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Final Post

For this post we had 4 questions to answer as a way to wrap up the course.

What have you learned about technology/online tools/online resources?

Throughout this course I learned a lot of things about technology and online tools that I did not know previously. For example I learned technology vocabulary, how to use resources such as One Note and Mind Mapping, and how to navigate the OSU Library website. It was also helpful to learn tips and tricks for searching the web. As suggested in Module Six it is not only important to know how to search the web but also to know how to validate the information you find.

What have you learned about yourself?

During the course we had to take personal assessments for time management and procrastination. These taught me a lot about myself and pointed out things that I could improve during my last semester at Ohio State. While looking over my results from the procrastination assessment, I realized that I procrastinate more than I thought I did (although still not much). I think this could have been attributed to the fact that it was my last semester and I had so much going on the past seven weeks so it was difficult to stay focused on this course. Still, it was definitely eye opening to see results that suggested I was something I would never describe myself as, a procrastinator. However; I also learned that I have enough drive to stay focused while taking an online course. Although this is not my first time taking a class online, it never fails to amaze me how much work and effort you actually have to put into them. It forces you to stay organized and prioritize your assignments because you cannot wait until the last minute to get started.

What was your most meaningful experience in the course? Why?

The most meaningful part of this course for me was Module Seven. I thought it was really interesting to read about suggested ways to stay motivated. This is something that can be applied not only to school, but to my life after graduation as well. Although the tips in the lesson were specific to online classes, I feel that they can be applied to a broader range of topics and to life in general. For example, there is an initial motivation that will wear off with most things that you do and it is important to know how to handle this. Also, it is important to set goals for yourself and continue to monitor your progress towards them. This module was also a bittersweet reminder that graduation is right around the corner which is why it was most meaningful to me.

How will you apply what you learned in this class in the future?

As I mentioned above, I feel that most of the online course related topics we covered in this class can be applied to life in general. I know I have already used some of the online search tips in school and at work and I am sure I will continue to make use of these. Also, I will always verify that the information I take from the internet is reliable and accurate so that I can be sure I am making the most educated statements. Lastly, a major take away that I will leave this class with is how to better deal with my perfectionism. I learned that this is an underlying reason for procrastination because people who procrastinate “fear failure” and that you shouldn’t spend all your time attempting to make one assignment absolutely perfect. I need to keep these things in mind looking forward into my future.

Overall, I thought this was a great class. I learned a lot about myself and about how to better utilize the World Wide Web. This was a great way to end my senior year at The Ohio State University! Thank you.

Module Six

In chapter four of the text book I learned the importance of cross-checking search results to ensure their reliability, accuracy and usefulness. The book provided some great tips on how to make sure you are using the best research results for your academic papers. To verify information reliability it is important to look at author contact information and credentials, the reputation of the publication, and any sponsoring organizations. To make sure the information is of good quality you should examine it for any broad generalizations, make sure that the facts are consistent and look for a comprehensive review of sources cited. It is also important to make sure that the information you are finding is going to be useful for your assignment. Make sure your research results relate to the goals of the paper, they are appropriate for you and your audience, and that there is an adequate level of detail.

This chapter also stresses the importance of avoiding plagiarism and copyright violations which I know is a very important topic to understand, especially in college courses. It is necessary to cite and reference anything that you are using which did not come from your own brain or mouth. Also, it is important that students be aware of their schools Code of Academic Integrity. This is a great source of information that will help clear up any confusion on the subject. Lastly, be sure to ask your professor if you are unsure about something. It is better to ask ahead of time than to turn in potentially plagiarized work which will negatively affect your grade and your college experience overall. The book provided a great tip in regards to confusion on plagiarism and that is “When in doubt, don’t use it” (Watkins 74). This will save you and your professor trouble and will ultimately help you in the long run.

Book Referenced: E-Learning Companion: Student’s Guide to Online Success, 4th Edition (Chapter 4)

Module Five

I thought this lecture was very interesting because I never realized that note taking was such a detailed process. It really is important to be an active listener, take good notes, and ask questions for clarifications. The lecture slides suggested printing out the Power Point slides before going to lecture so that you can take notes directly on the slides themselves. I would definitely recommend this! This is how I take notes every time and I have found that it helps keep me organized and I always know what notes go with specific slide content. You can also do this on your computer at the bottom of a slide if you don’t like taking notes with pen and paper. I try to prepare to take notes as often as possible but honestly with a crazy college schedule it is not always possible to be as prepared as you would like. This makes it even more important that you stay focused during lecture and take clear notes that will be easy to review later. Although I prefer to take notes on paper, there is a lot of new technology that can be helpful when taking notes on a computer such as One Note, Wikis and Journaler. There are multiple strategies for note taking with include, but are not limited to, the skeleton, mind mapping, Cornell, and keywords. Although all of them accomplish the same basic function of giving you a way to set up and organize your notes during a lecture, I prefer the skeleton method. You place the lecture title and date at the top of your page and then break the paper into smaller sections as they are referenced by the lecturer.  Under these sections you can use bullets to add relevant information as you see fit. I think this provides a nice, clean, organized way to keep track of lecture content. It doesn’t matter what method you choose as long as you are using one and you are comfortable with it. Keeping organized notes will help you stay focused during the lecture and will be easier to review later before a test or quiz. Happy Note Taking!

Educational Video

This video discusses 6 shortcuts that we take when making decisions: reciprocity, scarcity, authority, consistency, liking, and consensus. Basically the video suggests that people do not take all available information into consideration when making decisions. There are things you can do to make people more likely to say yes to your requests. For example, people are more likely to return the favor if you have done something for them (reciprocity). The video uses the example of guests leaving a higher tip at a restaurant when they are given an after dinner mint. Additionally, people want more of what they can’t have, follow the lead of others who they see as credible, like to be consistent with what they have already said, agree with people they like, and base their actions off those of others. This video is basically explaining how companies and/or individuals can play on these shortcuts so that people are more likely to do what they ask.

I like this video because it presents the topic of persuasion in a new and creative way. I like following the drawings and examples throughout the video and seeing where the artist will go next on the board, the video keeps me engaged the entire time. This is a great supplement for this topic because with each shortcut the lecturer gives easy to understand examples so that I can get a better grasp on the information. It is also more interesting than reading from a boring textbook or listening to a monotone lecture. I like that this video is posted to YouTube so I can go back and watch it as many times as I need and I can also look up similar videos on different topics. I think this video does a great job of adding to my knowledge on persuasion.

Module Four

One of the most important things I took away from this chapter in the book was that each individual needs to determine what success means for them personally and then WRITE IT DOWN ON PAPER. Not only does this make you aware of what you have to do in order to accomplish success in your own terms but it will also help you keep yourself accountable for the actions taken along the way. The chapter also stresses the importance of being able to adapt to different situations. I have come to realize that this is very important in college. I personally prefer to study in a quiet room by myself because there are less distractions however I have come to realize that this is not always possible. I have to be able to adapt to various environments throughout the day so that I can still get things accomplished even when I am outside of my studying comfort zone. Lastly I thought it was interesting that the book addressed what they called “Managing Your Multitasking”. As mentioned in the chapter, no matter how good you think you are at multitasking, the truth is people are really terrible at it. It is important to know how to manage this and really make the best use of your time. Some things the book suggests are: turn off your phone, avoid listening to music, don’t surf the web if studying on your computer, and study one task at a time. With so many things consuming every minute of your day it is easy to find excuses to “multitask”. Try your hardest to avoid doing more than one thing at a time and this will ultimately result in getting them done better and faster while retaining more of the information.

Module Three

I think that this chapter in the book provides great tips for students who are new to college. There were a couple that really resonated with me and I will address those in my post today. First of all it is always important to make a good first impression. Now that you are in college, all correspondence you send out should be professional, proof read and direct. The text stated that it is okay to use acronyms such as LOL and emoticons however; I would advise using these very rarely and certainly not in professional communications. You want to make sure you are putting your best foot forward whether it is with a peer, a professor or a prospective employer. I also like the books’ suggestions about staying organized. The chapter suggests making an email folder and a file folder on your computer for each class you are in. I utilize both of these tips and it definitely makes finding assignments and documents much easier.  I have been the laugh of group meetings because of how extremely organized my email is but it helps me keep track of everything I need. Personalizing is also something that I have found to be very important. Now that I am applying for jobs and submitting cover letters via email, I know how annoying it can be to go back and personalize every single one. However, the time it takes you to change a few sentences will definitely add something extra to your letter that will stand out to companies or peers. Lastly, I wanted to comment on attaching files to emails. The book provided good tips regarding email attachments but I wanted to add one of my own: MAKE SURE THE FILE IS ATTACHED BEFORE YOU HIT SEND! I cannot tell you how many times I have typed the body of an email referencing an attachment only to hit send before actually attaching the file. This creates confusion and clutter because you have to send a follow up email with the attachment itself. Triple check any emails you are sending out so that you are 100% positive it is ready before you hit send.

I have used a blog in an English class at Ohio State before but I am excited to see how it is utilized for an online course. I am hoping that it will be much more interactive and a great source of information. I am interested to see everyone’s unique take on this course and its material. Thanks for reading!

Book referenced: E-Learning Companion: Student’s Guide to Online Success, 4th Edition (Chapter 6)