Online Learning Strategies and Skills is a web-based course that teaches students how to effectively and efficiently use the web to improve their learning in college. During my seven weeks study of ESEPSY 1159 – Online Learning Strategies and Skills, I have learned a lot about online tools and resources, as well as myself. This course brought me much meaningful experience that I am able to apply in my future study and life.
Using the web-enhanced tools for time management, and online learning, communicating, searching and researching are exactly what I have learned from this course. As for the communication and collaboration, Skype, IM, and chat rooms are chat tools that help students communicate through Internet. Doodle and WhenIsGood help students to select the best time when we need to have a face-to-face meeting. Wikis and Google Docs enable us to edit the draft simultaneously within a group of people. Also, there are a great amount of study tools on the web that help students become a creative learner, such as timelines, animations, mind maps, info-graphics, and narrated or annotated presentations. Moreover, flashcard in Google spreadsheet is also an useful tool for students’ studying. These study tools can save us a lot of time and make study full of fun through demonstrating relations with concepts, minimal use of text, organizing and structuring ideas with utilizing creative thinking.Podcast and online video are tools that help me fill the gaps if I miss a lecture or the class content is too difficult. These online tools are helpful for my recent study.
The tools are not the only thing that I have learned from this class, but also I have recognized that I need to improve my time management skills. Before learning the tools for web-enhanced learning strategies, I took the time-management self assessment which indicated that I was a serious procrastinator. However, have been using the time management tools, such as Google Task and Google Calendar, I think my procrastination has been alleviated and even the huge assignment seems not that difficult anymore.
The most meaningful experience that I have in this course is applying the animation tool which is an interesting and creative method for study. Because I adapted myself to the cramming method of education, I was studying hard only to exchange for a good grade. Fortunately, the new learning tools I have experienced in the class correct my attitude and method to study and teach me to be an creative learner, which make my college learning colorful and attractive. The animation tool also helps me apply the knowledge rather than merely remember it.
In the future, the online tools will be definitely applied in my life. I will use the Google Calendar to help me make schedules. Also, the Google Drive is a crucial tool to help me finish my group case and share it with my group members. Since my mobile phone contains the Dropbox app, it is much easier for me to transfer musics, pictures, and files between my phone and laptop. Moreover, the videos and podcasts cannot be neglected for my long-distance courses and I will apply them if I feel confused about the content of textbooks.