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As much as I think I am technologically advanced, I realized I had no knowledge of how many online learning tools are available, and even better they are free.  I started this class with procrastination problems and researching problems when it came to learning.  Although it may not be a quick fix for these problems, I am now knowledgeable of all of the resources available.

I came to learn I am not so much a procrastinator out of choice, but a very time limited person.  My time management skills were not too bad upon entering the class, but I learned that I can be a time waster.  After analyzing my Google time tracker, it was apparent I had very limited available time on most days, but was wasting time where I could be catching up on schoolwork.  Many days of the week I had 1-2 hours between classes, but was not taking advantage to work on other classes.

One of the most memorable learning experiences from this class was utilizing technology to analyze how every minute of the days are spent.  I have never time-tracked every waking hour of my days, but found it was really helpful in identifying weak and strong areas of time-management.  I also learned that I prefer to study alone and I do better at studying specifics of a topic.  Also, I learned best when subject matter is presented in a sequenced step-by-step matter.  The info-graphics tool  was a fun and new way of learning.  Using the info-graphics online learning tool, it can take students out of their normal routine of reading as the only way to study.  Instead, the info-graphics allowed me to have hands-on learning while creating my own study guide.

In the future, I plan to take my school work with me that way time will not be wasted.  There were a couple of online search strategies that I am going to use.  In particular, I found the Library Catalog Record and Article Express to be search strategies that will help with writing future research or lab papers.

One important tool I will continue to use in school and out of school is to make sure to take my work with me wherever I go because many times during the day, there can be a window of time that is free and using just 15 minutes of free time to do other work can eventually add up.  Another tool I will continue to use it to utilize online calendars to organize my weeks.  By writing it down, it helps to visualize tasks that need to be accomplished and helps with time management.  To avoid procrastination, I will create target tasks for each week.   The research data bases will be useful when writing lab reports and the vast amount of research resources available make it much easier to navigate through material.  This class gave me insight on how much online resources are available and how to use those online resources.  Also, this class helped me identify learning characteristics about myself and how enhance and modify these characteristics.

I never realized there were so many different research tools available.  The Library Catalog Records seem to be very useful for students who need to find scientific journal sources, but have limited time.  Checking out books from a library can be time consuming because the time it takes to commute to the library (if you are an off-campus student like myself), search for the book, and wait in line to check out can add up to a lot of time that could be spent doing more productive tasks.  The Library Catalog Records allow students to view books online, which is a huge convenience.

From chapter 4 in the E-Learning Companion book, it discussed asking questions before submitting work.  Most teachers offer to read student papers before submitting, and very few take advantage of this.  Students spend an abundance amount of time on locating resources, and with knowing how to look for resources and utilizing all the search engines available, more time can be spent on writing the paper.  When it comes to writing papers or lab reports, having a teacher look over it before turning it in is like getting the test answers before taking a test because they will tell students what they need to fix or improve.

Having all of these research tools available makes the research process more organized and saves time.  By having online access to journals and books, they can be saved as a PDF file, and students do not have to worry about returning a book late incurring a fee.

Active listening and note-taking key points is something I learned through college how to do well, but am still improving.  I tried to apply these strategies to some classes this week.  I noticed that teachers reward students who show up to class by talking about topics not on the notes, or they may talk in great detail a topic that is very general on the notes.  Just the other day while in class, there was a graph on the notes with very little information, but the teacher went into great detail about what the graph means, and I made sure to write down all the key point ideas.

I try to have my PowerPoint notes up to date for each class, but sometimes I forget to print the notes.  I decided to print out all notes for all my classes instead of doing it the day before the lecture.  I noticed the difference, and it made note-taking much more organized.  I found It was more convenient because it is easy to forget to transfer notes on a blank piece of paper to the lecture slides.

The Cornell method: This is a note-taking method that I could utilize more often.  I use to be the student who would try to get in every single word during a lecture.  The Cornell method seems effective because it forces the student to summarize into their own words what was said during a lecture, thus the student is able to comprehend better.

I chose a learning video on the electron transport chain because I have to memorize it for my biochemistry course.  The video summarizes that oxidative phosphorylation contains several steps, and it consist of exergonic electron transfer.  The electron transport chain represents the final phase of catabolism.  Also, the video discussed that electron transport chain is significant because it is a major source of ATP.  Basically, the electron transport chain involves the transfer of electrons from one molecule to the other.

This helps me because I am currently learning this in my biochemistry course.  If it was not for the online learning strategy class, I probably would not have come across this video.  After watching the video, it actually made the electron transport chain much easier to understand.  This video enhances learning because it gives animation along with explanation.  When having to memorize long pathways in chemistry, simply reading from text may not suit everyone well when trying to learn the material.  By being able to visualize what is happening, it can help put into words better what is going on when reading it in plain text.

After reading chapter 1, I was able to identify with situations that I experience in and out of the classroom, and I was also able to take away good advice.  Chapter one discusses getting engaged in one’s learning, and that students cannot simply just show up to class and expect to do well.  I agree with this, especially in the case for application and math problems.  I have done this in the past where I watch an instructor work out a problem, believe that I am capable of re-creating it, then when I go home and try do it on my own, I am stumped.

Being an active learner is another topic that is discussed.  Usually if I have a detailed question, I do not like to ask in class, I prefer asking in private.  I have found that emailing with instructors can provide more detailed answers and can clarify issues better.  This is because the professor has time to sit down and read the question, and then reply back with a complete answer.  Sometimes in class, there is not enough time for every student to ask the professor a question with an answer that is adequate.  I think after class emailing is beneficial, and many students might be surprised how willing professors can be communicating via email.

Something useful I am going to take away from this chapter and apply is writing more stuff down.  I know this works with studying and attaining goals, but sometimes I do not put the time into writing stuff down.  When studying for an exam, I find that if I do not have enough time, I do not re-write my notes because it is too time consuming, when in reality it probably is not that much more time consuming.

One last thought I have for this blog post is that the infographics tool is new to me, and I think it can serve as an effective study tool in the future.  It is a new and fresh way to be creative in studies.  In my biochemistry class, I have to memorize many pathways, and I think by recreating the pathways using this tool, will help the concepts click better.

Reflection on 7 things you should know about blogs: 

This is my first class that has used a blog as a learning tool.  Based on the 7 things you should know about blogs, I gained more insight of  at the level of learning and engaging that blogging can bring in the classroom.  The article discusses how blogs can bring a new opportunity for interaction among students.  I think this seems like a good learning tool because it can give more individuality to students and makes learning more fun.  By professors seeking and accepting new forms of technology in the classroom, it will allow for students and professors to connect better and better student to student interaction.

Reflection on Developing Positive Online Relationships:

Many people forget the importance of proper dialogue when communicating through email.  Chapter 6 highlights some helpful tools for effective online communicating.

On a weekly basis, I will receive (and probably send) emails that leave the reader hanging.  By this, I mean the emails do not specify what actions should be taken next.  Chapter 6 discusses that emails should always specify what should happen next such as when contact will be made again or questions that need to be answered.  I have experienced this many times when emailing fellow students about a group project.  Many times, emails will be sent back and forth without mentioning or scheduling the next group meeting.  This can cause problems with the deadline because everyone will be trying to schedule meeting times at the last minute when realizing no one initiated a meeting time in the email.

Checking spelling and keeping emails professional is another topic chapter 6 discusses.  In major classes, students will get to know each other quite well due to being in the same classes throughout the year.  From experience, when you get to know your classmates by having many classes together, emails become less professional and more relaxed.  I think it is still important to maintain some professionalism (while still being more relaxed than when talking to a professor) because if there is a problem that arises, you want that person to be professional about it and not to minimize the issue.

Maintaining good netiquette is important when communicating to peers because it is a reflection of oneself and can be the determining factor of a job interview.

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