Facebook users risk lower grades, study claims

A study has linked Facebook users with worse exam results than their non-social networking friends. 

Researchers at Ohio State University found students who enjoy communicating via cyberspace spend less time studying and risk getting a whole grade lower than their peers as a result despite more than three quarters of Facebook users claiming their interaction with friends on the site didn’t interfere with their work. The study claims Facebook users averaged one to five hours a week studying, while non-users studied 11 to 15 hours per week. The researchers surveyed 219 students at Ohio State University, including 102 undergraduate students and 117 graduate students. Of the participants, 148 said they had a Facebook account. 

Students who spent more time working at paid jobs were less likely to use Facebook, while students who were more involved in extracurricular activities at school were more likely to use Facebook. Aryn Karpinski, co-author of the study and a doctoral student in education at Ohio State University, said: “We can't say that use of Facebook leads to lower grades and less studying – but we did find a relationship there [...] There's a disconnect between students' claim that Facebook use doesn't impact their studies, and our finding showing they had lower grades and spent less time studying."

Milkround News, 20 April 2009

Nightlife (or endless sleepless nights)

I assume you are expecting to read a story about Birmingham clubs and Aston uni nightlife. Well, I am trying to show you a different view of the nightlife (as a friend of mine says: "What can you do man, as long as you're trying!").

After the open day last week I got a bit melancholic about leaving uni for a year. Most students say that the placement year is always amazing and uni is never missed. Well, we do not realise how amazing uni actually is. To get to the point, one of the things I will always miss is the sleeplessness.

SLEEPLESSNESS: a term describing the phenomenon of main building always having students strolling around the halls

But it is a general truth, there always ARE student awake and happy to study and explore the Internet at any time of the day. It is 22:41 and although it is Sunday, the labs a buzzing with people. You have "first row guy" checking the Aston Webmail, "loud girl" checking her Facebook and dealing with some complicated mathematical chart, "scrumpy" in the back trying to do work mumbling something about all the people making noise, "first row girl" writing an essay, "second row girl" watching a movie on YouTube, etc. No one seems to be tired and I bet that some of the people will have my early tutorial at nine tomorrow morning. As long as there is RedBull and Relentless no one is going to leave the room. Everyone will try to do as much of their planned task as they can. Talking about planned tasks I have a report to proof-read...

24 April 21:04 Afer the exam that as expected woucl have gone much, much better the student is blue and decisive to study harder next time. Yes, every student, always is! 

24 April 08:30  The now tired student s going to his exam. Of course one never knows the outcome but surely had revision been more thorough there may have been a better outcome from the "exercise".

24 April 00:45  After dinner and several drinks at the favourite Yardbird the tireless student is ready to start revision for tomorrow's exam. Of course studying all night is a habit and necessity by now! 

23 April 18:00 Head back to Birmingham

23 April 07:00 Go to New Street Station and catch train to Swindon to meet future placement colleagues and boss.

22 April 16:30 Head to work

22 April 15:00 Visit Dolche-Vita for a quick espresso.

22 April 14:00 Send-off lecture for all those who managed to find a placement.

22 April 11:57 After the first post-holiday day of lectures I need to start prepraring for the first exam (Friday 24 April). As usual the library is full!

21 Apr, 08:49 heading into a Finance lecture.

... catch up!

The sun has risen above Birmingham and the Summer has apparently come; and what does Summer mean? let me quote: "I ain't studyin'!" As much as every student want to start their revision, the temptation shining outside is luring us towards the lake and the centre.

This week we will follow a student's week in Aston and get a feeling of the Summer atmosphere!

Easter

Happy Easter everyone, well it was almost a week ago in here but, still, happy Easter. I am actually celebrating Easter tomorrow, since I am Greek Orthodox.

In the week to come, there will be a lot of events so keep checking :)

Ania's Graduation Story (pt.3.)

11am

After a string quartet played for most of the time we impatiently waited, an organ player cam on the stage and started playing the majestic instrument. At first both me and Irena were staring like little children at the organ player, magnified by the music. After ten minutes we were again bored out of our guts.

And suddenly the ceremony started. First we were asked to turn off our phones and use our cameras on non-flash mode. Then ceremonial music started and the university academia came out. First the lecturers, then the representatives of different schools and last the chancellor, and the vice chancellor sat on their corresponding seats.

Then everyone gave a speech and the ceremony started. Me and Irena were seating in awe mesmerized by the ceremony. (Then I spent some half an hour wondering how you spell awe.)

Every candidate was called, personally, on stage, greeted by the chancellor and applauded by the audience. After a good hour, Ania came on and we started screaming and cheering. She walked as fast as she could, greeted the chancellor and then hastily stepped off the stage. (Later, Ania told me that she was unbelievably nervous; she was not sure what exactly is going on; was surprised the chancellor actually talked to her; and was too nervous to talk back.)

Outside there was a group photo and then a procession towards uni. Once in uni we went to the party of the corresponding schoold, gave in the robe, and rushed home, already tired by the overwhelming day.

Ania's Graduation Story (pt.2.)

10 am

One we got to the Town Hall, Ania needed to collect our invitations and then we had to join the guests and she the graduands. Then the worst part of the day came. We sat in our seats I the Town Hall for about an hour. At one point I dosed off, shortly awakened by the kick of the little child behind me. Irena told me that evidently it is normally not allowed for children under seven to attend graduation ceremonies. I thought it was ridiculous but, as many times before, I was proven wrong. Anyway, there was quite a bit of kicking I got to enjoy. If Ania could only hear our complaining she would have never invited us.

Vlad: “No, seriously, I am going home! [..] I will fall asleep again! […]God, I understand now why you hate kids!”

Irena: “Seriously, I do not understand who let them get kids inside. On one hand it will not understand anything from the ceremony. One the other, it will not remember anything!”

Ania's Graduation Story (pt.1.)

31st March 2009
7 am

The alarm of my clock went on wakening up everyone in the room. The day of Ania’s graduation had come. We all go dressed as fast as possible; I shaved, the girls fixed on make-up and we left.

Fortunately, Ania had a schedule prepared and knew exactly when and what to do; first step was getting the graduation robe. Evidently, every different Aston University school has a different robe. The master programme from the School of Life and Social Sciences had a black and red robe prepared for the grduands.

One interesting fact I found out: once you graduate(i.e. pass exams or desertations) before the official ceremony you are called a GRADUAND; only after the ceremony you can call yourself a GRADUATE.

After taking the robe was time for us to head to the Town Hall. The uni always prepares busses for the graduands and their family’s but it is so much better having stroll down the town centre. Well, as we discovered, there is such a thrill from shoving your success into the other peoples’ faces. I was only one of the guests and walking next to Ania still made me feel amazing and hyper successful.