One of the most useful things I learned in the module is that there are applications to help you stay on track. One of those applications for mac users is called SelfControl, and allows you to block websites that you use for a set period of time. I often get distracted when I am working on my computer, and this application is great to block distracting websites and allows me to easily focus on my work. I feel this would be good for my fellow college students to focus while they are in class instead of getting distracted perhaps on social media. One thing I already tried from this module is using stretching as a relaxation technique. When I feel myself becoming anxious or stressed out, I take a break for stretching and it has definitely helped improve my mood and focus. One thing I would like to implement more in the future is an exercise routine. An article by Harvard Health Publishing discusses that exercise not only improves your physical health, it improves your mental health by reducing stress and anxiety, improves mood and sleep, and can even increase your memory and thinking skills. I am often overwhelmed by my to do list and never set time aside for exercise, but with this many added benefits it is certainly something I hope to try in the near future.

References:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vTsf2ZT9EM1lbzVBxgTSPu-BrF5YV3bmw2r6qDdoZyBN_JX34mJ81sheuvdDWjhUTP9pO7VeGS2jOmt/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000&slide=id.g112b25bb_1_26

http://selfcontrolapp.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9WC_eLmP30&feature=youtu.be

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/regular-exercise-changes-brain-improve-memory-thinking-skills-201404097110

One of the most useful things I learned in module six was Boolean Logic. Boolean Logic is a way to narrow searches for specific content using certain words or symbols that allow search databases to eliminate more unnecessary articles, and narrow your search. Examples of this is using AND to link to ideas together and only find sources that have each of those ideas, or you can also use quotations to search for a phrase, example, “The Ohio State” or use parentheses to search for this or that, ex (shoes OR boots). I know I often have a hard time narrowing my searches when I’m looking through google so I feel that using these search tips would be helpful for my fellow students when working on research papers. I recently was working on a research paper myself on veterinary entomology for another class and it certainly helped me narrow my search by finding sources that only dealt with the arthropod vector AND the disease. I also believe that using google scholar in the future would be helpful for research papers as well. In a video by Tom Nichols, he goes through useful tools to narrow your search by using boolean logic, you can edit your search by year, and while viewing a scholarly source you can view what other articles have referenced your source, helping you find more information relevant to your topic. I believe by using these tools, I will be more likely to use google scholar in the future.

References:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vQZrj92KI3pYOhE3FI5nQiDiNr7c6RnxVvE-i4BthXmA5EmgV3mlKmiYpH6NqqR7Br1ApVFUxrLnkr7/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000&slide=id.g3b024e9517_0_100

https://youtu.be/nZ9kfmpBtHE

https://youtu.be/dc-vKk205c8

In this module, one of the most useful things I learned was the Cornell note taking strategy. Historically, when I take notes I take them as fast as I can and I try to write down whatever the professor or slides say, so that I have all the information to review it later. This in turn causes my notes to be confusing and I still often miss material. This strategy of note taking is where you divide the paper into three sections, a right hand column, body, and bottom row. The main section of the paper take notes as normal, preferably an outline form where you pay attention to the professor and write only important concepts and phrases, while listening to the lecture write questions about the main points in the right hand column and try to address them during lecture. Lastly, when lecture is complete write a short summary of what you learned in the bottom row. I used this note taking strategy when I listened to my veterinary entomology lecture and it was very helpful, I felt that I was paying better attention, I understood the main points of the material, and it was easier to review the material when I was studying for my quiz because I felt that I already had a good understanding of it. I believe this strategy of notetaking would be helpful for my peers as well! One skill that I want to try is to review and study material for short periods of time over multiple days. By reviewing your notes right after class it will help you first understand them, then by reviewing them little by little over multiple days it will help you stay on top of your school work and enhance your long term memory on the subject. My fellow students would also benefit from this method of studying!

References:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vR-CucX-jZUVsp0vhLQ0BpXulqFRh325N1XLMQrlzdbWnZvG8SZi4Sy8JKXrrtwfXD-BDUXr_l6Jkj7/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000&slide=id.p

https://www.lifehack.org/articles/featured/advice-for-students-taking-notes-that-work.html

https://www.usu.edu/asp/studysmart/pdf/memory_improvement.pdf

In this module, one of the most useful things I learned was the proper way to study. The video entitled “Scientifically Proven Best Ways to Study” goes over the best method to allow for studying and long term retention of data. This includes basics such as exercise and sleep. Exercise causes a release of mood operating hormones that can cause an increase in memory retention, problem solving, attention span and more. Sleep is crucial for brain development and pulling an all nighter can take days for our body to fully recover. Cramming also does not allow for material to transfer into the long term memory and thus is less retained. Therefore, the best method to study is to repeat exposure to the material, so study over time across different platforms or create tests, reflect on material perhaps by discussing it with peers, and talk about it, quiz your fellow students and create a study regimen that is conducive to learning. Give yourself plenty of breaks and fill that time with exercise and sleep! I am frequently a victim of cramming and pulling all nighters so in the future I hope to better practice this by spacing out my studying, creating quizzes, and collaborating with my peers to help retain information. One skill from this module I already started using was the SQ3R reading method, which is an approach to reading text material outlined in the video SQ3R Reading Method. This method entails skimming the material first, creating questions you have about the material then reading it. When you have finished reading you recite the important concepts from your notes and then review those notes again, or even add more notes. This allows you to actively read the text and understand it, making the best use of your time. Typically when I read textbooks I often finish and can’t recall the information, by applying this method I felt I understood the info much better and have retained the information days later. By utilizing these tools I feel my fellow students will not only understand their textbooks better, but also will create better study practices, and increase memory retention.

References:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vToEQ056lQZucyWkZWBk4xFCkex97IhbcbWG5YsbJ46Mss5M7_WWas8Z1AaWskYt8_tJix7Zh6Jz4-C/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000&slide=id.p

https://youtu.be/VJbKXmujI00

https://youtu.be/0dhcSP_Myjg

One of the most useful things I learned in Module 3, Efficiency in the Digital Age, were three steps to beat procrastination as described in a video produced by Arina Nikitina. These steps include breaking larger tasks into small more manageable tasks that you can accomplish in 5 to 10 minutes. Another is to ask yourself 3 questions; Where are you? What do you want to do? And how will you feel after doing it? Lastly consider what is your ultimate goal and what is your immediate desire and then switch them. One of my biggest problems relating to schoolwork is procrastinating, and I believe by utilizing these tools I will be able to accomplish my work more efficiently and retain information better. Something I have already done that is discussed in this module is breaking down large tasks into smaller tasks. The goal is to aim for just 30-60 minutes a day, and spread these sessions out over multiple days. When tracking my time for the week I tried to spend at least an hour working on homework at a time, which definitely helped me catch up on some of my work. In the future, I would like break some tasks down even further to 5 to 10 minutes that I could do throughout the day. I often feel as if I don’t have enough time to complete a whole task, but for example if I just wash the dishes, or I just empty the dishwasher instead of attempting to clean the whole kitchen at once, I will probably get more done overtime. After reviewing this module my advice to my fellow students would be to first realize when you procrastinate and why you do it. Then utilize one or all of the practices outlined to overcome your procrastination. Make a goals list and stick to it, you will be happier, retain information better, and will most likely get a better grade.

References:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=VA8D1cGW5Qk&feature=emb_logo

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vRUZVXxptiijmNmsehddN36zGYtV9oSDhm91HK5ijp_QmdiXdBBfh8ZGaxz8AFg-NlYnsCim03Lsj02/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000&slide=id.g3b5b2f7a21_0_52

In this module, one of the most useful tools that I learned was collaborating in groups. Group work and projects is easily one of the most stressful things that I have to do in school. It is typically a struggle to juggle everyone’s schedules to meet up, divide work equally, or have everyone finish their tasks in a timely matter. In Module 2, Communicating and Collaborating, I learned several tips about how to work in groups. One of the most useful tools I believe is collaborating online, by using resources on the cloud as shown in the video “Digital Literacy – Online collaboration” . Resources like google docs allow multiple users to work on a paper at the same time without needing to be in the same location. I used this tool last semester in one of my classes and it was extremely helpful to allow each of my group members to work on the same paper, online. That way we did not need to be in the same location or working at the same time to allow continuous editing. In the video, “5 Tips for Dealing with Lazy Group Project Members – College Info Geek” it discussed other tools I feel would be helpful to use in the future. Such as, assigning roles or tasks ahead of time and creating deadlines before the final due date. This allows accountability to stay on task, less pressure to finish on time, and allows time for final editing. By using these tools I feel that group work will be less stressful for me and I feel that if my fellow students followed these practices it would be easier for them as well.

References:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vQDfFfTekNgYcbrYPPkUhWXlokk8kZ0vBsy6JbPfO6XxCFxAsOpaGwqpZG0YCteIT0UwhNSv2eqpl0e/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000&slide=id.gd01f746_27_0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e49iiu5hxZE&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZRyDgDlvqA&feature=youtu.be

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