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MODULE 7: Final Reflection

Throughout this course I have learned a lot more than I thought I might. Going into it my thought was that it’s just a half semester course- I will have to complete a bunch of small assignments each week and I will get an easy A. What I didn’t know was that I would come to value this course and realize what a great decision I made by enrolling in it.

One of the biggest topics I learned about in this course was technology and all the online tools and resources that are available on the web. Whether it is through the university or Google, there are many features that you wouldn’t know are there or have even thought exist. I was able to learn about all these advanced searches I can do to make the researching process quicker and less painful. T

There are so many different tools through Google I did not know about either. Some of these include online calendars and task lists. They are quite easy to create and are beneficial in short-term and long-term situations. I am now able to create a working task list of all the things I need to get done for the week or even for the day. The calendar is a tool that will help me break down the month into weeks and days to see where I have time to fit in extra activities or necessary assignments.

Through this class I have learned that I need to be more organized with my work. If I implement some of the structures this class taught me, then I will easily be a more organized person. A lot of the time, my schedule will get messed up. I think I will have time when I don’t or an expected event will come up. Because I do not have my day planned out visually, it’s hard for me to manage my time when things like this occur. Now that I know of proper ways to deal with it, I will become a better student and overall person in the future.

My most meaningful experience in this course has been dealing with time management. This is one of my first online courses so I was not used to the weekly deadlines. A lot of my class do not have homework assignments and just have a few exams. Since I was new to this I had to make sure I made enough time each week to complete the modules. I would often do half of them at work and block out time on a specific day to complete them. I think this was a meaningful experience that will prepare me for future deadlines.

In the future I will use all of the resources that I learned about effectively. Since I only have one semester left, I will try to utilize all the study resources to my best ability so I can finish my time in under-grad strong. I will also be able to apply a lot of the things I learned to the work place. Things get hectic when you’re working 40 hours or more a week. It is often hard to find time for the things you enjoy. With my background in time management and scheduling now, I will be able to handle this change with more ease.

MODULE 6: Searching and Researching

When it comes to researching and searching, it is not enjoyable. There are hundreds of pages of results on Google when you type in your subject matter. Today I am here to tell you ways that you can improve upon your research and search skills and in SIMPLE ways too!

One thing to keep in mind is that your sources need to be credible. If you do not have sources that come from a knowledgable place, that paper you spent hours on for class will be ruined. I always look for sources from universities. The articles usually come from credible professors and the research was done in the right ways.

Another thing that may help you is to search with keywords. If you make these keywords specific to the information you are looking for then you will get narrowed down results, which will in turn give you more relatable information!

Lastly, it is important to keep in mind that your professors will grade your works cited page too. If your sources are not cited in the proper format then prepare to get point deductions. If you research the right formats whether it be MLA, APA, etc. you will get a clear picture of what your citation should look like. Some websites that are useful for creating accurate citations are easy bib.com and noodle tools.

Happy Researching!

Communicating and Collaborating Made Easy (Module 3)

Dear Blog-Reader,

Hello and welcome to the rest of your life. College is the time to step out of your comfort zone and grow in more ways than one including professional development. Follow my blog through this semester for words from the wise that I wish I would have learned sooner at times.

How you carry yourself through an email is a representation of how you want to be perceived. The use of proper grammar, sentence structure, and cohesive ideas are necessary in an academic setting. While professors can be your friends, it is important to recognize that they are your teacher at the end of the day and should be treated with a higher degree of respect. As such, there are “laws” to be follow when constructing a proper email correspondence. An e-mail should be in the format of a letter with proper greeting, appropriate subject line, and salutations. If you want to be taken seriously, then take emailing seriously. The same manners you were taught growing up in the form of etiquette translates across all forms of communication including over the internet platform. One could consider internet mannerism “netiquette”.

Pro-tips:

-Thank the professor for taking the time to read/respond

-Be concise and to the point (ie. do not waste their time with unnecessary information)

-Set up in-person meeting when more appropriate

-Use a professional email including your whole name

-DON’T USE CAPS OR CONJUNCTIONS (it’s very aggressive and informal)

-Most importantly: be yourself.

Sincerely,

Older Student