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Receiving criticism can put anyone on edge. For many people, receiving feedback results in feelings of embarrassment and defensiveness. It’s a common response, but not a productive one.

A recent survey from PsychTests.com‘s Sensitivity to Criticism Test indicates that those who can handle receiving constructive criticism are more successful in school and their careers, and have higher self esteem. Among those who scored low on defensiveness, 66% had good grades, 70% were satisfied with their job, and 59% rated their self esteem as high.

But criticism can be especially difficult for students to accept. “Today’s students seemingly expect instant recognition and feedback, but perhaps handle it with greater sensitivity and thinner skin,” says author and career expert Brooks Harper. Despite that sensitivity, Harper says, it’s important for students to learn to take constructive criticism early on both graciously and gratefully. That way, they can make necessary adjustments, and also become more coachable, a quality that future employers will expect.

Constructive criticism is a gift

Constructive criticism offers a mix of positive and negative feedback, as well as support, encouragement, and strategies for improvement. It’s a full package delivered with intentions for growth, not hurt or embarrassment.

Although feeling defensive is a common response to criticism, a better one would be thankfulness. Yes, that’s right, you should actually thank others for criticizing you. Why? Constructive criticism, with positive feedback and support, is extremely beneficial. You can use it to grow, and even improve relationships with those who share feedback with you.

“[Constructive criticism] gives you an opportunity to understand the areas where you need to make improvements,” says Harper. “I mean, how can you improve if you don’t know? And it gives you an opportunity to make adjustments, and continue to sharpen your skill set and develop yourself.”

Constructive criticism in college and beyond

In college, constructive criticism may mean a boost for your GPA. In a study conducted by USC professor Darnell Cole, constructive criticism was found to help minority students “enhance academic success and educational satisfaction.” Rather than groaning at a less than stellar review of your latest term paper, you should view red inked notes as an opportunity for growth and success. Your professor has given you the gift of useful feedback, and you should respect their effort by taking what they’ve said to heart.

Even criticism that comes from your classmates is useful. You may roll your eyes when an English professor pairs you up with another student for a peer review session, but sharing feedback with your classmates is a good exercise for clarifying your ideas, as well as becoming more sensitive to your strengths and weaknesses. That’s why peer review has been used in serious scholarship for decades. A shared critical review among your classmates makes everyone’s work better.

Professor Marybeth Gasman has observed that often, students who push back against advice from faculty are the same ones who struggle with their job search, neglecting to follow advice from mentors. She urges students to listen closely to constructive criticism in order to reach their goals.

Taking a positive attitude toward criticism in college, whatever the source, can translate into success in your future career. It not only gives you the opportunity to improve upon your assignments and engage in deeper learning, it trains you to accept criticism for growth, which can be helpful in the professional world. A positive attitude toward criticism at work is linked to better job satisfaction, higher performance ratings, and even higher self-esteem. And showing a willingness to accept criticism may mean more job opportunities after graduation, according to Harper. “Companies are interested in employees who are coachable. So how you respond to constructive criticism is an indicator of your coachability.”

“In your career, you want to be seen as coachable,” agrees Sudy Bharadwaj, co-founder and CEO of Jackalope Jobs. “And in a perfect world, that’s what constructive criticism is: someone coaching you.” Accepting coaching, in school, in your career, can give you a different perspective and an opportunity to put good advice to work.

Responding to Criticism

Sure, criticism can be very useful, but that doesn’t mean your initial reaction will be a positive one. It’s normal to feel nervous or defensive at first: someone is telling you what you’ve done wrong. But it’s healthier and more productive to put your defensive feelings aside, accepting constructive criticism with tact and a positive attitude:

• Be polite. Just listen. Don’t roll your eyes, start a debate, or interrupt. Just hear what the other person has to say. And remember, listening doesn’t mean you agree.
• Consider the possibility that you might be wrong. To err is human; we all make mistakes. The person giving you feedback might also be wrong, but it’s worth the trouble to hear what they have to say and take their advice into consideration. You may feel that your professor is out of touch with today’s trends, but remember that they’re likely to have seen trends come and go, taking a longer view.
• Be inquisitive. Bharadwaj cautions not to be defensive, but openly inquisitive instead. Ask for better, and respond with constructive criticism of your own: “Your advice has been very helpful, but I’d have an easier time understanding you if…” or, “How can I do ‘x’ better?” Asking these questions can turn hurtful or less-than-useful feedback into constructive advice.
• Keep in mind that you can’t satisfy everyone. “Some of the best people who have achieved great things with their career are able to read through the noise and focus on the things they can really affect,” says Bharadwaj. You should aim to satisfy the expectations of your professors and anyone who signs your paycheck. Everyone else is negotiable.
• Say thank you. Listening to or acknowledging feedback doesn’t mean you agree wholeheartedly, but it can help you build relationships. It also encourages others to give you more growth-fueling feedback. It’s your professor’s job to give you constructive criticism for deeper learning. Respect their point of view, and try to see it from their perspective.

“The best response is one of appreciation,” says Harper. “Be grateful to someone, be it your employer, professor, advisor, or parent, who cares enough to take the time and energy to offer feedback. So the proper response is, thank the person, then take time to process the feedback, and then make adjustments accordingly.”

Growing with Criticism

It’s not enough to politely listen to criticism without incident. Constructive criticism should be used as an opportunity for growth. You may discover opportunities to better yourself from your harshest critics.

• Practice active listening for full understanding. Listen carefully, and avoid interrupting. Paraphrase, and repeat back what you’ve heard to make sure you’re hearing the message correctly.
• Ask questions to get to the root of the issue. Get specific examples to understand what’s really going on, and ask for actionable information. Request solutions for addressing your issue with open-ended questions like, “How should I approach this type of math problem the next time around?”
• Take ownership of constructive changes and solutions. Once you fully understand the feedback you’ve received, make your own decisions with consideration to what you’ve heard. You shouldn’t follow advice blindly, but rather, use it to spark your own brand of change.
• Ask for more criticism. Remember, criticism, when delivered in a positive way, is a truly valuable gift, and you should seek it out whenever relevant. Follow up on previous issues, and ask your professor or boss about any tasks or problems you don’t feel confident about.

Handling Constructive Criticism Situations

In college, at work, in life, you’ll be faced with many constructive criticism situations. Here’s how to handle the most common ones:

• Grading: College professors will typically offer not just a number or letter grade, but notes on where you may have gone wrong and where you need improvement. Obviously, it’s worthwhile to read this feedback carefully to better understand the material. If you’re still challenged or unsure of what your professor has said, don’t be afraid to ask for further feedback to get to the root of the problem.
• Student-teacher conferences: Whether a formal conference or an informal visit during office hours, conferences with your professor are a great opportunity to solicit constructive criticism. Use this time to discuss any difficulties you may be facing in your course, and listen to constructive criticism your professor may offer. Discuss your goals for the course, and ask your professor to help you map out your progress.
• Formal performance assessments at work: Most companies practice an annual performance review to discuss goals, progress, and an employee’s effectiveness at work. You can prepare for a performance assessment by being prepared with your own ideas. Chances are, you know how you’ve been doing, good or bad. Back it up with evidence, including specific examples of when you did a great job, and where you have room for improvement. During your review, listen carefully to feedback, share your view, and ask for actionable resources for improvement and growth.
• Informal conversations: We expect to receive criticism in formal situations like grading, conferences, and reviews. Informal conversations are the most challenging because they may be a surprise and are usually unsolicited. They may also be from others who do not come from a position of authority, including friends or peers. But their advice can be just as valuable as that offered by professors or managers. Remember to be polite and take their criticism into consideration, but weigh the value of their feedback. You should also ask for clarification and concrete advice for growth if needed.

Constructive criticism is so much more than an uncomfortable conversation. It’s a gift that can give you the fuel you need to really find success in education and beyond. Learning how to accept and growth with constructive criticism can, as Harper says, “take you from where you are to where you want to be.”

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While there are a lot of poorly constructed, suspect, and unreliable resources on the web, there are also a lot of really great ones that can add serious structure and substance to your paper. You may still need to make the occasional trip to your college library, but the expansion of digital repositories of information has made it possible to access countless academic papers, experts, and resources without ever leaving your dorm room or apartment, which can be a serious boon to those who like waiting until the last minute to start on research.

However, the trick isn’t in knowing these kinds of resources are out there but understanding how to find them, how to separate the good from the bad, and how to appropriately cite them within your work. Learning these tips will not only make it easier to find the information you need, it can actually help you to build stronger, better researched papers.

Finding Quality Sources Online

It doesn’t matter if you’ve waited until the last minute or are researching weeks in advance; your biggest challenge in starting your research is going to be finding high quality sources. Luckily, the web is flush with ways to get access to these if you know where to look.

Your first move may be the most obvious. After all, there’s a reason the phrase “Google it” has entered the American vernacular. The search engine is arguably the best way to find just about anything you’re looking for on the web and academic research is no exception. There are a couple of ways that students can ensure they’re getting high quality sources from a Google search and not the ravings of a crackpot who knows how to create a website, however.

The most basic is to use Google’s academic search engine Google Scholar. Google Scholar will limit your search results to only online academic journals, technical reports, theses and scholarly books and websites. Similar search engines exist through other sources as well, including Scirus, CiteSeerX, and getCITED, which can be great alternatives or other resources to check if you’d prefer to get away from Google.

If you want to broaden your search, however, you can also limit search results on Google to only include sites that have .edu, .gov, or .org addresses. While this won’t ensure that every resource is appropriate for use in your paper, it will limit results enough to help you find a much larger number of credible and research-based sources for your paper.

If you’re writing on a more current topic, you may want to use other features of Google to help you find the most recent publications that address it. An easy way to do this is to set up a Google Alert. When you first find out about your paper, set up an alert or alerts for key terms related to the subject of your paper. After a few weeks, you’ll be able to go back and see what has been published related to these topics and pull out a few sources from reputable news sites and other academic publications.

Even social media — perhaps more commonly used to procrastinate on writing a paper –can play a role in finding high-quality information for an academic paper. There are countless experts and academics who maintain online profiles through sites like Twitter and LinkedIn. These social media avenues can be the perfect place to reach out and ask any questions you may have about a topic. You can score original quotes this way and get advice on what journal articles, authors, and books to look to for more information.

You can start this process by looking up experts related to your paper topic and seeing if they have social media accounts. If you find one, send a quick message telling them about your paper and asking any questions if you have them. If this method doesn’t work, you may be able to engage with experts through Twitter chats or other online forums. Either way will give you direct access to expert information that can be cited in your paper or used to further investigate your topic.

While Wikipedia and About.com are not credible enough to be included in an academic paper, that doesn’t mean you can’t use them at all. “Visiting Wikipedia to get an overall sense of the topic is a great idea, says Brian Gumz, a content strategist at Fahrenheit Marketing and graduate of the University of Texas’ English program. After that, however, he says it’s time to move on. “Once you’ve read the Wikipedia article, go find the legitimate sources that back up its claims.”

Online Resources for Students

Found the perfect resource for your paper but freaking out at the cost of access? That’s when it really pays to be a student.

Students shouldn’t turn away from a source because it’s behind a pay wall. “Once a student locates a useful article, they should copy the pertinent information — title, author, publication, date– and access the article through the college’s online library or a public library website, ” says Liz Martinez, a professor of English and Criminal Justice at the College of Southern Nevada . She adds that students should never have to pay for research materials because most college libraries already pay for licenses to research databases and academic journals students can use.

Students can also do some really great online research by directly signing in to these databases through their school library and conducting a search there. One of the best sources for most academic research is JSTOR, a digitized repository of academic journals, primary sources, and books, covering more than 50 different disciplines. With so much content, however, it may be hard to find just what you’re looking for.

Familiarizing yourself with search operators and best search practices can help wade through the information. “It can be useful to conduct a ‘cached’ search by putting specific phrases in quotations and searching for them in-text,” says Ashley Baker, a graduate of Duke’s English program and a former journalist. “Many titles are misnomers, and doing an in-text search can help find necessary information while simply skimming the article.” For example, if you’re looking for information on Nobel Prize winners in physics, it can be useful to put these terms in quotations, that way JSTOR won’t return results for “Nobel” “Prize” and “physics” separately; only where they occur together. This can save time and may be extra useful to those who’ve waited until the last minute to start researching.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for in JSTOR, it’s likely that your school has subscriptions to other online databases. These may have a general focus, or be aimed at a particular topic, which can be helpful in finding articles in a specific discipline. Most library sites will have a list of the databases to which they subscribe so you can peruse at your leisure. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from a librarian if you’re not sure how they work or how to log on.

It never hurts to actually search through the books located in your college library, too. These can often provide a more in-depth look at a subject than a single article alone. The web can be your friend in this situation, too, however. Many academic libraries will send books between institutions, you just have to put in an online request for the materials, so even if your school’s library is lacking you can still get access to what you need. And if you need it now? Consider using WorldCat. This search engine will tell you what libraries, public or academic, have the book you need on hand so you can seek it out on your own.

Evaluating Your Sources

Sometimes, it isn’t always immediately obvious whether or not a source is acceptable to use in an academic paper or not.

There are few things you need to look out for when choosing sources, so ask yourself these questions when you find something you think can work for your paper.

• Is it written by a professional? While big name papers and magazines will have well-written and researched articles, they’re often not written by experts in the field. However, they can be a great starting point in directing you towards people who are, as these experts often show up as sources in a piece.
• Is it academic? When writing a paper for your college courses, 99% of the time you’ll need to use sources that are academic in nature. If you’ve found something that is interesting but isn’t academic or scholarly, you should keep looking for the information elsewhere.
• Is it trying to sell you on something? Sometimes, websites and resources will have an agenda, even if written by a reputable source. These will try to sell you on an idea or product and don’t offer a balanced, unbiased overview of an issue.
• Is it real? The internet is a hotbed of hoaxes, spoofs, and pranks, some of which will look incredibly professional, valid, and legitimate. One key tip-off? If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

If you’re really on the fence about a source, send an email to your professor asking whether or not you should include it or if you need to seek out the information from somewhere else. He or she will be able to tell you what will work and may even be able to point out other, more acceptable sources that contain the same information. Just don’t wait until the night before your paper is due to ask, otherwise you’re likely to get a less than cordial response to your inquiry.

This all seems like a lot of trouble, right? Well it’s for a good reason. You want to use scholarly sources because these are the most well-researched, authoritative materials available on a topic. This doesn’t mean that they don’t speak from a particular viewpoint or hypothesis, but that they use research and in-depth study to back up those assertions, just like you’re trying to do with your own paper by citing them. You can use non-scholarly sources in a paper, but make sure they are just for reference. For example, you may need to include examples of pop culture, websites, and other non-scholarly things to make your point depending on the class’ topic.

Staying Organized

While you might think it’s a blessing to be able to find loads of information on your topic, too much information can be just as challenging as too little. That’s why it’s critical to stay organized throughout the process of researching and writing.

One way to do this is to take advantage of one of the free research tools available to students and academics. Monika Wahi of DethWench Professional Services recommends Zotero, which is a free downloadable source tracking tool. For Wahi, it’s much easier for her to keep track of sources, create citations, and take notes, keeping everything organized and on hand when she needs it.

But why? Forgetting where sources came from can be a huge setback to your research. “If you don’t document your sources as you go,” says Gumz, “it can be hard to find them again when you’re ready to start writing.”

In addition to keeping track of sources as use them, you may also want to highlight key terms, phrases or even whole quotes that will make it easy to find the parts you need for your paper later on. This can save you a lot of time and ensure you don’t have to skim through articles again and again to try and find key passages and information you want to cite.

Citing Your Sources

Unless you want to be accused of plagiarism (not to mention get a pretty poor grade on your paper), you need to not only find great sources but learn how to cite them appropriately both at the end of your paper and throughout.

One thing that can help is using an online citation tool. Baker recommends EasyBib as it can easily be tailored to use MLA, APA, or Chicago style and will help ensure that your bibliography is constructed in the correct way. Other citation tools exist as well, all of which can make it incredibly easy to build a bibliography. If you are unsure which style is required for your paper, check the syllabus or ask your professor to ensure that you’re not doing a lot of work the wrong way, as the number of citations can add up as you add them throughout your paper and in your bibliography at the end.

While the exact formats of APA, MLA, and Chicago style will differ, there are some general things you need to keep in mind when citing sources. Here are a few that will ensure you’re on the right track.

• Know when to cite. Do you know when you need to use a citation within your paper? It’s actually pretty simple. Cite your source anytime you include a: direct quote, paraphrased text, facts or figures, theories, methods, and ideas, or images, graphs, and illustrations.
• Know when not to cite. Just as important as knowing when to cite is understanding when not to cite. Never cite information in your paper that is common knowledge, a historical date, a well-known argument or theory, or a universal proverb or saying.
• Alphabetize your list of sources. No matter what you’re including in your sources, you need to make sure the list is alphabetized. This makes it easy for whoever is reading your paper to find more information about a source you cited within your paper.
• Never copy word-for-word unless you’re quoting. When crafting a paper for your college courses, you should be including information from your sources in your own words. The only time it’s appropriate to copy information directly, even if you cite it, is in a direct quotation, which should be used sparingly in academic writing.
• Know what style makes sense to use. If you can’t get in touch with your professor and want to craft your citations, be smart about which style to use. MLA and Chicago Manual of Style are widely used in the humanities and APA in the social sciences. Those in the sciences may need to use CBE to reference materials in the natural sciences, applied sciences, and mathematics.
• Appropriately cite social media. If you decide to take advantage of social media as a source for your paper, then you’ll need to know how to cite information you’ve gleaned from it. As stodgy as you might think citation styles are, there’s actually already an acceptable format for citing a tweet or posts from Facebook in the three major styles. Learn about MLA here, Chicago Manual of Style here, and APA here to ensure you give your social media sources the appropriate citation.

Remember, when it comes to putting together an academic paper, citing your sources correctly shouldn’t be an afterthought. These sources form the basis of support for your arguments, so you want to make sure you give them the credit that they’re due.

Whether you’ve waited until just a few days before a paper is due to tackle it or are working weeks in advance, being able to find, analyze, organize, and use high-quality sources in your paper will be key to constructing a solid argument, supporting your assertions, and ultimately scoring a high grade from your professor. In many ways, students today are lucky to live in a digitally connected world, as this puts countless high-quality resources right at their fingertips. It’s not luck but skill, however, that will enable those students to make use of these resources, something it’s never too soon or too late to learn.

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1. Accredited institutions will partner with MOOC providers:

   It’s no secret that MOOCs are hot right now, and many students are interested in what they have to offer as a learning experience. In fact, Massachusetts is home to one of the nation’s largest MOOC or Open Course providers: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Coursera is MOOC provider that partners with several major universities, including New Jersey’s Princeton University. However, what they’re lacking is credit from an accredited institution. So if students want to earn a degree for their hard-fought MOOC successes, they’ll need to get it through a school that can offer it. We expect to see accredited institutions join in with MOOCs, or develop their own large-scale courses in the same vein.

2. Badges for academic achievement may have accreditation behind them:

   We’re not expecting to see achievement badges come from the ivory tower of accreditation anytime soon, but it’s not a stretch of the imagination to see it happening someday. Badges for education are already supported by the U.S. Department of Education as a resource for credentialing and recognizing learning in a variety of settings, and especially as a way to support online and lifelong learning efforts. Ultimately, the DOE hopes to offer badges as a way to give credit to students, particularly for use in the career marketplace. With the DOE behind academic badges, we may see them pushing accrediting organizations and institutions to support and recognize them as well.

3. Government oversight may back off:

   Although it’s possible the Department of Education will push for new ideas and developments in accreditation, overall, we expect to see government oversight of accreditation get pulled back a bit. It is becoming increasingly clear that government regulations are hopelessly out of touch with today’s educational needs. For example, in Minnesota, the Office of Higher Education required that no one offer courses unless they were authorized by the state through a bureaucratic process involving forms, fees, and approvals. This posed a problem for Minnesotans taking classes through Coursera, a free online learning site that had not jumped through the state’s proper hoops. Thanks to national outcry, the rule was struck down in just one day. Federal regulations have been troublesome as well. In the past, the federal government fought to require online education providers to get state-by-state authorization, a cost-prohibitive process for small schools in states like Maine and Oregon, but the courts have managed to stop this requirement. These developments point to education, and further, accreditation, becoming a self-managing marketplace that requires significantly less government intervention.

4. More clear-cut definitions of accreditation:

   For students who wish to transfer to a different college, it can be disheartening to find out that credits earned will not transfer to their new school. But that’s exactly what so many students go through, often when transferring from for-profit, nationally accredited colleges to non-profit, regionally accredited universities. Regionally accredited universities, such as Standford University in California, will typically recognize credits between institutions, but there’s not the same kind of reciprocation for nationally accredited ones, leaving students confused and frustrated. Students earning credits from an accredited institution expect for their learning experience to transfer wherever they go unless told otherwise, and we’re seeing uproar from students who feel they were misled, some going so far as to try to sue schools. Students are demanding a more easy to understand, clear-cut definition of accreditation and the ability to transfer credits between institutions, and we believe that they’ll see one soon.

5. A stop to accreditation shopping:

   For years, for-profit colleges have been purchasing nonprofit colleges suffering from financial problems, and in the process, holding on to their regional accreditation even if the institution itself changes dramatically. This practice has been met with opposition, and accreditors are beginning to push back. The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools recently rejected a series of accreditation continuation requests from schools in the aforementioned predicament. These rejections have been based on new policies by the HLC that require the schools to continue to offer a similar mission after purchase if they wish to continue accreditation. We can expect to see other major accreditors push back against accreditation shopping in a similar way.

6. A shift to measuring outcomes rather than inputs:

   Critics of the current accreditation system point out that although accreditation is the most highly trusted measure of quality in higher education, a positive academic outcome cannot be guaranteed for students. The problem? Accreditation is given almost entirely on the basis of inputs, like the number of books in a university library or the mission statement of the school. Measurable student learning and instructional quality do not make as large of an impact. Rather, critics suggest that accreditation focus more on the achievements of the university, like employability and educational outcomes, than endowments and disciplinary codes.

7. A decoupling of accreditation and funding:

   Under the current system, schools must be accredited in order to receive federal funding. That means accreditors “hold a gun — the threat of withholding federal funds — to the heads of colleges and universities.” A dangerous predicament, and one that Wisconsin Rep. Thomas E. Petri calls “too much on a one-switch decision.” In 2002, Petri introduced a House bill to cut the tie of funding and accreditation, but it did not pass. We may, however, see similar bills in the future as smaller schools that do not have the resources for accreditation push for a more even playing field.

8. More high-profile accreditation rejections of for-profit colleges:

   For-profit Ashford University, headquartered in Iowa made headlines when the Western Association of Schools & Colleges rejected the school’s bid for accreditation. The accreditor found that Ashford did not meet faculty standards, had a large number of dropouts, and exhibited questionable academic standards. Additionally, Ashford’s focus seemed to be more on boosting enrollment than investing in academics. However, Ashford remains accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a reapplication for accreditation is still pending at Western Association of Schools and Colleges. A decision on the WASC reapplication will be made by WASC later this year.

   These problems are not unique to Ashford. In fact, congressional reports have found that among for-profit colleges, more emphasis is placed on recruiting and profit than educational outcomes. According to House Rep. Elijah Cummings’ report, for-profit schools tend to calculate executive compensation based “predominantly on the profitability of their companies rather than the success of their students.” And Ashford isn’t the only school with high attrition rates: in a Senate report, it was found that 54% of for-profit college students withdrew from school before graduation. These are problems that plague the for-profit college industry, and we expect that accreditors will further deny these schools the accreditation they seek.

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1. Do your research.

   

   Before enrolling in a degree program, make sure that you do a lot of research. You want to find out if a degree is required in your chosen field and at what level. If you know you’ll need a degree, then you should begin to research which schools have the best programs for that field. Once you know that information, you can analyze which schools will offer the best price for the degree, helping you make a smart, informed decision about where to attend school whether it be in Michigan, Arkansas, Delaware, etc – doesn’t matter. In making your choice, don’t forget to look at employment data for grads, which, while sometimes inflated, can help you determine what your prospects are after graduating from a certain program or just in your field overall. Why all the research? While college can help you pursue a passion, it’s also an investment. If you have few prospects for return on that investment, then it’s a poor one to make and you may need to retool your college plans or help to compensate for a poor job market and fewer prospects by heading to a cheaper school.

2. Develop relationships.

   

   One of the most valuable things you will take away from college won’t just be your degree; the relationships you develop with faculty, alumni, and classmates can also play a pivotal role in your success after graduation. Cultivating strong relationships in college will give you a great foundation for networking after you leave school (not to mention a great support system while you’re in school) and college offers opportunities for connecting that are almost impossible to find in the wider world. To really make sure your college tuition is working for you, you need to not only focus on getting an education but also building relationships that can benefit you personally and professionally throughout your life.

3. Find internships.

   

   Ideally, your college experience should include at least one internship in the field you’d like to work in after you graduate. This experience will help you learn more about what working in your chosen field is really like. You may find that it isn’t what you expected or that you want to retool your educational experience to emphasize certain skills that you feel you’ll need. If you love it, you’ll be happy to have the experience on your resume as it can give you a leg up when you’re looking for work. Most colleges offer help and placement programs for internships, so don’t be afraid to take advantage.

4. Get the most for your money.

   

   If you’re going to spend tens of thousands of dollars getting a college degree, then make sure that you’re getting the most for your money. That means not skipping classes (remind yourself that you’ve paid quite a lot for each and every one), doing your homework and reading, and taking advantage of all the amenities that your tuition affords you, including gym membership, world-class libraries, clubs, career advisors, health services, and free on-campus events. You pay for these whether you use them or not, so it only makes sense to take advantage while you can.

5. Stay focused.

   

   College is full of distractions. The biggest source of this can be social events, but distractions can be academic too. It might seem fun to take a bunch of silly classes as your electives, but is that really the best use of your money? Instead, keep your focus with regard to your future career and take courses that, while in a different field, could potentially have applications in your field of choice. For instance, graphic design majors could take courses in computer programming, business, and creative writing to help their careers. That doesn’t mean you can’t take courses that interest you, but if you do, think of ways to apply the skills you learn in your own field. You’ll expand your horizons, help your career prospects, and ensure you’re not wasting tuition money on courses that won’t really help you in the long run.

6. Decide what is important to you.

   

   Whether or not your college degree will be worth it is somewhat contingent on what you want to get out of life. Do you want money? Job security? To change the world? Spend some time seriously thinking about whether or not your chosen major will help you to achieve some or all of your future goals and determine what elements are the most important to you. Fair or unfair, some careers just pay better than others or boast positives that others do not. Ensure that your long-term goals and values are compatible with the degree you’re working toward. A mismatch could mean unhappiness in your career and a return to school later on for a degree that is more in line with your true goals.

7. Pick up in-demand skills.

   

   No matter what major you choose, there will be hundreds of other students all over the nation graduating in it or something similar right along with you. You need to find a way to make yourself stand out from the crowd. One way to do that is by adding a minor that complements your major in a useful way. You could also just learn skills that will be assets in finding a job. For instance, you could learn a useful foreign language, study business basics, or learn how to design websites. Any practical abilities you can bring to employers will help you. Even better, in-demand skills will serve you well even if you can’t find a job right out of the gate in your chosen field, as they are often applicable in many different kinds of settings.

8. Know what employers want.

   

   Getting a degree in a given field isn’t enough to get you hired these days. Many employers have a very specific set of skills that they’re looking for when hiring, and many grads just don’t have them. You can get ahead of the game by looking around at job listings in your area to see what employers are looking for in hires. If you’re lacking in any of the skills, take courses in those areas. Ideally, you’ll be able to create your own degree program tailored to the job market that will give you the skill set you need to be competitive and stand out.

9. Learn more than information.

   

   College should teach you much more than just chemical formulae, financial markets in Louisiana or Idaho, or the dates of significant historical events; it also teaches extremely valuable life skills, like how to communicate with others, work as a team, manage your time, motivate yourself, and think critically. These skills are some of the most important that you will learn and hone during your college years, so don’t neglect to work on them. Even better, they can be applied both in your personal life and in any future job, regardless of the field you end up in.

10. Keep an open mind.

    

    One of the best ways to ensure that you get a college degree that’s truly a smart investment for you is to keep an open mind. There are numerous ways to get the training and certification necessary to be competitive in the job market. You may have to consider online programs, lower-tier schools, combination majors, or even taking a different direction altogether. Whatever comes your way, make sure to keep an open mind. You may find that the best opportunities are at first scary or strange to consider, but will provide you with the skills and expertise you need to get out into the working world without drowning in debt or struggling to get hired.

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1. Set reminders to do your homework:

   This one seems obvious, but it’s worth pointing out: Siri can remind you to do your homework. But these are not simple reminders that hang over your head all day only to be ignored (and subsequently forgotten). Using Siri, you can set reminders to pop up at an appointed time, or even better, when you arrive at a particular location. It’s perfect for automagically pulling up your to-do list when you sit down at the library or get back to your dorm room, and a great way to make sure you’re remembering to do homework when you’re actually ready to do it.

2. Locate the books you need:

   Siri can help you zero in on the books you need to study. Identifying books you can check out at your library or download online is a snap, and you don’t even have to type to do it, making your first step in research hardly a step at all, thanks to Siri.

3. Get a quick view of what you have to do:

   Siri is great for staying organized and on top of your schedule. If you’re juggling multiple assignments, it’s easy to forget what needs to be done when. Enter Siri. As long as you keep all of your to dos on your Calendar, she can tell you what you have left to do when, if only you ask. You can even ask for a specific time period, asking, “What do I have left to do this week?” and she’ll bring up a list for you to work from.

4. Find images with Wolfram Alpha:

   Siri has the hookup with Wolfram Alpha. Not familiar with Wolfram Alpha? Get ready to be impressed: it’s the ultimate place to access the entire knowledge of the world. You find visualizations of just about everything just by asking Siri. Want to know what a groundhog looks like, or see the state flag of South Carolina, North Dakota, or Hawaii? Siri will have an answer ready for you in about five seconds or less.

5. Ask questions:

   Beyond images, Siri’s Wolfram Alpha engine can answer all of your questions, including the square root of anything, state flowers for Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, etc and information about all of the U.S. presidents. You can also find definitions, so there’s no excuse for misspelling or misusing a word: you don’t even have to type to find it!

6. Get help with math questions:

   Siri + Wolfram Alpha isn’t just useful for images and information queries, it’s perfect for math homework as well. Use Wolfram Alpha for help understanding math concepts, checking answers, and even doing calculations. Siri can even do calculus!

7. Use Siri to dictate text:

   With Siri Dictation, you can simply speak what you want entered into text, and Siri will type it for you. It’s the perfect solution for moments when inspiration strikes, but you can’t stop to write, or even when you find it easier to dictate while your hands are full of books.

8. Dictate annotations with Siri:

   Take dictation a step further and put Siri to make notes on PDFs, whether they’re books, class handouts, or your syllabus. Need help getting all of your paper into PDF form? There’s an app for that. Siri can dictate all of your annotations, so it’s easy to take notes, and even find them again when it’s time to review.

9. Set timers for productivity:

   If you have trouble focusing on homework for long periods of time, let Siri help you out. Make a goal to work for 20 minutes straight, and use Siri to set a timer. She’ll let you know when time is up and it’s time to relax. You can set a timer for that, too, of course, and she’ll give you an alert to get back to work.

10. Take a humor break:

    Siri really is the ultimate homework assistant. When you’re feeling burnt out and found everything you could possibly want to know on Wolfram Alpha, there’s still more she can do. What is it, you ask? Siri can offer comic relief. Just try talking to her, she’s quite clever. Questions like, “What’s the meaning of life?” and “Who let the dogs out?” can give you a grin when you need it most.

The post 10 Ways Siri Can Help You Finish Your Homework appeared first on BachelorsDegreeOnline.com.

1. Bryn Mawr College:

   Bryn Mawr in Pennsylvania has long staked the value of its educational experience on close classroom interactions between students and professors, but even this small liberal arts school has decided to experiment with blended learning. Working though Carnegie Mellon’s Open Learning Initiative (OLI), Bryn Mawr is using computers to take over some of the tasks that professors used to do, helping guide students through textbook material and tracking their progress throughout the course. While the school’s program is still in the beginning stages, outcomes are looking promising: 80% of students reported that the computer-based aspects of the course helped them to learn, and 25% reported that they felt that they learned more than in traditional courses. Even better, 94% of the students in the blended courses passed the course and 41% even showed evidence of deeper learning, showing that there’s a place for blended courses even at traditional liberal arts schools like Bryn Mawr.

2. Wesleyan University:

   Wesleyan in Connecticut is another small liberal arts college that, until recently, hasn’t really delved into the online learning model, instead focusing on small class sizes and regular student-teacher interaction. Yet along with Bryn Mawr, the school is seeing some success working with a blended model that combines the best aspects of traditional and online learning. Wesleyan is also working with the OLI, employing modules that help students work through course material online with professorial guidance. Administrators at the school believe that blended courses could provide a way for the school to help its more economically disadvantaged students succeed alongside their peers by providing early warnings that students are struggling and freeing up more time for professors to help these students. So far it seems to be working, with low-income, at-risk students performing at levels equal to those of their peers.

3. University of Central Florida:

   Not only does UCF have some of the best blended courses in colleges today, but the school has actually developed a model that other schools can use to bring the blended learning experience into their classrooms. Thanks to a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Florida school has been working hard to develop their Blended Learning Toolkit, a multifaceted resource that offers everything from strategies for blended course design to materials for training faculty and staff. The school was motivated to share the benefits of blended learning after seeing amazing levels of success with these types of programs in courses on their own campus, with students often performing at much higher levels in blended courses than in traditional courses.

4. University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee:

   Students at UW Milwaukee have access to several different types of hybrid courses and those interested in learning more about their offerings can get access to course materials and syllabi online to see how this school is making the most of blended learning opportunities. There are currently around six or seven different courses offered at the school that use the hybrid learning model, in an incredibly diverse assortment of departments that range from nursing to anthropology. Students in the courses complete a fair amount of work online but are also required to complete practical field assignments and meet up in person several times throughout the course. The Wisconsin school has been using the hybrid courses for a few years now, and many instructors have reported great results with some even turning more of their courses into hybrid-style experiences.

5. City University of New York:

   Even back in 1999, CUNY was developing blended learning courses. The school hoped that blended learning would make it easier to reach a more diverse group of students from the New York City area without having to expand into costly new buildings and facilities. Between 1999 and 2003, CUNY’s Online Distributed Learning Network delivered 158 different blended learning courses. Since then, the school has worked hard to improve and expand its offerings, developing not only better courses for its students, but also models of blended learning courses that can and have been used by other educational institutions.

6. University of Minnesota:

   The University of Minnesota is home to a growing number of blended courses. Why? Some professors at the Minnesota school, like Tom Fisher, Dean of the College of Design, think that classes have to offer students more than just information in order to get them to attend. He believes that students can get information and basic instruction online, but that class time should be reserved for things that can’t take place in the same way in the virtual sphere, like face-to-face interactions with teachers and peers. Fisher isn’t alone in adopting the blended model. Students at the University of Minnesota can take a wide range of blended courses, from those in business to those in chemistry, and with the president of the university in full support of the new model, there will undoubtedly be more offerings in the coming years.

7. University of Maryland, College Park:

   Early in 2013, the University of Maryland, College Park plans to roll out a much wider range of courses for its students, including a number of MOOCs integrated with traditional classroom instruction. Thanks to a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Maryland school has the funds to invest heavily in these kinds of hybrid courses, offering students a much more flexible way to take courses required for their degrees. While only a pilot program at present, the data gathered from the experiment will give administrators and professors a better idea of how the blended model can improve instruction and education for students at the school and perhaps, in turn, schools all over the nation. Under the new program the school will have about 40 courses using the blended model, and if they’re successful, the program may just be there to stay.

8. Pennsylvania State University:

   The Penn State Video Learning Network allows students at 20 participating Penn State campuses to talk with members of the school’s faculty and staff through videoconferencing. While it’s not quite the same as some blending learning opportunities, that difference may be a big part of its appeal. Whatever the reason for its popularity, it’s a leading model of blended learning, winning the Shirley Davis Award for Excellence in Synchronous Distance Learning in late 2012. Each Penn State campus is set up with a classroom outfitted with videoconferencing equipment. There, students attend their courses with remotely located professors, later completing coursework and having discussions online. The school developed the program to better serve the needs of adult learners who need to take courses at night or on the weekends, when professors aren’t always available on campus.

9. University of Virginia:

   In the fall of 2012, 10 professors from eight different colleges within the University of Virginia were chosen to participate in a pilot program designed to test out hybrid courses on the school’s campus. So far, the hybrid courses have reached 2,800 students in undergraduate and law programs, blending podcasts, animations, online tests and assignments, and blogs, with in-class interaction in the form of group projects, discussions, and professor feedback. Course topics ranged from Spanish to computer networks. The Virginia school reports that the program was largely successful, creating a strong foundation for growth and expansion of the hybrid course program in future years.

10. Kansas University:

    KU doesn’t currently have a large number of online courses, but the school is working to remedy that, focusing on growing the number of hybrid courses it offers first. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, in partnership with the Center for Online and Distance Learning, has been rolling out new hybrid courses for both undergraduates and graduate students. The courses allow students to spend more in-class time interacting, with lectures and reading done outside of the classroom, usually online. The Kansas school’s willingness to embrace the hybrid model, despite having very few online degree programs, shows that even schools that aren’t quite ready to go all in on online courses can find a compromise that benefits both the school and the students in hybrid courses.

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Below is a brief critical assessment of film noir, as well as a list of five films that are considered to be hallmarks of the genre. Whether you’re a budding film scholar or just looking to plan your next movie night, taking some time to review the information below will help you gain a better understanding of one of cinema’s most contentious genres.

What is Film Noir?

The trouble with defining film noir is that there is still a tremendous amount of debate among critics and scholars about what constitutes the genre, or if it even qualifies as a genre. Because definitions of film noir can be rather broad (if not completely vague), attempts have been made to include, as well as remove, certain films from the category. Blade Runner is an example of a science fiction film that is considered to fall under the film noir category due to the expansions made to the genre’s definition over the last several decades.

Attempting to apply the genre to films based solely upon a certain content formula is often problematic due to the various films that meet the standards of film noir but belong primarily to alternate genres. More concrete definitions of film noir arise when considering the atmosphere created by cinematography, often in conjunction with the film’s themes and characters.

Typically, films associated with the film noir genre rely upon subdued lighting and dark cinematographic effects, which are augmented by an eerie musical score that can only be described as seductive, foreboding and/or mysterious. A film’s music and cinematography, when combined with a story that emphasizes strange, erotic or morally ambivalent themes and characters, generally determines whether or not it fits within the film noir genre. Even then, chances are high that such a determination will be hotly debated by film critics and scholars who may hold the film to an even stricter definition of the genre.

Despite being developed primarily by the American film industry, film noir was directly influenced by the innovations of Expressionist directors and cinematographers from Germany’s golden age of film during the 1910s and 1920s. The films of German director Fritz Lang are considered to be the most influential prototypes of the film noir genre. Lang’s world-renowned crime drama M set the standard for the dark cinematography and suspenseful plot-lines that would later become hallmarks of the film noir genre.

In American cinema, film noir was directly influenced by several classic gangster and crime dramas of the 1930s, as well as the many innovations in cinematography made by the great American actor/director Orson Welles. Gangster films, such as Howard Hawks’ infamous Scarface, began to further popularize film protagonists with questionable, if not entirely reprehensible, morals. Released in 1941, Orson Welles’ universally lauded film, Citizen Kane, would almost single-handedly influence the cinematic techniques used in many film noirs released throughout the 1940s and beyond.

In the realm of characterization, the “femme fatale” archetype we often see in cinema is perhaps one of the most important character innovations of the film noir genre. German-American actress Marlene Dietrich is generally considered to be the quintessential femme fatale among film critics and enthusiasts. Her breakthrough role as the cabaret singer Lola-Lola in Josef von Sternberg’s irreverent musical drama The Blue Angel served to launch the young actress’ career both in Germany and abroad. Dietrich’s many celebrated roles in von Sternberg’s films would go on to influence the femme fatale character in the many film noirs that would later be produced by Hollywood.

While it is difficult to ascertain an exact definition of film noir, it is not always so difficult to see why certain films are considered to belong to the genre. Some critics have gone so far as to label film noir as a “style” of filmmaking, citing the general inability among critics and scholars to reach a consensus about film noir as a definitive genre. Despite the debates surrounding its definition, film noir remains one of the most iconic and recognizable styles/genres in the history of American cinema.

Five Essential Masterpieces of Film Noir

1. The Maltese Falcon (dir. Roy Del Ruth, 1931) Based on the novel by pulp crime fiction author Dashiell Hammett, The Maltese Falcon follows the story of private detective Sam Spade (Humphrey Bogart) and his client Ruth Wonderly (Bebe Daniels) on a quest to locate the priceless Maltese Falcon statuette. The film is largely credited with expanding the film noir genre by introducing the dark, morally-ambiguous investigator as the male counterpart to the popular femme fatale archetype.

Quote: “I don’t mind a reasonable amount of trouble.” – Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade.

2. The Lost Weekend (dir. Billy Wilder, 1945) This acclaimed example of film noir follows the tragic story of writer and recovering alcoholic Don Birnam as he gives in to his cravings and begins a four-day stretch of binge drinking. While the film is an example of how themes and plot may only loosely follow film noir standards, Wilder’s dark cinematography and portrayal of Don Birnam as an exceptionally flawed human being has led many critics to celebrate the film as an essential example of the genre.

Quote: “Let me have one, Nat. I’m dying. Just one.” – Ray Milland as Don Birnam begging his bartender Nat (Howard Da Silva) for one last drink.

3. Night of the Hunter (dir. Charles Laughton, 1955) In addition to being one of the most culturally important films in American cinema, Night of the Hunter is also an example of film noir taken to the extreme. Set in 1930s West Virginia, the film successfully delves into the troubled mind of Reverend Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum), a preacher and serial killer, who is perhaps best remembered by those who watched the film for the words “LOVE” and “HATE” tattooed across his knuckles. In addition to being a masterpiece of suspense and psychological horror, Night of the Hunter represented a major shift away from the dark urban settings and themes of standard film noirs and into the uncanny wilderness of Appalachia.

Quote: “Not that you mind the killings! There’s plenty of killings in your book, Lord…” – Robert Mitchum as Reverend Harry Powell speaking to himself in the film’s opening scene.

4. Raging Bull (dir. Martin Scorsese, 1980) Martin Scorsese’s boxing epic follows the trials and tribulations of Italian-American boxer Jake La Motta (Robert de Niro) as his violent and sociopathic tendencies gradually begin to overtake him. Like Night of the Hunter and The Last Weekend, Scorsese’s masterpiece showcases one of the most iconic anti-heroes in American film history. Moreover, Michael Chapman’s ingenious cinematography is truly film noir at its darkest.

Quote: “I ain’t bad. I ain’t bad. I’m not that guy. I’m not that guy. I’m not a monster. I’m not an animal.” – Robert de Niro as Jake LaMotta as he repeatedly body punches the wall with his fists.

5. L.A. Confidential (dir. Curtis Hanson, 1997) Based on the novel of the same name by James Ellroy, L.A. Confidential stands as one of the preeminent examples of “neo-noir” in 20th century American cinema. The film’s post-modern plot focuses on the investigation of several Los Angeles police officers who are implicated in a scandal involving corruption, sex and murder. L.A. Confidential heavily draws upon common tropes in the film noir genre, such as the gorgeous femme fatale archetype (perfectly captured by Kim Basinger as Lynn Bracken) and a host of troubled and corrupt police officers within the LAPD.

Quote: “Are you asking me for a date, or an appointment?” – Kim

Basinger as Lynn Bracken during an exchange with Russell Crowe as Officer Bud White.

As you can see, film noir has had an enormous impact on the progression of both American and world cinema. Film noir has also had a major influence on music, as evidenced by the mysterious and foreboding sounds created by famed Scottish trip-hop band Portishead. The genre also did much to popularize and expand upon the existentialist philosophy that was in vogue during the mid-20th century. Whether you’re a film buff, critic, or amateur academic, no study of film history is complete without an introduction to film noir and the tremendous influence it has had over our culture.

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Despite the great influence Dante’s masterpiece has wielded over our culture, many often avoid taking the time to gain a deeper understanding of the work. Some cite the somewhat archaic language and historical allusions used throughout the work as reasons for not reading it, while others may feel alienated by Dante’s heavy reliance upon Christian (more specifically, Catholic) law and symbolism.

What few realize, however, is that The Divine Comedy can be fruitfully read from both a secular and religious perspective. Moreover, with the right amount of patience and know-how, anyone can master and appreciate Dante’s very unique literary language. Take a look at the guide we have compiled below for some useful information on what to look for in The Comedy.

As mentioned briefly above, the reader of Dante’s epic poem should expect to gain at least a passing knowledge of the central laws and metaphors of the Catholic faith. The entire work is structured upon Dante’s progressive understanding of the Catholic metaphysical hierarchy of Hell, Purgatory and Heaven. Moreover, the characters he meets along his journey, from the former to the later, are shown to belong to their respective tiers on the hierarchy based upon their deeds on Earth.

Dante is guided throughout his journey by the Ancient Roman poet Virgil, who is best known as the author of the classic Latin epic The Aeneid. According to Dante, Virgil is unable to transcend to heaven because he had worshiped pagan gods. This is despite the great appreciation Dante had for the Roman’s life and works. Instead, Virgil becomes a guide for those who wish to traverse the realms of the Inferno and Purgatory, thus avoiding eternal damnation within the lower circles of hell.

In “Inferno”, the first part of Dante’s three-part journey, the poet structures the realm as 10 descending circles (which includes nine main circles and Satan’s domain at the bottom), with each circle representing progressively heinous sins committed by those who reside within. For example, when Dante enters the gates to the Inferno, the first circle he is confronted with, Limbo, holds those who worshiped pagan gods but led virtuous lives (like Virgil). The final circle of hell is a frozen wasteland that confines the world’s most nefarious traitors, three of whom (Judas Iscariot, Brutus and Cassius) are chewed in the mouth of Satan for all eternity.

Once Dante successfully transcends the Inferno, he reaches the mountain of Purgatory. This realm in Dante’s hierarchy of the Catholic afterlife is similar to the Inferno in that it is structured around each of the Seven Deadly Sins. However, unlike the Inferno, Purgatory houses those who commit sins while under the influence of God’s greatest virtue: love.

As Dante reaches the summit of Purgatory, he must part ways with Virgil and accompany Beatrice, a woman Dante had known as a child and represented the feminine ideal in his mind. In Paradiso, Beatrice guides Dante through the celestial tiers of heaven, which are based upon Christian astrological concepts of the planets and stars that were in vogue during the Renaissance. Each of the seven celestial bodies that comprise heaven (many of which are named after planets in the solar system) represent a virtue or moral its inhabitants had exemplified during their lives, with the Garden of Eden awaiting Beatrice and Dante at the top of the celestial hierarchy.

What one may notice when attempting to read Dante’s work for the first time without prior research is the preponderance of historical figures that held particular notoriety during Dante’s time. Throughout each of the three parts of the comedy Dante includes major political and religious figures that the poet either intensely criticized or respected based upon his observations over the course of his life. Dante also showcases major historical figures before his time, such as Judas Iscariot (chewed by Satan), Thomas Aquinas and Plato. While it might be difficult for contemporary readers to relate to many of the figures Dante was intimately aware of during his time, finding out more about these people and the reasons behind their inclusion in The Divine Comedy is essential for gaining a deeper understanding of the work as a whole.

For those who may shy away from Dante’s epic because of the religious content so inherent to the work, many have tried and succeeded at reading The Divine Comedy from a secular point of view. Psychology plays an extremely important role in the work, with many of the work’s metaphors and themes reflecting primal psychological archetypes that are common to Carl Jung’s theories on personality. Dante was also very in tune with scientific developments during his time, particularly in the field of astronomy, which informs much of the celestial mechanics in Paradiso.

The influence Dante’s Divine Comedy on world culture has been dramatic to say the least. Europe experienced a revival of Dante’s epic during the 19th century at the height of the Romantic era, as exemplified by the paintings of Eugene Delacroix and Franz Liszt’s program symphony based on the entire Comedy. Gustave Doré’s world-renowned illustrations of scenes from Dante’s work are also an essential supplement to anyone’s reading of The Divine Comedy. In the 20th century, Salvador Dalí also created a series of paintings inspired by the Comedy, with each one done in the artist’s trademark surrealist style.

If taking on Dante’s epic poem still seems like an impossible project, keep in mind that the work has been studied and explicated for the last several centuries by scholars and amateur academics alike. The sheer number of resources and translations available in print and online ensures that anyone can absorb the material with the least amount of confusion. For anyone with even a passing interest in world literature, taking some time to read one or all three parts of Dante’s Divine Comedy will be time well spent.

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The First Phone Phreaks

John Draper, a.k.a. Captain Crunch, earned his phreaking name from a toy whistle given out in the Cap’n Crunch boxes that happened to omit a perfect 2600-cycle tone, the exact tone needed to make the phone operator let him place or receive free calls. When the Captain was transferred to England with his Air Force unit, he used the whistle to receive calls from his friends, free of charge. The Captain is also credited with making the most notorious of blue boxes: a better, faster, and more perfect version of the phone company’s version. The Captain would use his device and abilities to make calls around the world to himself, simply for his amusement.

While the Captain may be the most notorious, Joe Engressia is known as the granddaddy of phone phreakers. Joe Engressia, known as Joybubbles, was born with perfect pitch, but no sight. He used his pitch to whistle the tones necessary to hack into the phone systems. While an operator could detect his human whistle, the phone system could not. His whistle abilities gave him access to other worlds as a child, escaping the suffering of abuse at the hands of his school and parents.

In the late 1960’s, Joybubbles’ escapades in the phone system were revealed by a curious phone operator, and he became an instantly infamous phone hacker. The media exposed his hobby to other phone phreaks who began to contact him. The scattered groups of phone phreaks eventually banded together to create a nationwide underground network that shared knowledge.

Like Joybubbles, many phone phreaks were blind. Networking at a summer camp for blind kids spread phone phreaking up and down the West coast. One blind kid shared secrets of phone hacking with his blind campmates. When camp was over and the kids scattered back to their home towns, the viral intrigue spread. After one of the campers moved to the East coast and attended blind camp there, again it spread. Because of the acute hearing abilities of the blind teens, phone phreaking was a natural progression.

Brilliant Tinkering

Phone phreaking wasn’t just child’s play. It was brilliant tinkering. In order to make the phone company think its own software was talking to it, a combination of master tones could be played into the phone receiver. Among phone phreaks, there was a wide circulation of the sounds needed to make calls shared on cassette tapes, created by electric organs (or perfect pitch whistling in Joybubbles’ case). These sounds were based on a published technical journal with all the actual frequencies used to make the multi-frequency sounds. The article was eventually pulled from circulation, but by that time it was too late. The first blue box was created in just hours, and the phone system was hacked. Multi-frequency machines, called M-Fers, began a phone phreaking revolution.

Phone phreaking in itself, the exploration of the phone network, isn’t illegal. But wiretapping, stealing phone equipment, and making free phone calls is. The innocence of exploration got a bad rap from the eventual exploitation of the phone companies.

While phone phreaking was mostly innocent, computer hacking was a natural progression. One phone phreaker, Mark Bernay, went from phone phreaking to computer hacking. He wanted to find out how to beat a system and do things he wasn’t supposed to do. And he was successful in his goal. Eventually the company he worked for discovered he was illegally inhabiting a part of their internal system, and they fired him. Al Gilbertson followed in Bernay’s steps hacking into computers and selling blue boxes for profit so others could scam Ma Bell.

Phone phreaking’s influence is unmistakable. Modern hackers have been influenced by phone phreakers, naming their 2600 Hacker Quarterly after the 2600 Hertz tone that phreaks used to replicate the dial tone that would allow them initial access into the phone system.

Public Exposure

Thanks to a brilliant article published in Esquire in 1971, the general public first became aware of phreaking. The phenomenon had had a cultural impact. Not only did the exposure of Captain Crunch and Joybubbles’ abilities expose a social sub-culture of phone phreaks who banded together in their hobbies, it showed the phone companies how to lock down an insecure business. Eventually, several phone companies hired Joybubbles, and for a while he became one of the first network security police. Technical innovations were created because of the holes phone phreaks discovered.

While phone phreaks have a bad rap because they’re doing something sneaky and possibly intrusive, in reality phone phreaks are mostly innocent and amusing. They simply found holes in the phone system, and explored them. Phone phreaks weren’t stealing from anyone in particular, but were exploiting the reigning telecom monopoly held by AT&T at the time. More than anything, early phone phreaks were fascinated by the phone network, and felt compelled to play within it.

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