Triboro News

There are several ways of accessing eBooks through the RMCAD library. 

First, among the academic databases in your portal, the following databases contain eBooks:

The Art & Architecture Source

EBSCO eBook Collection AND EBSCOhost

JSTOR

Bloomsbury Applied Visual Arts

All of the previous collections are subscriptions so the contents occasionally change. You can find the eBooks we own in the RMCAD Library Catalog: 

https://rmcad.mlasolutions.com/

When you do a search, look for the limiters on the left: 

If there are eBooks on your subject, click on the title and scroll to the bottom. You will see the link to the book right there:

Audio version

Are you juggling work with school? You’re not alone: according to the US Department of Education, 43% of full-time college students, and 81% of part-time students, work in addition to taking classes (Perna & Odle, 2020). Whether you’re working part-time or 40+ hours a week, fitting schoolwork into your tight schedule can be a recipe for sleepless nights, late assignments, and stress. 

As a student in RMCAD’s Educational Media Design + Technology program, I’m no stranger to this balancing act. Sometimes there simply aren’t enough hours in the day for work and homework--much less to maintain relationships and keep the house clean! Here are some strategies I use to keep my head above water and make the most of the time I do have:

1. Read the assignment prompts at the beginning of every week. Have you ever opened your assignment on the weekend only to realize it’s a lot more involved than you’d expected, or that in order to complete it, you need tutoring, tech help, or clarification from your instructor? I’ve definitely been there! Reading each assignment prompt in detail on Monday morning--and sometimes taking notes--has made a huge difference in my ability to stay on top of things. I can plan for the week ahead, make arrangements as necessary, and start my thinking process early. It also spares me from those “oh crap!” moments that can totally derail a schoolwork session.
    
2. Break assignments into smaller steps. Also known as chunking, the act of breaking work into smaller, more achievable tasks can be a gamechanger for busy people. Think about it this way: you probably don’t have time to read an entire scholarly article in one sitting, but if you have 15-minute blocks of time here and there, you could knock your reading out throughout the week, one paragraph or section at a time. When you chunk your assignments, no step is too small. Just make sure you break up the work at the beginning of the week--that way, when you find yourself with a little time on your hands, you’ll be prepared to utilize it!
    
3. Combine homework with other daily tasks whenever possible. Screen reading programs like NaturalReader make it possible to consume written course content, like LMS presentations and readings, while doing other things. I personally enjoy listening to readings while I’m cooking dinner or doing chores around the house. Many programs, including NaturalReader, can even convert readings into MP3s, which you can listen to during your commute. (To activate a free NaturalReader account, please email the SLC at learning@rmcad.edu.) 
   
   Even thinking about your assignments while completing mindless tasks can save you time in the long run. You could, for example, brainstorm ideas for a project or paper while walking the dog! Bonus points if you record your most exciting ideas in a note taking app or with the dictation tool on your phone (iOS; Android).
    
4. Be realistic about what you can and can’t do. When I have a lot on my plate, I list out all of my responsibilities for the week and identify the high, medium, and low-priority items. I then try to build my schedule around high-priority tasks, like going to work or submitting a paper, and only address lower priority-items if/when I have extra time. Sometimes, this means canceling plans with friends, skipping the occasional gym session, or rescheduling phone calls with my grandma (sorry, Gran!). Saying no to things and people you care about can feel scummy, but it’s a necessary act of self-preservation and respect. Pressuring yourself to do everything all the time is not only demoralizing, but a one-way ticket to burnout.

If you want more tips for balancing life’s responsibilities, or to vent to someone who gets it, feel free to schedule a meeting with me! You can email me at cstachowiak@rmcad.edu or self-schedule an appointment with me at rmcad.mywconline.com.
 

References
 Perna, L.W. & Odle, T.K. (2020). Recognizing the reality of working college students: Minimizing the harm and maximizing the benefits of work. American Association of University Professors. https://www.aaup.org/article/recognizing-reality-working-college-students

By Bryan Perry

When creativity strikes it can be like a lightning bolt through the brain and then into the medium at your fingertips. How do we harness this power? How can we be consistently stricken with that raw power? The answer lies within you. Consider this your letter from Hogwarts, your power showing itself, your terrigenesis, your quickening, your yellow sun and you’re a Kryptonian.

Well, let me take a step back here and be realistic. I’m not trying to sell you lightning in a bottle with some pipedream. I guess it’s more realistically described at your Batman belt. I am going to help you help yourself find the tools you need to combat any problem. The usual culprit for lack of motivation, creativity, and good mental health, is your brain.

Don’t forget that it is an organ just like all the others you have. If a doctor told you to cut a certain food from your diet because of your kidneys you would be inclined to listen to science and reason. You may even consider taking a multivitamin for various benefits. But what about your brain? What foods do you need to operate correctly? How's your sleep hygiene? Yep, I just baited you into a read about treating yourself better. Because you should treat yourself better! You deserve an environment where you can even pursue better mental health habits.

The internet is a powerful tool for you to gather tools to better spark your muse. Find those things that chip away at the behemoth that is your shadow. Just like batman’s belt has a tool for every occasion, you must diligently practice like an athlete to better your mind for success. This could take the form of many things, search within yourself for those events or tasks in your day-to-day that spike some dopamine. Maybe it’s sharing a smile with your significant other, or petting your dog. Take a moment now and consider those events. They can prime you to finding your muse.

“If a person gave away your body to some passerby, you’d be furious. Yet you hand over your mind to anyone who comes along, so they may abuse you, leaving it disturbed and troubled - have you no shame!”

Epictetus, Enchiridion, 28

This quote shakes me to my core every time I read it. Not only is it necessary to train and treat your mind as your body, but it is equally important to assess who you let have purchase of your mind. Life is actually like a thrilling fiction novel, they are actually just embellished on with colorful imaginative representations of reality. The vampire comes from real people who suck your mental energy dry. The werewolf from those who hide a beast inside and show it after it’s too late. My intentions are not to poison you against your fellow humans, but to pull you out of Plato’s Cave and into the light.

Start now, please. Start to find your tools to keep yourself within some semblance of sane. It is an ongoing battle between good and evil in ourselves, especially for artists who truly feel empathy and impart it into our work. So I beseech you, reader; 

“Get busy with life’s purpose, toss aside empty hopes, get active in your own rescue - if you care for yourself at all - and do it while you can.”

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 3.14                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Our mentor Sophia wrote about time management tricks quite some time ago and I think it is time to revisit these!

Use a planner 
Using a planner, whether it be a digital (we like Google Calendar) or paper one, can help you keep track of your assignments. At the beginning of the term, block out your classes on it, as well as any other commitments. Thoroughly look over your class syllabi and schedules and write down when assignments are due in your planner. Then, schedule in blocks of study time! 

Be careful not to overschedule, however. Leave some blank space for when unexpected things come up (emergencies, spontaneous activities, breaks, errands, etc.).   

Chunk assignments 
“Chunking” assignments involves breaking them down into manageable steps. Doing so not only provides you with a game plan for how you’re going to complete the assignment, it also prevents you from leaving it to the last minute. 

1. Chronologically list the tasks you need to do in order to finish the assignment. For example, a research paper might include: understanding the assignment, picking your topic, researching, writing a first draft, scheduling an appointment with the SLC or your instructor, and revising. 
2. Assign deadline dates for each task, starting with the final deadline and working backwards. Keep in mind that certain tasks take longer than you think, so give yourself plenty of time for each one. 

After chunking the assignment, plug the tasks into your planner. Now you’ll know exactly what you need to work on and when! 

Create a to-do-list(s) 
For those who don’t like the idea of using a planner, having short-term and long-term to-do-lists can be a great alternative. Or even better, use to-do-lists in conjunction with a planner. At the beginning of the term, write down your big assignments (midterms, research papers, etc.) and their due dates in a long-term to-do list. At the beginning of each week, write down your smaller assignments, chunking tasks, etc. and their due dates in order of priority. When you’ve completed an assignment or task, you can cross it off or delete it from your list!

Use whatever format works for you, such as a physical notebook, a Google Doc, or the Notes/Reminders apps on your phone. 

Use the Pomodoro Technique

Named after a tomato shaped kitchen timer! Set a timer for 25 minute intervals, and then take a 5 minute break. Use this method when you chunk your assignments. 

Make an appointment with the SLC 
Did you know that the SLC can help you plan out your term? We can work with you on filling your planner, chunking assignments, creating to-do-lists, and more. It can be useful to have someone else guide you through these organization and time management processes and help keep you accountable! 

You can schedule an online or in-person appointment with the SLC at rmcad.mywconline.com or email us at learning@rmcad.edu.