Week 8

Week 8. The final week. The end has come.

I'm a pretty open person, and I enjoy blogging. I do it regularly just for fun. Whether anyone actually reads my nutty ramblings is beyond me, but it's therapeutic in a sense. I think it is a platform to express feelings, review experiences, document events, rant a little, share (perhaps a little too much), and leave a footprint on the virtual world.

So, I applaud this portion of the class

Overall, my impressions of this course have been a series of "Oh yeah.... I remember that," and "Hm... have I been doing that lately?" It has served as a wonderful review of information. From my perspective, this course, for someone who is just now entering college or experiencing secondary education as an adult learner for the first time, provides a plethora of pertinent insight into the virtual classroom. As someone who has been in college FOOOORRRRRRREVVVVVVEEEERRRRR... (channel The Sand Lot), as a traditional on-campus student, non-traditional on-campus adult learner, and online learner, it was definitely a refresher. Everyone needs a refresher though. You can't just take one sip of water and never need another.

I have enjoyed the discussions and conversing with other students. It's often difficult to get to know your classmates when you are miles away and bouncing idea off one another, taking in others' perspectives

I have learned about goals, what makes a good one, and how to write them properly. I have learned how to study in a manner that is effective, proven, and completely doable. I have used new techniques to take notes and explored new ideas that might make everything I read stick a little better. I have been reminded of the power of PowerPoint, and the billions of functions that Microsoft Word can do. APA and I united to tackle the looniest of toons. I have revisited the search functions of GALILEO and other online databases and made sure to give credit where credit is due. Overall, I feel good. I am dedicated to making my online education successful, not only for myself but for the people photographed below.

I walk away from this course with a sense of accomplishment, confidence, and knowledge that I can do this.

I leave you with a photo of my handsome husband, beautiful yet rowdy munchkins, and myself.

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Week 7

Let's be honest. We have all experienced ridiculously boring PowerPoint presentations. We have sat silently as someone read word for word through a million slides. We have dozed off as the monochromatic colors merged together in our minds and the content was lost among a droning buzz of a classmate's or instructor's voice.

If you haven't guessed, week 7 focused on PowerPoint. Now, I, for one, enjoy Power Point presentations if they are done properly. I do not want my reading skills insulted, and please, for goodness sake, make it interesting.... visually and verbally.

We were asked to compile a short presentation based on specified criteria, and it was mostly a review. As a Shorter student, and I think it particularly applies to the CAPP program, PowerPoint is utilized very frequently. Basics for how to put together a presentation and operate the program were covered in an computer course I previously took, but I think this is one area that cannot be reviewed enough. The best presentations are simple in verbiage and visually intriguing yet kind to the eyes. They note important points and key facts. When utilized correctly, PowerPoint presentations serve as valuable tools and complements to a presentation.  

As a class, we participated in a discussion about some do's and don'ts of PowerPoint (from the lists found here and here). We each picked a few of out favorites from the list and shared ideas about how they can be used effectively in an awesome presentation.  Besides the aforementioned, I also touched on editing, avoiding excessive flare (noises, flashing lights, blind-style fading from left to right transitions, etc.) and insuring that the presentation is formatted to open and load properly on the computer.

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Week 6

Hello American Psychological Association (aka APA). You, my dear, are one half of a love-hate relationship.

During week 6, we visited the beloved APA format/writing style. I, for one, don't particularly mind writing in a uniformed format. I think it makes things easier, provides clear guidelines, and provides proper documentation for resources and references. The rules (see image above) can be rigorous, and for those unfamiliar with APA, may seem daunting; however, it really does make things easier.

We worked with a document (about my childhood pals, The Looney Tunes) where we were asked for correct APA errors in formatting and citation. Since I've been at Shorter for several years, APA format has been thoroughly engrained into my mind and emphasized heavily, so this wasn't too bad of an assignment. We also were asked to make a reference list that follows APA format. References are always the most difficult part, but this assignment was a nice review.

We also learned about searching the valuable resources we have available. Sources such as GALILEO and other various databases are filled with ample references for an infinite amount of topics; however, they are pretty useless if you do not understand how to utilize a basic search, The assignment for this topic revolved around keyword searches (what I use most frequently). Again, this was a great refresher.

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Week 5

Tests. No one likes tests. I don't like tests. In fact, they dig into an anxiety- filled space in my soul that I do not like to visit.

During week 5, the focus of the assignments was centered around exam preparation and studying. We were given resources which provided ample tips and tricks for preparing for an exam from those, I chose three strategies that I felt are or would be effective for preparing for an exam: study sheets, recitation, and word cards. I'm a study sheet fiend. I like having important details/information in one place, so that is something I utilize frequently (and they are super portable which makes them perfect for my crazy life). In addition, I often find myself reciting the information from them which helps. Visual and verbal input seems to engrave things in my mind. Word cards are things I utilized in middle and high school, but I'm seeing that they can be effective in more difficult coursework.

A special part of this week's assignments were dedicated to the dreaded essay exam. You know, those awful open-ended questions or statements we are asked to delve into detail about? Those moments of desperately and frantically searching through your mental files for something that will fulfill the professor's desire. Yeah. Those. Well, to combat that, we participated in a discussion where we were asked to share tips for learning sufficient information for an essay style exam. I chose to focus on three tried and true methods that work for me: Outlines, mnemonic devices, and just good ol' knowledge. Understanding the material is key. You can write about something you are unfamiliar with, so I think that is an excellent starting point. From there, use outlines to organize your thoughts. It's a great way to make sure you cover everything you need/want to cover. Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally, ROY. G. BIV, etc. are examples of mnemonic devices which are great ways to provide yourself with cues of important lists, dates, people, places, or other information.

We also worked with a 5-day Study Plan which is a structured study regiment which focuses on the intake of new information paired with review of previously learned information. Subdividing information daily portions helps to alleviate the need to cram (GUILTY!) and reinforce learning.

I should seriously consider implementing the 5-day plan. I'm horrible at finding time to set apart specifically for studying, but it would likely be very beneficial to myself and set a good example for my children.

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Week 4

The goal of this post..... no, no, no. Only kidding.

Week 4 was focused primarily on goals. Goals, those sometimes attainable, sometimes not, glimpses of hopes and dreams that may be as simple as getting an A on an upcoming test or as complex as becoming the President of the United States. No matter what the goal may be, there is a specific process for writing them, detailed characteristics of it looks like, and

We worked on assignments which sought to identify exactly what a goal is, our own goals, the to writing effective goals. For example, goals have seven key characteristics including that they should be initiated by the individual who intends to accomplish them and should maintain a level of challenge that is suitable for the individual. Similarly, there are five steps to writing effective goals such as identifying obstacles which may prevent you from reaching or goal and recognizing resources which may assist you.

In addition to goals, we also spent some time with time management. Honestly, this is a struggle for me. As a full time online student, stay at home mother to two children, and freelance editor who also works from home, things get pretty crazy. Time for a specific task is often spread across an entire day (or days) and potentially interrupted a million times for more pertinent tasks. We used an online time management tool (Time Management Inventory) which was a neat way to see how our time is spent. While I understand how it is an effective tool for those with set or designated schedules, I do not believe it was necessarily applicable to my particular lifestyle (organized, or not-so-organized, chaos).

Being an online student makes education fit into my crazy schedule; therefore, this week's time management assignment made me appreciate the fact that I am able to complete my education online. In the same way, the goal-related assignments forced me to reexamine my own goals.

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Week 3

Notes.... those pertinent bits of information that you put on paper to reference later. I like to take notes. It keeps me on track and more involved in lectures and the general learning process.

S-RUN-R is a study technique we learned about this week. This technique is a system I was unfamiliar with; however, after exploring its features, I am looking forward to implementing it into study routines.

S: Survey- This gives the reader the opportunity to skim through the material and gain an idea/perspective of what the material is about. Headings or changes in the text presentation may be hints to identifying key ideas.

R: Read- Reading each section is vital to obtaining and retaining information. By writing down the headings of each section in your notes, you are able to set the stage for organized note taking.

U: Underline/Highlight- Use this step to notate important information.

N: Note Taking- Use the headings from the previous steps to identify important pieces of information.

R: Review- Go over your notes and use other methods to help review (such as recitation, self-tests, asking questions). Go over any provided review material such as the textbook chapter reviews.

In addition to this aforementioned study technique, we also learned about two note taking systems: Cornell and Outlines. I'm definitely an outline kind of girl. I like to break down bigger ideas into more detailed subsections.

As a class, we discussed homework strategies. I have to admit, I'm pretty much all over the place when it comes to doing homework. I enjoy working in areas that are full of chaos, and I flip-flop between assignments constantly. It may not be ideal according to research; however, it works extraordinarily well for me.

I'm still feeling positively about my decision to become an online learner at Shorter. In fact, after doing more research with my advisor this past week, I'm kind of upset I didn't jump on the online bandwagon sooner.

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Week 2

Anyone remember this guy? If you've been using Microsoft Word for a while, then I'm sure you remember him. Pretty sure he doesn't exist in the newer versions, but he should. Nifty (sometimes helpful) little fella.

This week, we focused a great deal on Microsoft Word (2007 edition). While most of the information was a collaboration of things I already knew or had learned in previous courses, it's always nice to get a refresher. We were asked to complete a series of tasks to demonstrate basic use of Word. I do think that it would be better for future courses to update the Word portion to the latest version; however, the information linked to the course was informative, easy to understand, and beneficial for individuals who may not be familiar with the word processing program.

I'm feeling pretty good about my progress as an online student at this point. I registered for courses for my next semester and consulted with my advisor about my degree progress. Things are looking bright, and the end is definitely in sight. Becoming an online student was an excellent decision for me!

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