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Module 7: Keys to Motivation for Online Learning

Module 7 contains a lot of good pointers on motivation and concentration. Specifically, slides 7-12 breakdown multiple tips that I have personally had experience with and find to be quite helpful. A quiet place to work is certainly one of the most important factors in creating a work environment beneficial to productivity and concentration. If you are working in a noisy environment, it can be easy to get distracted or lose focus due to the surrounding noise. One of the ways I find helpful that is also mentioned in the slides is to listen to music. Most of the time when I work, I have my AirPods in and am listening to one of my playlists. This helps me block out extra noise while only focusing on my work. One of the keys here is to choose music that won’t distract you, but will allow you to use it as a wall for all other noise. Lastly, there are many tools to avoid online distractions such as going on shopping sites or playing online games. One of the ways to control this is to download an app to help. The app I used this past week, SelfControl, allows users to restrict specific URL’s for a select period of time (while working) to prevent the most common distraction websites. Overall, concentration is crucial to getting work done and it is pivotal that you do as much as you can to avoid distractions.

Module 6: Searching and Researching

After going through the content in module 6, I found many important pieces of information that stood out to me. These mainly included topics such as differences between searching and researching and forming research questions. Starting in slide 10, the module goes into differences between searching and researching. As stated, many individuals will think of a simple Google search on a topic and consider it research, however it is not. This is an example of searching. Research would include diving into various resources such as articles, videos, literature, etc. (primary and/or secondary sources). A simpler way to understand this concept is to understand the differences between research questions and regular questions. As described in the slides, a regular question may be have a yes/no or right/wrong answer and can therefore be solved by a simple internet search. On the contrary, research questions typically don’t have an explicit correct answer and are usually more complex. For example, a regular question may ask, “What are the main colors of the Ohio State football uniforms?” Here, there is a definitive answer of scarlet and gray. However, a research question may ask something more along the lines of, “What is the historical significance of the Ohio State football uniform colors?” This question remains much more open ended and will require real research to figure out. Overall, I think this is a common problem that many students have run into and I feel as though this module has effectively described the differences as well as their importance.

Module 5: Web-Enhanced Listening and Viewing Strategies

Module 5 talks in-depth about classroom, note-taking, and listening strategies. While progressing through the module, there were certain specific points that stood out to me that I feel I’ve had personal experience with. Most notably, I was intrigued by the topic of how one should take their notes. A common question many students have is whether to type their notes, write them on paper, or write them on a tablet (Slides 8-9). In my opinion, the true best answer to this question is that there is no universal correct answer. The simple explanation is to find what works best for you personally. The longer answer includes how one can figure that out. As mentioned on slide 8, typing notes can lead to “mindless transcription” where you are simply typing what you hear/see without actually processing the information. However, I find that if someone is a great typer, they can make it work. As for writing notes, I find that there is not much of a difference between writing on paper as opposed to an iPad. I feel as though this decision can be made from personal preference as well as an individual’s technological literacy. For the debate of typing or handwriting, I feel this can also be based on personal skills. For example, I consider myself to be a good typer, often allowing me to type without looking at the keyboard. This allows me to stay engaged in a fast-paced lecture while still making sure I can take note of what I need to. My final recommendation is to try different strategies for different classes. Some classes may be better for typing (such as fast paced lectures) while some may be better for handwriting (commonly math classes with numbers and formulas).

Module 4: Web-Enhanced Reading and Study Strategies

One thing I’ve found myself doing many times throughout my academic career is reading something, but not really understanding and absorbing it. I find that sometimes I’ll finish a page or paragraph and realize I have no clue what I just read causing me to have to restart. Module 4 does a great job at emphasizing the importance of active reading and providing advice for avoiding situations like my own listed above (slides 4-10). More specifically, I feel as though the strategy of interacting with the reading can make a huge difference. This includes things such as highlighting, taking notes, drawing symbols, etc. (slide 6). I’ve found methods like this make me truly think about what I read and therefore help me to absorb the content more effectively. However, as slide 7 mentions, one should avoid “mindless highlighting.” Mindless highlighting refers to highlighting unnecessary information for the sake of highlighting. This is often done subconsciously and it can convince oneself that they are doing a better job actively reading than they really are. I have also found myself to do this from time to time but I feel as though it can easily be fixed by setting a guideline on what should be marked. For example, I’ve decided to highlight only definitions and sample problems for certain subjects to avoid marking anything else that may not have much value.

Module 3: Online Learning Strategies and Skills

As someones who has had issues with time management, I found this module very helpful in providing tips and strategies to help improve in this area. For example, after tracking my time this past week, I learned new things about how I spend my time that I was unaware of before. I didn’t realize how much free time I truly had that I can better utilize. This specific semester, I only have 13.5 credit hours so I don’t have a whole lot of homework each week. However, with how much free time I have, I can definitely repurpose some of it into extra study time. As for creating a calendar to keep track of everything, I tend to use Canvas and its To-Do List. I’ve found it quite helpful although it may be best to use an Outlook/Google calendar as well. The main piece of advice I appreciate in this module, however, is the strategy of breaking down large tasks (Slide 14). Whenever I have large tasks to do, such as write a paper, I typically envision it has a huge assignment, which can subconsciously intimidate me from starting to work on it. However, when breaking it down into multiple sub-assignments (ie. Research, Outline, Rough Draft, Final Draft), I am more likely to start earlier and work on it gradually in smaller bunches. Overall, managing time is a crucial aspect of being successful whether it is in school, work, or any other project in life. Being able to effectively to so can help an individual propel themselves to knew levels.

Module 2: Communicating and Collaborating

After going through Module 2, I truly believe that it provides many valuable tips that can be used in both academic and professional settings. The first one I noticed involved email tips and etiquette (Slides 7-8). It is very important to make a good impression with emails and avoid looking sloppy or lazy to the receiver. The tips on slide 8 perfectly describe the necessary steps one should take in order to do so. After my corporate audit internship this past summer, I was able to hear many different accounts from colleagues on negative experiences they have had in the past when receiving emails. They also provided similar training and tips to avoid making any of these mistakes. The other very crucial topic I feel was covered well was the versatility and importance of Microsoft Office 365 (Slides 25-26). I’ve noticed from my experience that many companies stray away from Google applications and primarily work with Microsoft Office. Word and Excel, being the two most common, are programs that I feel everyone should work to improve in. Especially for students majoring in business, I would heavily advise to take classes that will boost proficiency in Excel. Even for non-business majors, Excel can still be extremely useful for everyday needs. The last tip I will leave on the topic is that 99% of the time, it is safer to let the computer coding do your calculations and solve your problems because human error is more common than you might expect. Overall, I think this module is quite valuable and should not be brushed over.