The educational blogosphere is an interesting and ever-expanding place to find information about teaching, educational technology, and all the other stuff that we do at the College.  Here are a few blogs / educational websites that I’ve found to be useful and informative because they funnel information from a variety of sources.

Inside Higher Ed  is a US focused educational website that serves as a news hub and blogging headquarters.  The inside higher ed blogs (under the BlogU tab) cover many different facets of education –  including teaching, administration, sustainability, and educational technology – to name a few. 

Engaging Educators is dedicated to teaching and educational technology. It is updated regularly with interesting opinion pieces, spotlights on educational technology, and links to other interesting blogs and websites. It also provides a good window to quality educational content that is referenced via Twitter.

University Affairs is primarily a university-focused blog. It is also the one Canadian blog / website on this list featuring some interesting thoughts and articles related to education in our country. 

What  other educational blogs and/or websites would you add to this list?

Submitted by Mike Krywy, Research and Planning

Whether we’re 25 or 75, everyone needs wellness.

While our fitness goals and needs might change as we get older, staying healthy is the number one tool you can use to help in the prevention of health problems down the line.

In order to help provide wellness resources to all Manitobans at every age level, the Province has created a great portal in their Manitoba Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors website.  It links to all their different healthy living initiatives, from information about infant nutrition to promoting age-friendly options for seniors, and even the latest in provincial wellness news.

One initiative that really stands out is Manitoba in Motion, whose tagline reads “Physical Activity – do it for life!”.  You may recognize this initiative from the mini-videos they play on TV, featuring CTV’s Maralee Caruso and Gord Leclerc, but the model of the strategy really focuses on providing different health options for Manitobans of any age – children, youth, adults, older adults, and families. They’ve also developed three really great programs to help encourage group participation in getting healthy:

• Workplace in Motion
• Healthy Schools in Motion, and
• Communities in Motion

 Submitted by Hayley Brigg, Creative Communications student

Due to popular demand, two additional blogging workshops – both Blogging 101 and 201 – have been added.  The two blogging training sessions cover the basics of blogging and how to use the WordPress blogging platform. The first session is an introduction to what blogs are (chalk and talk), while for Blogging 201 you will be in front of the computer creating your own blog post (hands-on).

Blogging regularly can be a great way to improve your writing and share your thoughts and opinions on various subjects. And if you’re interested in blogging but don’t know where to start, writing an occasional post for the Wellness blog could be a good opportunity for you. 

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Blogging 101 covers topics like:

• Why you should blog
• Types of blog posts
• Getting the most out of your blog

When: January 31, 12pm-1pm
Where: Notre Dame Campus – E305

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Blogging 201 gets into the technical details including:

• Using the WordPress blogging platform
• How to add links, photos and videos to your post
• Moderating comments

When: February 15, 12pm-1pm
Where: Notre Dame Campus – Room A115

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Register for the sessions soon as space is limited.

Calling all photographers – do you have some great photos to share?

The Wellness Committee is beginning a blog series of interesting photos taken by staff and students.  First up is Karen Press, an instructor from the Creative Communications program.  She’s an avid nature photographer with a great eye for hidden beauty.  If you’d like to submit your own photo and a brief caption about your art – send it along to mkrywy@rrc.mb.ca. 

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The wind and snow make me wistful. I miss my garden. As a hobbyist photographer, I don’t have much equipment and I just “go to the light,” which makes the garden a perfect subject.

Carrots... hanging on the laundry line

Chive flowers

You can see more on my Flickr stream.

Submitted by Karen Press, Creative Communications instructor

The deadline for registration for any Red River College winter fitness classes is coming up soon. Like we mentioned in an earlier Wellness blog post, it’s important to find ways to work out and stay active throughout the work day, so why not sign up for a fitness class right here at RRC?

There are several  different classes to choose from, including; Zumba, Iyvengar Yoga, Cardio Complete, Circuit, Rapid Revolution Spin Plus, Total Body Workout, Beginner Boxing, and Body Blend.

Each of the classes are being offered at various locations around the Notre Dame campus, and are extremely affordable – ranging from $30 – $100 for 10-12 sessions, depending on which class you choose.

Not sure which class is for you? Check out descriptions, locations, and times for each of the classes by visiting the RRC Athletic and Recreation department website, where you can also download their winter brochure and registration form so you can get started.  The registration deadline for winter fitness classes is this Friday, Jan. 20.

If you still want to work out at RRC but aren’t interested in taking classes, there are other fitness programs available too. Recreation services also offers Body Composition Analysis, Fitness Appraisal, and either one-on-one or group training sessions. For more information on those services, click here.

If you’re a student or staff member taking fitness classes, or using the workout spaces here at RRC, why not sign up for a Personal Wellness Plan to track your progress, and provide the RRC Wellness Committee with feedback and ideas of what other wellness initiatives that you would like to see offered at RRC.

Submitted by Hayley Brigg, Creative Communications student

The Wellness Committee will be hosting “Parenting for Prevention” – a series of lunch-hour workshops from Jan. 20 – Feb. 14 dedicated to discussing tough parenting topics like youth and teen gambling, and cyberbullying.

Youth Gambling Awareness for Parents
Presented by the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, this seminar will focus on the three gambling prevention programs the organization offers for youth – www.luckyday.ca (for middle-schoolers), www.youthgamblingfacts.ca (high school students), and www.getgamblingfacts.ca (young adults aged 18-25). Each program is aimed at helping teens understand the facts and risks associated with gambling, and what resources youth and parents can seek out if there’s a problem.

Teens and Depression/Mood Disorders
This “Depression and How it Affects Us All” workshop will discuss depression in young people, where to get help, as well as the signs and symptoms parents can look for.

Youth/Teens and Bullying/Cyberbullying
Bullying can have a negative impact on teens, and in extremely serious cases – it can be fatal. The effects of bullying have led many young people to commit suicide, and it’s important that parents know how to recognize if their child is a victim or a bully themselves. This seminar will go over why teens bully others, what to do if your teen is involved, and where to seek help if your child is being harassed by others. And because bullying isn’t just limited to the playground anymore, the workshop will also look at what cyberbullying is and what you can do to protect your teen online.

Raising Kids of Good Character
Bullying, violence, racism, anti-semitism, drugs, and crime have all become serious problems for youth. Parents play a critical role in the development of their child’s character, and it’s important they make a commitment to raising caring, confident, and respectful teens to help prevent some of these serious problems. This session will discuss the key elements of raising children with good character.

Any staff members who are interested in participating in the workshops can register online here, where you can also get more information about what time each workshop starts, and location. Do you have questions or want more information about the seminars? Contact Lucille McLeod in Human Resources Services at (204) 632-2944.

 Submitted by Hayley Brigg, Creative Communications student

There’s lots of great things to do in Winnipeg – especially in the winter. While most of us know where to find favourite outdoor skating rink, taboggoning hill, or what general fun can be found at The Forks, there are endless other events and activities going on in the city that you only need to look as far as the City of Winnipeg’s Winter Leisure Guide to discover.

The guide includes information on countless different events, activities, classes, and programs that are all being offered throughout the winter months at different recreation centres and organizations in Winnipeg. Part of the guide is organized by age group (pre-school, children, youth, adults, and seniors), so it’s easy to see what’s available for either yourself, or your children. The guide also includes a directory of all Winnipeg community and recreation centres, as well as information on how to register for any of the programs that are being advertised.

After browsing through the guide, here are a list of great affordable (or free!)  events coming up that might be worth checking out:

• Cooking classes: Throughout January, February, and March,  learn how to create a new dish that you can serve up at home with classes at the St. John’s Leisure Centre, Arthur A Leach School, and the Fort Rouge Leisure Centre. For often less than $40, you can get hands-on training with an instructor on how to make dishes from around the world – like Asian curry dishes, French soups, and Nigerian cuisine.

• Cross Country Skiing:Kildonan Park, Harbourview Recreation Complex, St. Vital Park, La Barriere Park, and Windsor Park Golf Courseall offer regularly-maintained cross country skiing trails that are free for use to the public. Most include warmup shelters and washrooms, bbq pits and even a concession stands. Don’t have your own cross country skis? Harbourview Recreation Complex and La Barriere Park offer equipment rentals.

• Free swim: Swimming is an excellent way to exercise – especially if you’re overweight, have a physical disability, or are a senior. From January 3 – March 11, over a dozen indoor pools across Winnipeg are offering free swim periods for people at any age  that are often scheduled in the evenings, and on the weekends. Some pools are also offering free swim periods for youth ages 9-19 only. For a full list of Winnipeg pools to see which ones are offering free swim programs in your neighbourhood, click here

Making the time to put together a healthy lunch before you head out the door for work or school can be a challenge. A lot of the time we end up grabbing an unhealthy frozen dinner from the freezer, or we suck it up and buy something to eat on campus or nearby the office. Before you even realize it, these last-minute meals can end up packing on the pounds.

Weight loss has been identified as the number one goal of Red River College staff members who have signed up for a Personal Wellness Plan as part of the “One” initiative, and a big part of trimming pounds includes a healthy diet. If we put in the effort to make our own lunches, it’s easier to control what types of foods we’re eating rather than being motivated by hunger into choosing less-healthier options just to satisfy our hunger.

The simplest lunches are meals that can be made the night before and packed up in a container, which is easy to grab and go in the morning – like this easy salad from Best Health Magazine:

Tangy Noodle Salad

1/2 1-lb (454-g) package broad rice noodles
2 baby carrots, finely sliced
Small handful broccoli florets, blanched until tender (about 2 minutes)
1-in. (2.5-cm) length English cucumber, finely sliced
1/2 yellow pepper, finely sliced
5 cherry tomatoes, quartered
Large handful fresh coriander, minced
Small handful crushed peanuts

Dressing: Combine 1 Tbsp (15 mL) mango chutney, 2 Tbsp (30 mL) soy sauce, 2 tsp (10 mL) sesame oil and 1 Tbsp (15 mL) orange juice.

Directions: boil the noodles until cooked and then drain, and let cool. Add noodles to chopped vegetables and toss with half the dressing. Pack the remaining dressing (and peanuts) with your lunch to add when you sit down to eat. 

This salad is great because it can be switched up based on what types of foods you have already at home. Don’t have rice noodles? You can substitute vermicelli noodles, or whole wheat angel hair pasta instead. If you want to increase protein, add sliced cooked chicken or tofu.

Want more great healthy lunch ideas? Check out more recipes from Best Health Magazine and Eating Well. If you have any great mid-day meals that have worked for you in the past, let us know on the blog by sharing your recipes with us!

Submitted by Hayley Brigg, Creative Communications student

The first Blogging 101 session is nearly full, so we’ve added another session the following week.  Blogging 101 covers topics like:

• Why you should blog
• Types of blog posts
• Getting the most out of your blog

New Session – January 31, 12pm-1pm

Where: Notre Dame Campus – A137

You can register at the Learning and Development site on the portal.

The hands-on Blogging 201 session is held the following day over the lunch hour – space is limited.

Smoking can be a hard habit break, especially for those who’ve been at it for a while. While cigarettes may at times seem like your best friend – they also can also cause serious health problems.

Unfortunately, warnings against health risks aren’t always enough to deter someone from buying another pack of cigarettes. Sometimes people need a bit of an incentive, and there’s a few different organizations that are trying some cool tricks to try and get people to give it up for good.

The Manitoba Lung Association has started up a new contest with a breakup theme called “Breaking Up is Hard to Do”, where users who are serious about quitting can pen a breakup letter on the organizations Facebook page for a chance to win a $50 gift card to the retail outlet of their choice. In Ontario, the provincial government has teamed up with The Canadian Cancer Society to give away a car and cash prizes to smokers who register and stay smoke-free until March as part of their Driven to Quit contest.

In honour of national Non-Smoking Week (Jan. 15-21), here is a list of five reasons why you should consider kicking the habit to the curb.

1. Live Longer
Smoking cuts years off your life, and according to a 50-year British study, you’ll increase your lifespan more the earlier you quit. Becoming a non-smoker at age 30 can add upwards of 10 years to your life, while you may only ad 3-5 years if you quit in your 50’s or 60’s.

2. Save Cash
The cost of cigarettes is consistently going up, with an average pack setting you back upwards of $10 – with some users purchasing multiple packs per week. Even if you only smoke one pack of cigarettes per week, you’re still throwing away more than $500 per year that could have been better spent on something else. With the money that the average person spends per year on smoking, you could take a trip, or even afford a new car. Want to know how much you’re spending on cigarettes? Try out this handy online calculator from Health.com.

3. Look Better
While some people might think that smoking looks cool in the movies, in actuality it does nothing but bad things for your physical appearance. Yellow teeth and fingernails from nicotine stains are only the beginning,  because smoking has also been linked to causing an increase in bad skin and wrinkles.

4. Be More Active
Many of us can walk up one flight of stairs without getting winded, but that might be hard to do if you’re a smoker. Smoking damages our lungs, which can hinder our physical performance. Smoking may limit your ability to play sports, exercise – leaving the door open for problems like weight gain, and obesity.

5. Stay Healthy
It’s no secret that long-term smoking can lead to several different life-threatening conditions and illnesses like cancer, heart disease and stroke. But smoking can negatively affect other areas of your health, too. Men and women who smoke can experience sexual health and fertility problems, and cigarettes can also weaken your immune system, lead to gum disease, and can also be deadly if you have other health problems like diabetes. For a full list of all the health risks associated with smoking, visit Health Canada, or the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

Thinking about quitting smoking? The Canadian Lung Association, Help Guide, and Quit4life are all great resources with information about how you can kick the habit, or where to seek help. Have you successfully quit smoking before? If so, do you have any tips for others who are trying to kick the habit?

Submitted by Hayley Brigg, Creative Communications student