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Technology Resources

Hello!

In a world of updated and newer forms of technology being released each day, learners have to adapt to continue success. This is especially applicable in an online course or class that does not have a physical meeting component. For this reason, note-taking and online learning management can feel overwhelming. Never fear, for digital technologies are here! Below is a list of some technologies that are useful in being a more efficient and organized learner.

 

  • Evernote

One strategy that I found interesting and useful that was introduced during this course was Evernote. I have not used this technology but I like how user-friendly it is and the level of creative freedom the interface gives users. I think the context I would use this in would be in future meetings I will attend as a teacher and in keeping track of my Master’s level coursework once I begin my desired program. I find this technology to also be something I could use across multiple forms of technology to ensure that I could access my notes from any setting I was in. Additionally, just browsing the site and starting some notebooks I found there to be a multitude of different templates I could use in my academic, professional, and personal life. I will definitely be using Evernote during the rest of the semester and in my teaching career.

Link: https://help.evernote.com/hc/en-us/articles/208314458-Quick-start (Links to an external site.)

 

 

 

  • Mendeley

One digital note-taking technology that works for me is Mendeley. This is helpful in taking digital notes because you can upload course readings from a variety of formats and place them in your library. This technology allows you to highlight, write notes on the side margin, and get the citation for a given article. I find this technology to be very helpful when taking notes on the questions I am having as I am reading texts and allowing me to contain all my notes and thoughts. In a lot of my classes, we have to create annotated bibliography entries for each of our assigned readings so this technology is very helpful. Additionally, a note-taking strategy that is useful is annotated bibliography readings for assigned texts because they can include a citation, keywords, summary, quotations, and questions.

Link: https://www.mendeley.com/?interaction_required=true

Academic Tips

Hello!

During my educational journal from preschool to senior year of college, I have had a lot of experiences that have informed my approach to being a successful learner and student. Here are some of the tips I have for anyone who wants to succeed in school:

 

  • Get organized.
    1. Buy a calendar and write down all the due dates for major assignments.
    2. Buy a planner and write down assignments that are due each day.
    3. Color-code each class within the color you write on your planner and calendar in. Additionally, buy notebooks, folders, or binders in corresponding colors for each class.

 

  • Be realistic.
    1. For any class, you take you must be realistic about the amount of time and effort you will need to put in to get your desired outcome in the form of a grade for example.
    2. Take into consideration your own talents and skills before beginning a class and ensure that you are able to grow to meet the class expectations if you are not already at the learning level or have the skill needed to succeed.
    3. Make sure you are ready and willing to dedicate the necessary time and effort. If not, be realistic about how you will perform and the outcome you will probably get if you are not able to devote the needed time and effort.

 

  • Change your mindset.
    1. No matter what the class topic or focus is, find an aspect that interests you and let that drive your work and effort.
    2. Be positive towards the class load and the more positive you remain the easier the work will seem.
    3. If you approach a class with a negative mindset you will be miserable and will not be able to be challenged or interested in anything that might spark your interest.

 

 

 

  • Build a community of learners.
  1. The class may be something you have to do in order to fulfill a purpose or goal but that does not mean you eliminate the social aspect of learning.
  2. If confusion arises, reach out to a peer and exchange contact information so that you have a reliable source to refer to in moments of confusion or affirmation.
  3. Branch out and meet new people to help make the course load more manageable and interesting.

 

  • Take notes. 
    1. No matter what the class focus or topic is, take notes on everything you find important.
    2. Find a note-taking method and process that works best for you and stick with it.
    3. Notes will help you in moments of confusion and provide a link to the class even when you are not able to talk with an instructor or peer

 

These tips should help you succeed in any class or course you may take in your life. Best of luck!

Goal Setting and Motivation Regulation

My “Professional Self”

Ideally, I want to become a successful and impactful high school English teacher who creates a space for students to grow and learn new skills for their futures. The main component of my ideal image as a person is to be someone who is a lifelong learner that implements organization and meaning into my work. Within the three categories of my “professional self”, I find my academics to be the category that includes schooling, observations, coursework, and literature to be the main components. In the workplace, I find relationships with my mentor teacher, other teachers in the English Language Arts department, students, parents, and the environment in my classroom. My professional involvement goals include learning about culturally sustaining pedagogy, diversity and equity, and learning strategies to best serve and include all student populations. My main motivation to excel in these areas is my own personal responsibility that stems from a drive to ensure that I am equipped with the best tools I need to be the best educator I can be. As Pintrich (1995) explains: “students should have fairly accurate, and positive, beliefs that they can learn and master course material.” Thus, I can apply this to my own motivations within that I strive to master the teaching craft but I am reasonable within my progress towards fulfilling my ideal self. Some of the challenges that I may face include the regulations and standardized testing within education and the sometimes-overwhelming job of helping students navigate their own experiences and traumas that they bring into the classroom.

Steps to Achieve My “Professional Self”

I plan to overcome these challenges by learning as much as I can about how to create classroom cultures that place students first and to hack educational requirements to fit my students’ needs. One workplace goal I have in the category of professional involvement is to learn more about how equity and diversity can be the foundation of my teaching philosophy. Within this goal, I can learn about strategies to be equitable and include diverse authors in my course plans. I can also participate in professional development that works to provide concrete ways to bring diversity and equity into my teaching space. Both of these goals are relevant to my “professional self” and specific. Within the S.M.A.R.T. goal setting strategy, I can add a time-bound element that I will meet this goal before I graduate in the spring. A measurable way I can meet these goals is to attend an Equity and Diversity Educator Conference that is taking place at Ohio State in January. Furthermore, both of these goals can achievable as I have allocated a professional development opportunity that I can attend to meet my goal.

My strategies to Maintain Motivation to Achieving My Goal

Before this class, I thought I was a learner who did the work for grades and completion with some interest in general learning. From my responses in the Self-Assessment, I found that my perceptions of myself were not accurate in that I do strive to learn and have the drive to be an inquisitive learner. The changes I will make based on my responses and learning from this module are to be interested in learning even when I find it pointless or redundant. Additionally, within long-range goals, I need to be aware of myself, my options, the options that will best fit me, and the process (Cuseo, 2010, pg. 42). Thus, I can then become my best professional self by having a more aware disposition that gets at my ideal self to be a lifelong learner that evolves.

 

 

References

Chastain, A. (2012, May 14). SMART goals help you achieve success. Retrieved from https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/smart_goals_help_you_achieve_success.

Cuseo, Thompson, McLaughlin, & Moono. (2010). Goal Setting, Motivation, and          Character. Thriving in the Community College & Beyond, 39–62.

Pintrich, P. R. (1995). Understanding Self-Regulated Learning . New Directions for Teaching          and Learning63, 3–12.

Keys to Online Success: Class Takeaways

Hello!

Throughout my time in Keys to Online Success, I have learned a lot about online learning and various strategies, technologies, and resources I can use to be an effective online learner. Below are my three takeaways from this class!

  1. Experiment with technology.
  2. Be aware of your learning process and professional self.
  3. Set goals to motivate learning.