer. It can be difficult to choose the right path to go down and can lead to unfortunate outcomes. The standards that are a big part of my life have originated from three significant areas. The first two are my family and my faith. I was raised in a family that instilled morals and standards that I have carried with me since I was a small child. The faith I was raised in reinforced these standards and instilled a sense of morality that I will carry with me always. It wasn't till later on in life and I was able to get out of my parents home and see the rest of the world that I realized what a significant impact these standards had been. These are honesty, love, work and integrity. With these standards I feel like I can approach any situation and make the most right decision. I understand that many problems in life can be approached from many different avenues and that for different people there will be a different answer. Just like with raising children there is no one right way to do it. For some, a child needs to be rocked to sleep at night; for others 8:00 and straight to the crib they go; for another that child may sleep in the same bed as the parent for a long time. One thing I learned however is that all parents are different and all children are different. What works for one will work completely different for another. While I am still new to the parenting gig I still tend to ask others for advice. Most of the time it is to see if what I am doing as a parent is radically different from what others do or if it is on par and other parents agree with my decisions. While I may not completely change my parenting style if I found that others did things completely different it may help me to see things in a different light and be able to learn more about ways that could help me to raise my child.
The same can be said for morals and standards. A standard that is right for me may not be right for someone else. While I may share standards with someone we may not carry them out in the same ways. After moving out on my own and making some mistakes I quickly realized how important the standards. The first standard being honesty. Now I understand that in some situations that plain and blunt honesty can be more hurtful than helpful. I have geared the honesty standard to myself. Can I look in the mirror and not be ashamed of the things I have done that day. Have I taken advantage of someone or lied to someone or hurt someone's feelings. Can I sleep well at night and be happy with who I am. Love is the second standard. I feel that many standards can fall within this one. With love you will treat those around you with respect, you will say kind things and do your best to help others. You will do whatever it takes to better the lives of those around you and help all those you can. With love you can help others in their time of need and care for those that cannot care for themselves.
The third standard is work. Notice I didn't say hard work I only said work. Some situations call for hard work and others call for smart work. Sometimes that means staying late, leaving early, coming in early and staying up late at night working on school assignments. Work is what you do in life to better your standing in society and find meaning outside of the home. Part of the reason I wasn't to commission as an officer in the Air Force was because I wanted to be put in a situation when the people that worked under them needed something to happen I could be there to make sure it happened. Not because I wanted to be recognized or receive rewards, although they are nice to have, but because I know what I care enough to make sure my people get what they need and I don't have to worry about whether or not some else cares. When you love those around you and see them for who they really are you can truly make a difference in lives. This doesn't always mean doing what they want, sometimes it means doing what they need. Just like my seven month old. He doesn't always enjoy going to his crib during the day for nap. It usually involves a lot of crying and rolling around but after a few minutes he falls asleep and wakes up later a much happier baby. I let him cry because I love him not because I like listening to him cry. It breaks my heart every time but I know that a nap is best for him and so I do it anyways.
The final standard is integrity. Integrity at home, work, church and school. Integrity in knowing that what I do day in and day out is right for me, my family and those around me. It will lead to a truly happy life. You can't exercise leadership if what you ask others to do if you are not willing to do it. You can't have integrity if you expect others to stay late when something absolutely has to get done but you yourself decided to leave early or on time. You can't have integrity if you slack off at home and let the wife do all the cooking and cleaning and taking care of the baby. It is a partnership and I have to help out as much as I can. Even if that means staying up late to work on school and work. With integrity and can look others in the eyes and ask them to go the extra mile because they know I will be out in front doing just the same. As a leader you have to work harder, longer and smarter in order to be a good leader. This doesn't mean staying all hours and letting family life fall apart. It means you make sure everything gets done at work that needs to and when you come home you spend all the time you can with your family building those relationships of love and trust that will last throughout eternity.
Through the many gray areas in life I have been able to make what I feel are the right decisions and move on. The times that I have were when I wasn't following my standards and later when I came back and changed I realized exactly how lost I was and how far I could have gotten on a destructive path. It is these standards and have kept me alive and are leading me to the happy, fulfilling path that I am on.
Tell Your Story
LIfe is full of complicated gray areas that require a lot of critical thinking and standards that will help you to guide yourself through life. Without these standards life's difficult questions can be impossible to answer. It can be difficult to choose the right path to go down and can lead to unfortunate outcomes. The standards that are a big part of my life have originated from three significant areas. The first two are my family and my faith. I was raised in a family that instilled morals and standards that I have carried with me since I was a small child. The faith I was raised in reinforced these standards and instilled a sense of morality that I will carry with me always. It wasn't till later on in life and I was able to get out of my parents home and see the rest of the world that I realized what a significant impact these standards had been. These are honesty, love, work and integrity. With these standards I feel like I can approach any situation and make the most right decision. I understand that many problems in life can be approached from many different avenues and that for different people there will be a different answer. Just like with raising children there is no one right way to do it. For some, a child needs to be rocked to sleep at night; for others 8:00 and straight to the crib they go; for another that child may sleep in the same bed as the parent for a long time. One thing I learned however is that all parents are different and all children are different. What works for one will work completely different for another. While I am still new to the parenting gig I still tend to ask others for advice. Most of the time it is to see if what I am doing as a parent is radically different from what others do or if it is on par and other parents agree with my decisions. While I may not completely change my parenting style if I found that others did things completely different it may help me to see things in a different light and be able to learn more about ways that could help me to raise my child.
The same can be said for morals and standards. A standard that is right for me may not be right for someone else. While I may share standards with someone we may not carry them out in the same ways. After moving out on my own and making some mistakes I quickly realized how important the standards. The first standard being honesty. Now I understand that in some situations that plain and blunt honesty can be more hurtful than helpful. I have geared the honesty standard to myself. Can I look in the mirror and not be ashamed of the things I have done that day. Have I taken advantage of someone or lied to someone or hurt someone's feelings. Can I sleep well at night and be happy with who I am. Love is the second standard. I feel that many standards can fall within this one. With love you will treat those around you with respect, you will say kind things and do your best to help others. You will do whatever it takes to better the lives of those around you and help all those you can. With love you can help others in their time of need and care for those that cannot care for themselves.
The third standard is work. Notice I didn't say hard work I only said work. Some situations call for hard work and others call for smart work. Sometimes that means staying late, leaving early, coming in early and staying up late at night working on school assignments. Work is what you do in life to better your standing in society and find meaning outside of the home. Part of the reason I wasn't to commission as an officer in the Air Force was because I wanted to be put in a situation when the people that worked under them needed something to happen I could be there to make sure it happened. Not because I wanted to be recognized or receive rewards, although they are nice to have, but because I know what I care enough to make sure my people get what they need and I don't have to worry about whether or not some else cares. When you love those around you and see them for who they really are you can truly make a difference in lives. This doesn't always mean doing what they want, sometimes it means doing what they need. Just like my seven month old. He doesn't always enjoy going to his crib during the day for nap. It usually involves a lot of crying and rolling around but after a few minutes he falls asleep and wakes up later a much happier baby. I let him cry because I love him not because I like listening to him cry. It breaks my heart every time but I know that a nap is best for him and so I do it anyways.
The final standard is integrity. Integrity at home, work, church and school. Integrity in knowing that what I do day in and day out is right for me, my family and those around me. It will lead to a truly happy life. You can't exercise leadership if what you ask others to do if you are not willing to do it. You can't have integrity if you expect others to stay late when something absolutely has to get done but you yourself decided to leave early or on time. You can't have integrity if you slack off at home and let the wife do all the cooking and cleaning and taking care of the baby. It is a partnership and I have to help out as much as I can. Even if that means staying up late to work on school and work. With integrity and can look others in the eyes and ask them to go the extra mile because they know I will be out in front doing just the same. As a leader you have to work harder, longer and smarter in order to be a good leader. This doesn't mean staying all hours and letting family life fall apart. It means you make sure everything gets done at work that needs to and when you come home you spend all the time you can with your family building those relationships of love and trust that will last throughout eternity.
Through the many gray areas in life I have been able to make what I feel are the right decisions and move on. The times that I have were when I wasn't following my standards and later when I came back and changed I realized exactly how lost I was and how far I could have gotten on a destructive path. It is these standards and have kept me alive and are leading me to the happy, fulfilling path that I am on.
Friday, August 16, 2013
A500.1.5.RB_MilliganSteven
Intellectual Perseverance
If I could describe intellectual perseverance I would suggest that it is that ding that goes off in your head when you finally get something. When you've been staring at a brain teaser for hours and you finally see the solution, or when after you having listened to a lecture on existentialism over and over again you finally begin to feel like you know what they're talking about. If you dissect the definition of intellectual perseverance, as defined on the website criticalthinking.org, you will see that is has three distinct sections. The first having to do with the tools you use in your persevering, the second is sticking to it through opposition, and the third, despite confusion and unanswered questions, continuing anyways just to understand more.
We can go into this deeper. Criticalthinking.org defines intellectual perseverance as "having a consciousness of the need to use intellectual insights and truths in spite of difficulties, obstacles, and frustrations; firm adherence to rational principles despite the irrational opposition of others; a sense of the need to struggle with confusion and unsettled questions over an extended period of time to achieve deeper understanding or insight." (Valuable Intellectual Traits, 1996) The first part of this definition suggests that we need to understand the utmost importance of using intellectual insight and truth no matter what stands in our way. This in many ways is the start of our journey. Like so many things in life it all begins with admitting or recognizing the need. If I need to lose 100 lbs I have recognized the truth of the situation and the need to do so. I would then look at the many obstacles in my way. Whether these are poor health, depression, unhealthy diet or not losing weight fast enough. In the beginning I would search out these possible obstacles and attempt to recognize them before they surface. This way I can best prepare myself for what lies ahead. Many deep thinkers, philosophers and freedom fighters, I imagine, were able to at least have a small understanding of the trials that would lie ahead if they continued on their course.
The second part of the definition describes the need to stick to your principles no matter the opposition. Once you have started the journey to losing weight other may say you don't need to lose the weight or you can eat what you like as long as you exercise. These may be things that are nice to hear, but deep down you know are wrong. It is in these times of hardship that one must hold strong and stay the course. If in the beginning you have decided to use your intellectual insight and were able to identify the obstacles ahead then adhering to rational principles is that much more feasible when the opposition rears it's ugly head.
The third part of this definition is where I feel the persevering truly comes in to play. When all the questions are not answered; when all the weight is not lost and you are exhausted both physically and mentally. When you'd rather give up, lie down and let the other side win. It's in that moment when you have that double Big Mac in hand and just about to put it in your mouth and be done with this quest to lose weight that you throw it to the floor and walk out not caring that you just wasted six dollars and you are still hungry. You are not going to give up and no one can change your mind. Some of the great minds in history overcame great obstacles in their quest for a better understanding of the questions they were asking. From Albert Einstein to the Wright brothers to Ray Charles these were all great minds that persevered through difficult situations, impossible dreams or physical handicaps to do what others could not. It is this patience and ability to see far beyond the walls that surround us and to realize what is truly possible. What our lives could be and what answers are out there just waiting for the right question to be asked and the right person to ask it.
If I could describe intellectual perseverance I would suggest that it is that ding that goes off in your head when you finally get something. When you've been staring at a brain teaser for hours and you finally see the solution, or when after you having listened to a lecture on existentialism over and over again you finally begin to feel like you know what they're talking about. If you dissect the definition of intellectual perseverance, as defined on the website criticalthinking.org, you will see that is has three distinct sections. The first having to do with the tools you use in your persevering, the second is sticking to it through opposition, and the third, despite confusion and unanswered questions, continuing anyways just to understand more.
We can go into this deeper. Criticalthinking.org defines intellectual perseverance as "having a consciousness of the need to use intellectual insights and truths in spite of difficulties, obstacles, and frustrations; firm adherence to rational principles despite the irrational opposition of others; a sense of the need to struggle with confusion and unsettled questions over an extended period of time to achieve deeper understanding or insight." (Valuable Intellectual Traits, 1996) The first part of this definition suggests that we need to understand the utmost importance of using intellectual insight and truth no matter what stands in our way. This in many ways is the start of our journey. Like so many things in life it all begins with admitting or recognizing the need. If I need to lose 100 lbs I have recognized the truth of the situation and the need to do so. I would then look at the many obstacles in my way. Whether these are poor health, depression, unhealthy diet or not losing weight fast enough. In the beginning I would search out these possible obstacles and attempt to recognize them before they surface. This way I can best prepare myself for what lies ahead. Many deep thinkers, philosophers and freedom fighters, I imagine, were able to at least have a small understanding of the trials that would lie ahead if they continued on their course.
The second part of the definition describes the need to stick to your principles no matter the opposition. Once you have started the journey to losing weight other may say you don't need to lose the weight or you can eat what you like as long as you exercise. These may be things that are nice to hear, but deep down you know are wrong. It is in these times of hardship that one must hold strong and stay the course. If in the beginning you have decided to use your intellectual insight and were able to identify the obstacles ahead then adhering to rational principles is that much more feasible when the opposition rears it's ugly head.
The third part of this definition is where I feel the persevering truly comes in to play. When all the questions are not answered; when all the weight is not lost and you are exhausted both physically and mentally. When you'd rather give up, lie down and let the other side win. It's in that moment when you have that double Big Mac in hand and just about to put it in your mouth and be done with this quest to lose weight that you throw it to the floor and walk out not caring that you just wasted six dollars and you are still hungry. You are not going to give up and no one can change your mind. Some of the great minds in history overcame great obstacles in their quest for a better understanding of the questions they were asking. From Albert Einstein to the Wright brothers to Ray Charles these were all great minds that persevered through difficult situations, impossible dreams or physical handicaps to do what others could not. It is this patience and ability to see far beyond the walls that surround us and to realize what is truly possible. What our lives could be and what answers are out there just waiting for the right question to be asked and the right person to ask it.
Valuable Intellectual Virtues (June 1996). Foundation For Critical Thinking, retrieved August 16, 2013 from, http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/valuable-intellectual-traits/528
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