Reflection

So it’s been a wild ride, but alas, all great things must come to an end. I have enjoyed my time blogging to you all about the wonders of Online Learning. Now, it is time to look back on the seven-weeks we’ve had together and see all that we have learned.

Technology can be very helpful when it comes to succeeding in college. One way it can be used is to keep you organized. Big events, homework assignments, finals, even task lists; you name it, you can have it on your laptop or even on your phone (shout out to the Google Calendar app). So, once you’ve got your study plan all mapped out, it’s time to get down to business! Yeah, that’s right, I’m talking note taking time. Honestly, you can Google anything these days and find some sort of resource to help you learn more about a subject and thoroughly study it. (See one of my previous post for more info on how to actually take those notes). But on a serious note, there is a wealth of knowledge on the internet. Anything you don’t know, someone has probably already either A) researched it, B) already asked that same question and got it answered, of C) taken notes on it. And all of this is can be found on the lovely world wide web. Pretty neat, huh?

As I traveled this long road toward learning about online learning, I’ve had to learn a little about myself. Like that grand old procrastination habit, yeah that’s a real thing. And it’s not a good thing, at all. But, the tips and tricks I’ve learned in class, such as planning and prioritizing, will be very helpful for next semester. As an RA, I have to deal with interruptions and unplanned events every day. So, having a task list as I learned in class would also be beneficial. One of the most important things I have learned about myself is that I’m not as bad at pre-planning as I thought I was. Taking the quizzes opened my eyes to some areas of improvement, and I will definitely work on it. However, I can’t be too hard on myself since there are some things I do really well too.

I think my favorite part of this class has been writing these blogs. Describing things and throwing in own personality and style is actually really fun. I might even start blogging on my downtime. As an engineer, I don’t get to do much writing, at least not much creative writing, so it’s been really great to let the creative juices flow again and apply my classwork in a more personal way. It’s been a fantastic experience. I’ve learned a lot, explained a lot, read a lot, written a lot, and I think it is really paying off. In the future, I can use this information in daily life. Planning, helping my future children find additional resources online, citations for my Capstone class; all of these things can be made easier with the information I have learned this semester.

So, it’s time for me to sign off now. It’s been a lovely few weeks and I wish you all the best in your studies.

Searching and Researching

Google has been around for quite a few years now, but it can sometimes be hard to sort through the millions and millions of search results they give you. Well, lucky for you, I have a few tips to help. The first and most important tip I can give you is to be specific! Use those quotation marks to provide exact phrasing for google to find or that filetype shortcut to find PDFs or whatever file your subject requires. Also, take your time when searching. Sure you procrastinated and waited until the night before, but what good will it do you to accidentally use that wikipedia article your professor specifically told you not to? Comb through those sources, make sure they are credible and actually pertain to your class and you’ll grade will thank you. Also, use the advanced search tool and seek help from the library. They have lots of books and cool information that could really help you out. Do these things, and you’ll be better off in the long run and write a beautiful paper worthy of an A.

Module 5: Web-Enhanced Listening and Viewing Strategies

Web-based information can become a difficult task without the proper preparation. So, I have some tips to help you out. First, if your lecturer posts powerpoints, use them! Print them out, mark them up, do what you must to digest the information. Having the ability to take notes from the book or other resources can only help you. That way, when its time to study for those midterms, you have some sort of idea of what was discussed in lecture. Even better, you can record the lecture. In the age we live in, you can even do this on your phone, or for you Mac users, your laptop. I personally use voice memos for the iPhone, but there are plenty of other apps and tools to use. For the paper users, try the Cornell Method. This methods requires dividing your paper into three sections: one for in-class notes, a column on the side for the name of the topic discussed in a specific portion of notes, and a section at the bottom for review.

For additional resources, check out a iTunes U for a podcast on a specific topic or even Youtube. Khan’s Academy and Crash Course are both useful resources. They provide lessons on topics from Organic Chemistry to Pre-Calculus. The internet is a wealth of knowledge. Use it properly and you can do better in your classes than you ever imagined.

Crash Course Sensation and Perception

 

 

This video discusses sensation and perception in psychology. The main point is that sensation and perception are connected but different. Everyone has different thresholds of sensation which is dependent on the psychological state. Perception is how your brain transforms a sensation into information; the video uses the example of light being translated into an image. He also goes into detail about the eye and sight through the retina, rods, and cones.

This video is helpful to me by briefly describing an important concept in psychology. The video is entertaining and there are many examples. This helps to provide valuable context and make the information more memorable. The video is useful for a quick review before a test or final, just as an overview of the key points about sensation, perception, and sight as a sense. Overall, it is a great pre-test study tool.

 

 

 

Web-Enhanced Reading & Study Strategies Module 4

There are a lot of great resources online, but the big question is how do you use them effectively? One of the main things that comes with using online resources effectively is reading comprehension. Taking notes while reading is always helpful. Jot down the key points Try highlighting and marking up the document if that is an option. Microsoft Edge has a tool to highlight and write on webpages, Onenote allows you to expedite documents to a file and write on them, there’s Google Docs, and Word. Basically, your set for all your note taking needs as long as you have Microsoft Office or a Google account (free by the way). After you’ve taken care of the note taking, be sure to review, review, review! Information is stored in your short term memory at first exposure. It takes time and practice to make those facts and figures a long term memory thing. Avoid distractions (aka close that Twitter tab) because we all know that 5 minute Twitter feed check turns into two hours of checking out the drama between one celebrity or another in the age we live in. So we have three things: take notes, highlight/ mark it up, and review.