Discover Your New Favorite TV Show at the Library

By Joyce

We all know the most popular TV shows to watch during this pandemic. They include hits such as The Sopranos, Sex and the City, and The Office.

However, there are many shows that might not be on the top 10 list, but are definitely worth watching. Here are my picks that you'll be able to borrow from our library.

The Wire: This series follows a joint homicide/narcotics police detail to investigate a drug-dealing operation.

Boardwalk Empire: The birth and rise of organized crime in Prohibition-era Atlantic City.

Downton Abbey: A sprawling, lavish Edwardian mansion nestled in the Yorkshire landscape.It focuses on the lives of the Crowley family and the servants of the estate.

Homeland: A psychological thriller that tells the story of Carrie Mathison.

Dexter: When blood spatter analyst Dexter Morgan is not out solving murders, he spends his time as a serial killer who eliminates those who do bad things.

Ugly Betty: Smart but wholesome Betty embraces her unique appearance and independent attitude in the cutthroat world of New York City.

Deadwood: This series focuses on the birth of a frontier town and the power struggle between its just and unjust inhabitants.

Last Detective: "Dangerous" Davies is one offbeat flatfoot who takes the stuff at the bottom of the pile-the cases nobody wants. Davies and good friend Mod help unfold events that usually end up in disaster, but still manage to nab their man.

Doc Martin: A brilliant and socially awkward and neurotic Doctor who develops an aversion to blood.

Revenge: Wealth, beauty and status define the people in this town, but one woman is willing to destroy everyone for the sake of revenge.

DVDs circulate for one week and can be renewed. Happy watching! 

Treasure Hunting 2020

By John

Want something to do that involves the outdoors, a bit of a mystery, travel to new locales and which won’t break social distancing guidelines? Welcome to geocaching!

At its heart this fun activity involves you, a GPS or phone app, your keen eye and wits.

Geocaching players hide caches all over the world from Concord, NH to South Korea. Though they have since been discontinued, even NHTI had several on campus many years ago. The caches are generally waterproof Tupperware containers that hold a log book, paper or pen and maybe some swag (small toys, ornamental buttons, or coins). To play, merely travel to the website. There you can search a map for nearby cache locations, download coordinates into a handheld GPS or phone app, read the description, read the hint if you need a little help and set off to find the hidden treasure. Many of the caches are located in state parks, off wooded city trails and along hiking paths so be sure to dress appropriately. The GPS coordinates will get you close but its your wits and sharp eye that bring you to the prize. Geocachers are clever with their hiding spots – the end of a hollowed log covered by leaves, beneath a large rock, or pushed under that toppled tree. Once you have the container in hand you generally sign the log book. If there are treasures it is ok to take one though you should leave a little something in return. In today’s COVID-19 climate it is acceptable just to have the personal satisfaction of finding the well-hidden treasure box if you didn’t wish to sign the log or trade a treasure. Once done you place the box back as you found it for the next hunter.

That is the description of the traditional geocache. There are many different types to keep you entertained. Examples include:

• multi-caches - one cache leads you to another and that one to another until you find the final treasure box
• mystery-puzzle cache - you must solve a puzzle to receive the coordinates
• moving caches - each person who finds the cache re-hides it in a new location and updates the coordinates.

Among the swag you may find a travel bug. This is a special item that someone placed in a cache with the sole purpose of having it move from cache to cache. Each geocacher who finds the item will move it to another cache and log it on the website. That way the owner of the travel bug can watch its progress. Once upon a time, I launched a travel bug and asked that it travel the world. This is how a poor and humble Gumby went from Maine, to Oregon, to Utah, to Norway, Latvia, the Netherlands, Belgium and France with many stops in between.

Hopefully I have piqued your interest in a fun way to spend an afternoon outdoors solo or with your family. It won’t be long until you take your explorations out of your home turf and start to explore other parts the state and country. To learn more, check out the geocaching website or page through one of these books from our collection: 

• Geocaching: Hike and Seek with Your GPS
• The Joy of Geocaching: How to Find Health, Happiness and Creative Energy Through a Worldwide Treasure Hunt

NHTI Community eBooks - August 2020

More eBooks?!

Absolutely! This fall we’re going to pilot a new program. Basically, the Library will add three new titles to our eBook collection each month which promote innovation, awareness, exploration, and learning. 

You can browse through this month's list of eBook titles below. 

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Best Practices in Designing Courses with Open Educational Resources 

by Olena Zhadko and Susan Schor Ko

Click here to read the Library's copy

Best Practices in Designing Courses with Open Educational Resources is a practical guide that assists faculty and institutions looking to adopt and implement open educational resources (OER) and to foster meaningful, effective learning experiences through the course design process. Chapters loaded with tips, case examples, and guidance from practitioners advise readers through each step necessary for sustainable OER initiatives, from preliminary planning and course redesign through teaching, learning, and faculty development. Written by two authors with direct experience in training higher education professionals to use OER, this is a comprehensive resource for faculty, instructional designers, course developers, librarians, information technologists, and administrators hoping to rethink and refresh their curricula by moving beyond traditional textbooks. An authors'website expands the book with resources, templates, and examples of implementation models, including faculty development workshop OER materials that can be adopted by readers.

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Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World 

by David Epstein

Click here to read the Library's copy

Plenty of experts argue that anyone who wants to develop a skill, play an instrument, or lead their field should start early, focus intensely, and rack up as many hours of deliberate practice as possible. If you dabble or delay, you'll never catch up to the people who got a head start. But a closer look at research on the world's top performers, from professional athletes to Nobel laureates, shows that early specialization is the exception, not the rule. David Epstein examined the world's most successful athletes, artists, musicians, inventors, forecasters and scientists. He discovered that in most fields—especially those that are complex and unpredictable—generalists, not specialists, are primed to excel. Generalists often find their path late, and they juggle many interests rather than focusing on one. They're also more creative, more agile, and able to make connections their more specialized peers can't see. Provocative, rigorous, and engrossing, Range makes a compelling case for actively cultivating inefficiency. Failing a test is the best way to learn. Frequent quitters end up with the most fulfilling careers. The most impactful inventors cross domains rather than deepening their knowledge in a single area. As experts silo themselves further while computers master more of the skills once reserved for highly focused humans, people who think broadly and embrace diverse experiences and perspectives will increasingly thrive.

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Tell Me Who You Are: Sharing Our Stories of Race, Culture, & Identity 

by Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi

Click here to read the Library's copy

In this deeply inspiring book, Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi recount their experiences talking to people from all walks of life about race and identity on a cross-country tour of America. Spurred by the realization that they had nearly completed high school without hearing any substantive discussion about racism in school, the two young women deferred college admission for a year to collect first-person accounts of how racism plays out in this country every day--and often in unexpected ways. In Tell Me Who You Are, Guo and Vulchi reveal the lines that separate us based on race or other perceived differences and how telling our stories--and listening deeply to the stories of others--are the first and most crucial steps we can take towards negating racial inequity in our culture. Featuring interviews with over 150 Americans accompanied by their photographs, this intimate toolkit also offers a deep examination of the seeds of racism and strategies for effecting change.This groundbreaking book will inspire readers to join Guo and Vulchi in imagining an America in which we can fully understand and appreciate who we are.

For the birds!

by Claudia Wason

One day, while walking across campus, a bald eagle flew much lower than they normally do, circling several times before flying off toward the river. I looked around to see if anyone else had been fortunate enough to share a glimpse of this majestic bird. Several people were walking nearby, but each one had their eyes on their phones. A feeling of well-being from this brief but spectacular view of the natural world stayed with me for several days. 

During this stressful time, even a short escape into the natural world can greatly reduce anxiety and stress. I’ve learned where to walk in my neighborhood in order to be accompanied by a chorus of birdsong. A walk with music provided by an avian choir leaves me feeling refreshed and renewed. If you normally walk with your phone in hand, try leaving it at home or in your pocket. Perhaps, like me, you’ll find joy in watching and listening to the very social black-capped chickadees.

Whether you are new to birdwatching or have been enjoying the our feathered friends for years, the Library has great resources to help you learn more about birds near you.

Birds & Blooms

The August/September issue of Birds & Blooms magazine is available online through Flipster. Check out the lovely stellar jay on the cover of the current issue or look through the back issues! This magazine not only has great articles and photos of birds, but it includes tips for planting gardens that will attract birds and butterflies. 

The Flipster database can be found about halfway down the Library: Research & Resources page.

 

Films on Demand

One of my favorite databases has great full length and film segments, such as Counting on Birds: Tales of Migration—Counting on Birds Full Video (56:28). 

Description: “More than a century ago, ornithologist Frank Chapman redirected a Christmas-time tradition of revelers shooting birds to a new holiday recreation: counting birds instead. Now join the annual bird count, the longest-running wildlife census in the world. Distributed by PBS Distribution.” Join host Willem Lange, as he starts out in New Hampshire and travels to Maine, Ecuador, and Cuba to follow migrating birds. 

Films on Demand can be accessed through the Library's databases page. 

Books

Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Songs by Les Beletsky – A traditional book with built-in audio! 

Description from Amazon: “Drawing from the collection of the world-renowned Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Bird Songs presents the most notable North American birds, including the rediscovered Ivory-billed Woodpecker, with lavish full-color illustrations and accompanied by their corresponding songs and calls. Renowned bird biologist Les Beletsky provides a succinct description of each of the 250 birds profiled, with an emphasis on their distinctive songs…”

Birding by Ear a Peterson Guide 

Description: Designed to help listeners recognize birds of eastern and central North America by their songs and calls. Points out exactly what to listen for to tell one bird from another.

Bird Song Ear Training Guide by John Feith 

Description: “A guide for anyone who wishes to improve their ability to recognize bird songs. Featuring 189 species found in the midwest and northeast states, each bird song recording is followed by a short description along with a common mnemonic used to remember it.”

Birds of New Hampshire & Vermont: Field Guide by Stan Tekiela

Description: “This book features 130 species of New Hampshire and Vermont birds, organized by color for ease of use. Do you see a yellow bird and don't know what it is? Go to the yellow section to find out. Fact-filled information, a compare feature, range maps and detailed photographs help to ensure that you positively identify the birds that you see.”

The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman 

Description: "Birds are astonishingly intelligent creatures. In fact, according to revolutionary new research, some birds rival primates and even humans in their remarkable forms of intelligence. Like humans, many birds have enormous brains relative to their size. Although small, bird brains are packed with neurons that allow them to punch well above their weight. In The Genius of Birds, acclaimed author Jennifer Ackerman explores the newly discovered brilliance of birds and how it came about."-- provided by publisher.

Bird-Watcher's Bible: A Complete Treasury--Science, Know-how, Beauty, Lore by Jonathan Alderfer [et al.] 

Description from publisher: “A lighthearted and broadly cultural and visual approach to learning everything there is to know about birds, bird-watching, birds in history and the arts, and life on the wing. Short narrative pieces are interspersed with sidebars, quotes, top-ten lists, and how-to instructions. Illustrated with photographs, contemporary and archival art, maps, and diagrams, the book has lots of cross-references and riches to find on every page...”

More birding resources:

• NH Audubon
• Nature trails, guide to birdwatching basics, information about native birds, and much, much more!
• The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Information about birds, bird identification help, bird songs, and all other things for the birds!

Looking for something else? We are here to help! Contact us via the Chat box during our regular hours, via email, or call (603) 230-4028!

Happy birding!

Do You Know About Career Coach?

NHTI – Concord’s Community College has access to an online program called Career Coach. This program is a great way to discover majors and in-demand careers and education based on your interests. A lot of students begin their college career knowing the exact field and profession they want to enter, however, a good portion of students don’t, and that’s okay! Career Coach is here to help and this is how it works:

1. Start by taking a career assessment. There are two versions you can take: a short 6-question version, or a more detailed 60-question version. These questions will ask you about your interests-- whether you’re more of a leader, if you like working in areas of biology or mathematics, and so on. This is a great resource to really make you think about what you like to do and might enjoy doing as part of your career. Once you’ve answered all the questions, your results will include your top personality traits and which career fields you best match up with. Don’t worry if your suggested career fields seem out in left field! These results are meant to give you some career choices to think over and dig deeper into before making a full commitment. Remember, college is a time to explore your interests and NHTI offers dozens of classes in various subjects, try some out!

2. Next, browse some careers. Maybe you already have an idea in mind for your future career, or you’re really interested in a topic area but have no idea how to turn that into a career. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there! Career Coach has a section where you can browse through careers in various topics areas like education, law, government, and so on. Did you know you can do so much more with a criminal justice degree than become a police officer? Scroll through some of the career fields and see if you find anything that might interest you.

3. Try browsing some of the programs. So you’ve decided you really like the medical field but don’t really know where in that field you would like to work. Career Coach allows you to browse through all the programs that are offered at NHTI. Did you know we have a Rad Tech program? What about Nursing? Maybe you’re interested in more of the business side of the medical field? This section breaks down the various programs into groups so you can easily work your way through each program to determine which is the best fit for you.

4. Are you a Veteran? Career Coach provides a great resource to help match a civilian job with the skills you learn while serving the United State’s military. Did you spend a lot of times with computers, learning various programs and how to develop programs? A career in IT might be the perfect fit for you! This tool can be an excellent resource if you are looking to make a transition into a new career, or continue expanding upon an area you’ve already qualified in based on your years of service.

5. You can also build your resume! What does a good resume look like? How many pages should it be and what font should you use? Do you include your experience in high school or not? Resume building tends to be the area people need the most help because you just never really know what a future employer might want to see. This resource will walk you through adding your experience, education and skills to a comprehensive document that can be sent to hiring officials. Plus, once you’ve built your resume once, you only need to tweak it with each new experience and skill you gain-- that’s awesome!

The main point to take away from this is to not be intimidated because there is plenty of help to go around. You don’t have to have it all figured out on day one of your college career. Try a new class or check out a program you never thought you would be interested in. Career Coach is here to help you figure out who you want to be and what you want to do with your life, so give it a try!

Attention Campus Book Clubs!!

Nearing the end of your summer reading list or maybe looking for a good book to spark some productive conversations? The Library maintains so many books, audiobooks and eBooks that readers are able to consume their reading in so many platforms! Here are some socially conscious books that we think you might like and will help continue our social justice education. Enjoy!

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D.

• Free access to eBook for NHTI students, staff and faculty 
• Print book in NHTI collection- E185.625 .T38 2003

Walk into any racially mixed high school and you will see Black, White, and Latino youth clustered in their own groups. Is this self-segregation a problem to address or a coping strategy? Beverly Daniel Tatum, a renowned authority on the psychology of racism, argues that straight talk about our racial identities is essential if we are serious about enabling communication across racial and ethnic divides. These topics have only become more urgent as the national conversation about race is increasingly acrimonious. This fully revised edition is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the dynamics of race in America.

White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

• Free access to eBook for NHTI students, staff, and faculty
• Print book in NHTI collection- HT1521 .D486 2018

In this “vital, necessary, and beautiful book” (Michael Eric Dyson), antiracist educator Robin DiAngelo deftly illuminates the phenomenon of white fragility and “allows us to understand racism as a practice not restricted to ‘bad people’ (Claudia Rankine). Referring to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, white fragility is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and by behaviors including argumentation and silence. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium and prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue. In this in-depth exploration, DiAngelo examines how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively.

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

• Free access to eBook for NHTI students, staff, and faculty
• Print book in NHTI collection- E184.A1 K344 2019

Antiracism is a transformative concept that reorients and reenergizes the conversation about racism—and, even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. At its core, racism is a powerful system that creates false hierarchies of human value; its warped logic extends beyond race, from the way we regard people of different ethnicities or skin colors to the way we treat people of different sexes, gender identities, and body types. Racism intersects with class and culture and geography and even changes the way we see and value ourselves. In How to Be an Antiracist, Kendi takes readers through a widening circle of antiracist ideas—from the most basic concepts to visionary possibilities—that will help readers see all forms of racism clearly, understand their poisonous consequences, and work to oppose them in our systems and in ourselves.

Kendi weaves an electrifying combination of ethics, history, law, and science with his own personal story of awakening to antiracism. This is an essential work for anyone who wants to go beyond the awareness of racism to the next step: contributing to the formation of a just and equitable society.

So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

• Free access to eBook for NHTI students, staff, and faculty
• Audiobook in NHTI collection- AUDB E184.A1 O48 2018

Widespread reporting on aspects of white supremacy--from police brutality to the mass incarceration of Black Americans--has put a media spotlight on racism in our society. Still, it is a difficult subject to talk about. How do you tell your roommate her jokes are racist? Why did your sister-in-law take umbrage when you asked to touch her hair--and how do you make it right? How do you explain white privilege to your white, privileged friend?

In So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo guides readers of all races through subjects ranging from intersectionality and affirmative action to "model minorities" in an attempt to make the seemingly impossible possible: honest conversations about race and racism, and how they infect almost every aspect of American life.

Day Trips in New Hampshire

During this trying time, with the requirement for social distancing and limiting contact with strangers, it’s easy to start feeling housebound and restless. Fortunately, New Hampshire offers possibilities not available in many areas of the country. The natural beauty that surrounds us, whether it be forested mountains, scenic highways, clear, blue lakes, hiking trails, rushing rivers, or the view of the sea, allows us to get out and enjoy a few hours from home, but still allows us to return by the end of a day.

NHTI Boat Launch 

If you just like to drive or ride in a car along scenic roads and highways, New Hampshire has an endless variety for you to choose. There are Routes 10 and 12A that run along the Connecticut River valley; Route 9 from Concord to Keene to Brattleboro; Route 302 from Conway to Carroll; and of course, the Kancamagus Highway from Lincoln to Conway. All along these routes are quaint towns, valley vistas, and mountain views.

Or, if you’ve always wanted to see all the covered bridges in the state, you might go to Visit New England - New Hampshire and map out your plan of attack.

View from Mount Israel

If you prefer more strenuous activity, most of New Hampshire’s hiking trails are still open. While you may have to take along a face mask, and try not to intrude on other hikers’ space, you should still be able to enjoy the summer outdoors. The number of possible trails is almost endless, but this might be the time to avoid Mount Major or Cannon Cliff. Take the time to explore new sites such as West Rattlesnake Mountain off of NH-113 or Smarts Brook off of NH-49.

If you would like to go the beach to cool off, New Hampshire ocean and lake beaches are open, with restrictions. Go to the New Hampshire State Park's website to read the latest on how to apply for a reservation and what rules to follow when you get there. It sounds like they’ve done their best to provide access to our beautiful lakes and the inviting ocean.

However you want to do it, New Hampshire still gives you choices on how to get out and feel free again, while remaining as safe as possible during the pandemic. If you’d like more ideas and information, try Visit NH or look at the following electronic resources on the Library’s website:

• In EBSCOhost, you can find the eBook, Deep Travel: In Thoreau’s Wake on the Concord and Merrimack, by David K. Leff
• County Roads of New Hampshire: Drives, Day Trips and Weekend Excursions, by Steve Sherman
• Natural Wonders of New Hampshire: Exploring Wild and Scenic Places, by Suki Casanave.

Picture Books and Bibliotherapy

by Claudia Wason

I have a confession to make – I love picture books! I have been known to check out picture books from the Library, even during times without young children or grandchildren in my life. Most book lovers can trace their love of reading back to the pages of picture books.

In addition to helping develop a love of reading, comfort can be found within the pages of books in the form of bibliotherapy*. For children, picture books can help them to make sense of a confusing and sometimes scary world. The right books can help nurture tolerance, acceptance, and understanding.

The Library has a great collection of picture books.

Don't Touch My Hair!  by Sharee Miller

Summary: “Aria loves her soft and bouncy hair, but must go to extremes to avoid people who touch it without permission until, finally, she speaks up. Includes author's note.”

Great book for opening up discussions about respecting personal space and boundaries, as well as race.




Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton

Summary: “A nervous Splat finds his first day at Cat School much better than he expected.”

Is it just me or do we ever really outgrow the curious mixture of excitement and anxiety about the first day of school?

Ian's Walk: A Story About Autism by Laurie Lears

Summary: “Ian, who is autistic, takes a walk with his sisters and demonstrates how he sees, hears, smells, and tastes things differently.”

Great selection to foster understanding and open discussions about differences. This book features beautiful, realistic illustrations.




With over 1,000 picture books in the Library collection, there is sure to be something to share with you children, grandchildren, or to read on your own. If you are not convinced about the joys of reading picture books, the Library has books to help convince you otherwise. Happy reading!

Wild Things: The Joy of Reading Children's Literature as an Adult by Bruce Handy

Summary: "An irresistible, nostalgic, and insightful--and totally original--ramble through classic children's literature from Vanity Fair contributing editor (and father) Bruce Handy. In 1690, the dour New England Primer, thought to be the first American children's book, was published in Boston. Offering children gems of advice such as "Strive to learn" and "Be not a dunce," it was no fun at all. So how did we get from there to "Let the wild rumpus start"? And now that we're living in a golden age of children's literature, what can adults get out of reading Where the Wild Things Are and Goodnight Moon, or Charlotte's Web and Little House on the Prairie? In Wild Things, Vanity Fair contributing editor Bruce Handy revisits the classics of every American childhood, from fairy tales to The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and explores the back stories of their creators, using context and biography to understand how some of the most insightful, creative, and witty authors and illustrators of their times created their often deeply personal masterpieces. Along the way, Handy learns what The Cat in the Hat says about anarchy and absentee parenting, which themes are shared by The Runaway Bunny and Portnoy's Complaint, and why Ramona Quimby is as true an American icon as Tom Sawyer or Jay Gatsby. It's a profound, eye-opening experience to reencounter books that you once treasured after decades apart. A clear-eyed love letter to the greatest children's books and authors from Louisa May Alcott and L. Frank Baum to Eric Carle, Dr. Seuss, Mildred D. Taylor, and E.B. White, Wild Things will bring back fond memories for readers of all ages, along with a few surprises"-- Provided by publisher.

*According to the 1993 edition of The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, “bibliotherapy n.[is] the use of reading matter for therapeutic purposes.”

Reserves in the Library

Library Reserves are books and other materials that are kept behind the Service Desk for use by students in the Library. These items cannot be checked out, but they can be signed out for use in the Library for up to two hours at a time.

NHTI faculty often request that specific items be placed on reserve in order that they be available to all the students in a particular class, or course of study. By temporarily restricting them to Library Use Only, they ensure that the items will not be checked out for our usual 21-day period by one student, and thus be unavailable for everybody else.

Reserve items may be from the Library’s own collection, or they may belong to a specific department or faculty member. They may be books, models, pre-printed articles, flash cards, DVDs, or other materials.

To use a Reserve item, just present your NHTI student ID (or other acceptable ID) to the person at the Service Desk and ask for the item you need. The Library staff member will find your item, take your ID and ask you to write your name on the item’s sign-out form. You are now free to use the item within the Learning Commons area for two-hours. If there are specific parts of the item that are assigned, you may want to use the Library scanner to send those pages to your e-mail or to a flash drive for later study.

When you are finished, just return the item to the Service Desk and retrieve your ID.

The only exception to the rule of keeping Reserves in the Library are items marked Overnight Use Only. These are items such as DVDs/Blu-rays, ancillary readings, flash cards or other material that your professor feels could be better studied at home or in the residence hall. These items are signed-out the same as any other, but must be returned the next day that the Library is open. This ensures that the material is available for another student as soon as possible.

We at the Library try our best to share out Reserve items on a fair and equitable basis. There may be times when we can extend the two-hour limit and allow you more time to use them. At other times, the material is needed for an upcoming exam and every student in the class needs access, so we may be stricter in observing the time limit, for obvious reasons.

As always, the Library staff is your friendly source of information about Reserves as well as all our other resources. Come by and get to know us.

Taking Courses with Zoom

This fall many NHTI courses will meet remotely. We’ve compiled some tips to help prepare you for learning through Zoom.

Before the Semester Begins

Become Familiar with Zoom

It’s best to log in to Zoom before your class begins to ensure that the software works well with your computer. Visit Zoom’s Test Meeting to become familiar with the software’s features. You will be able to test your computer’s audio and camera. Take time to also learn how to mute your microphone, turn off the camera, raise your hand, and use the chat feature. 

Log on to Canvas

Most instructors publish their courses before the start of the semester. Log on to Canvas to review the syllabus and become familiar with the course layout.

Set Up Your Space

It might be tempting to turn the camera off, lay back on the couch, and “attend” class while also catching up on your favorite new Netflix show. For many reasons, this is not recommended.

Sit so that you are comfortable but also alert. (There’s a reason why classrooms do not have recliners.) Reduce background noise and remove visual distractions so that your classmates will be able to focus on the lecture and not the antics of your super cute cat. Position a lamp so that your face is illuminated.

One Your First Day (and Beyond)

Come to Class Early

Log on five minutes before class begins. Some instructors will set up the Zoom room so that you can enter early while others may ask you to wait in a waiting room. Either way, logging on early will give you a chance to settle in so that you’re ready when class begins. Also, don’t forget to be prepared and have everything you need—textbooks, notebooks, writing implements, water, etc. 

Use Your First and Last Name

It will take a while for your instructor and classmates to go to know you so it's best to log in with your first and last name. Remember, you might not be the only Tony in class so logging in as Tony’s iPhone could be confusing. 

During Class

Each class will have its own setup and culture. However, unless otherwise instructed it’s usually best to mute your microphone and raise your hand when you’d like to speak.

Speak to the camera, not the screen. You will look more natural.

If possible, use headphones to reduce noise and static. 

Avoid Multitasking and Reduce Distractions

We all think that we can listen to a lecture and respond to an email at the same time. Research shows that while we can do that, we can’t do both tasks well. When you’re in class, be in class. Avoid the multitasking trap and reduce distractions by turning off email and social media alerts. 

Ask for Help When Needed

At NHTI we all have one goal—for our students to succeed! If you’re struggling with Zoom (or anything else) contact your instructor or advisor. Little problems usually don’t just go away; in fact, they often lead to bigger problems. Don’t hesitate to reach out.

Explore New Hampshire on Two Wheels

By Joyce

In my opinion, New Hampshire is one of the prettiest states to bike ride. Whether it's along the scenic coast, mountain terrain, or rail trails.

One of my favorites is the Derry/Windham/Salem Trail. This trail is approximately 11 miles round trip. Along this route you'll see the Boston-Maine C16 caboose, and 150 feet away stop in for an ice cream at the Windham Junction. Here you can pick up a map, and you'll find "points of interest" along the way.

Continue this trail south and you'll come across a coffee shop, bike shop, and the Tuscan Market, where you can feast on an Italian meal. Your ride will end at the Salem Depot Transportation Museum.

Looking for a nice scenic coastal trip? Begin at the Odiorne Point State Park. This ride is only 2.6 miles, but perfect for families or for first time bike riders. There is history to explore, and of course excellent ocean views.

Please remember the "rules of the road" and wear your helmet!

(Video created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. Visit their website for more information.)

Check out these books in our collection:

• Cycling the Backroads of Southern New Hampshire: 30 Scenic Tours
• Mountain Biking New Hampshire: A Guide to the 25 Best Places to Ride
• Bicycle Touring: The Complete Book on Touring by Bike
• Mountain Bike America:New Hampshire, Maine

Helpful links:

• Windham Rail Trail Alliance
• Derry Rail Trail
• Salem Bike-Ped Corridor
• NH State Parks