Columns

The Creative Spark!—Boost your Creativity

Will marshmallows and chocolate help you compete in the Olympics?  They can if you’re creative. But how can you get a creative edge?  First, always learn.  Never quit reading.  Constantly take courses.  But most of all, believe in your creative potential (even if you can’t draw a smiley).  This belief alone boosts creativity, according to… Read more »

The Fit Student—Power Stretch

During exams, don’t get stiff and hunched with a back aching for the bed.  Instead, stretch.  Stretching gives you lengthened muscles, better posture, more coordination, more flexibility.  And stretching (like all exercise) fires up your prefrontal cortex—the brain’s thinking center. I had a great range of stretch as a child—but not as an adult.  My… Read more »

Course Exam—EDPY 200

EDPY 200 (Educational Psychology) is an introductory three-credit course primarily for pre-service teachers.  However, it is also designed to be useful to newer teachers and to students in professional programs in counselling and psychology.  There are no prerequisites for this course and EDPY 200 does have a challenge for credit option. Educational Psychology is comprised… Read more »

Dear Barb—Aborted Relationship

Dear Barb: I am in a situation! I have been dating my boyfriend for three years.  We are in different provinces and both attending university.    Ben and I get along great and have never really had a serious argument or break up.  We try to see each other as much as we can and plan… Read more »

The Study Dude—Win with Conflict

Check this out: Murray arrives late.  Janine forgets her backpack.  Bob visits with another table.  And you arrive thirty minutes early with an outline to launch the group project.  Organized?  Or rather, have the seeds been sown for group conflict? I once had to work with a hellish group.   One woman and I clashed; we… Read more »

The Mindful Bard—Dogville and Manderlay

Film: Dogville Writer/Director: Lars Von Trier Film: Manderlay Writer/Director: Lars Von Trier This won’t include a retrospective of Von Trier’s filmography, or a precis of his many scandalous faux pas, or a list of his film scenes that have lead to the most walk-outs.  For now, I’m only going to talk about two of his… Read more »

The Fit Student—Stress Busters

It’s 2018!  Companies now have mental health minutes, some even mental health days.  So, if your boss finds you curled up in the fetal position while gripping a cup of green tea, just say, “I’m exercising my right to a mental health minute.” I took mental health afternoons, every day, stricken with workplace anxiety.  I’d… Read more »

Course Exam—APST 230

APST 230 (Materials, Properties, and Applications) is a three-credit course which introduces characteristics of construction materials and discusses their appropriate application. This course has no prerequisites and it is intended for students enrolled in the BSc (Architecture) program at the RAIC (Royal Architectural Institute of Canada) Centre for Architecture at Athabasca University, though students that… Read more »

Dear Barb—The Ex Factor

Dear Barb: My boyfriend and I have been dating for about a year.  Prior to dating Jay I was involved in a serious relationship for five years and we had planned to eventually marry.  My ex was everything I wanted; I loved him tremendously.  But he cheated on me and I was devastated.  Even though… Read more »