Final Post

I would describe my background knowledge and skills to be at a lower level than they are now. When registering for this class I didn’t realize I would learn more information to enhance my skills and confidence in using online tools. Through all the discussions, assignments, readings, lessons, and tutorials I have definitely improved my skills and knowledge about online learning strategies and skills. I believe I developed self-management and leaned new strategies. I learned ho to use a Web browser, ability to download files, ability to create files, and learned about the basic knowledge of search engines. I would say my skill level is higher than it was at the beginning.

Throughout this course I learned about many topics to improve my confidence on technology skills. One of the most useful topic I learned about in module four was about reading online. There are some tips to use for reading before, during, and after. When reading before you should review the overall course and remove distractions from study environment. During reading online you should identify the main points and before moving from a section summarize it. After you read summarize, reflect upon, and apply. You should also stay organized and maintain records of key points. To get the most out of online reading I learn to use the reading strategies given in module four. Another interesting topic that was discussed throughout this course was in module three “How to Write an Academic Email.” There are important components when writing an email: subject line, greeting, a contest for you message, closing and signature, use spell check, and write in complete sentences. This topic explaining how to properly write an email is really interesting to me because it’s a great tip for students heading to college. In high school I never learned how to write an email to my teacher or professor.

While taking this course over summer semester allowed me to realize that time management is extremely important. I mention that this class is over the summer because most students don’t apply time and effort to summer classes. I learned I need to work on my time management especially over the summer. Throughout this course I would always find myself waiting to the last second to finish my assignments. I would tell myself “I’ll do it later” which ended up being overwhelming when I had to turn my assignment in. I learned not to wait, I should plan ahead and make a list to finish my work a few days before the work is due. If I keep motivating myself to improve on my time management skills I will end up being successful in college. In my future I want to apply all the knowledge and skills I learned in this course. I believe using those skills will help me become successful in the future.

My most meaningful experience in this course would have to be the blog creation and posting my own blogs. I believe creating my own page allowed me to speak freely and tell others my point of view. I enjoyed posting blogs each week to show others my opinion and reading my peers blogs as well. My advice to other students in college is to get out of your comfort zone. Getting out of your comfort zone will give you the opportunity to explore the college life and make the college experience the best it can be.

I had a great time blogging it up for this summer. Hope you enjoyed my blogs! Thank you,

Camry Halm

Module 6: Searching and Researching

The most useful thing I learned throughout this module is about the source credibility. When looking at an article or website there are three things to look for the source reliability, quality, and utility. When considering whether to utilize a resource that you ind online, you should as yourself the following questions. Is the Contact info available? Is the article related to my topic? Is the article up to date? Being able to answer those questions allow you to recognize you have a useful source. I’ve actually put these questions to use during my assignment for this module. Leaning throughout this module about Wikipedia was interesting too. Wikipedia is a decent place to get basic information, but it is important to be discerning about using it as a reference in my papers. Learning not to cite the Encyclopedia and I should use primary and second sources instead will help me improve my writing skills in the future. Here is some advice and strategies for college student searching for articles for papers or essays. Use the advanced search it helps you to narrow down articles about the topic you are searching. You should use the TLC rule, it is a great tool to use. The rule focuses on using the right terminology, searching with limits, and examining search Construction. Another tip is to use Google Scholar when looking for scholarly articles. Scholarly articles are reliable and have good quality. I hope you use some of these tips when you are searching for a topic for your assignments, papers, or essays.

Module 5: Web-Enhanced Listening and Viewing Strategies

The most useful thing I learned in module five is the listening strategies workshop. I learned a few new strategies about listening and note taking. When you have a speaker discusses the lectures to people you should listen for changes in tone and volume. When listening to those speakers you don’t have any visual cues. Paying attention to those changes and the body language of the speaker will help convey the message they are giving. When sitting in lectures here are some strategies to use for notes taking, choose when and where to listen, use the pause, replay, stop, and restart features, and point out those main points of the lecture. During the assignment in module five the listening strategies workshop I had to put my listening skills to work. I had to take notes on the lecture that was given on the assignment. My notes weren’t  exactly the same as the examples the website has at the end. My notes were most similar to the example of the Mind Map. I definitely can put these listening strategies to practice in the classes I am taking for the remaining of this semester and for the classes I will be taking in the future. In the past I have struggled with listening and taking notes at the same time. I get overwhelmed and distracted on the main points and the message given by the professor. In those lecture classes I hope to use these strategies and improve my note taking skills. The advice I give you as students is when you get stressed out about things not working out in the way you would like, keep trying new things. Being overwhelmed about my note taking style not being successful in the past allowed me to take this module and use the strategies given in the lesson on slide number seven.

Module 5: Educational Videos

The most important point in time management is evaluating our schedules. The strategies to be able to achieve that main point are create a list that organizes your daily schedule and use a calendar to help schedule your days. The objective of those key points are balancing out your days and maximize your time. Some tips to support balancing out your days are plan appointments in the same area and creating that list. The goal is to get more time to get everything done!

This video enhances my learning on the topic about time management. The video gives me some strategies about how to create more time throughout the day. The example of the sheet of paper when you create three columns into a list of appointments, flexible tasks, and occasional appointments. Making those three columns allow you to schedule your days to get the most done in a short period of time.

 

Module 4: Web-Enhanced Reading and Study Strategies

In module four I learned many different strategies for online reading, creative studying, and how to use flash cards in google spreadsheet. The most useful strategies I learned in this module are online reading. Before reading online you should review the syllabus to see how each readings are in the overall course. Another good tip before reading, remove distractions from study environment. I also learned some strategies during reading too. Some tips are scan through text before beginning, identify some main points, and try to summarize each section.

In the past, I have used many different study tools. In this module it shows us an example of a mind map for this class. I have used this website to create a time management map. It helped me learn some tips to improve my time management. In the future I can create a timeline. I really believe I can improve on my time management with creating a map to guide me to the skills I need.

The advice I give students from this module is to be creative when it comes down to studying! Throughout this module it suggested to use several tools to study. Some tools to use are infographics, timelines, mind maps, and animations. On slides 12 through 17 has another great tool to use is flashcards on google spreadsheet. The flashcards will increase you study skills. It will help you be successful in your classes.

Module 3: Communicating and Collaboration

In module three, it addresses personal and academic outcomes of communicating academic in digital forms. I have learned several strategies of writing in teams and for the web. The most useful things I learned in this module are the online communication tips. When appropriate, add emotion to convey tone. Last year I was an incoming freshman and joining the volleyball team. Many of my teammates thought I was rude by my nonemotional texts. I have been working on using more emoticons, by reading those tips in the module it allowed me to focus on it more. In module three in slide number nine it discusses tips about emailing instructors, it’s something I can put into practice. Reading through those tips, I have learned how to be most effective the writing an email to my professor. First, you should provide specific information about the impact of event on your studies, then offer to provide supporting documentation, and keep in contact. The last tip is the most important one, it seems really easy to do but sometimes that’s the one I always forget. My advice is to resist overanalyzing when using technology. There are times where the internet or the technology will not be working at the moment, just be patience and hope it will work properly again. Also, don’t overanalyze assignments, discussion post, or blogs. As I mention earlier, I not the greatest at giving off emotion through online communication. My advice is to not assume the worst when communicating with you classmates or even professors.