Module 7: Keys to Motivation for Online Learning

In this module we talked a lot about motivation and how to a lot of tips on stress relief and simple ways you can easily take some of the stress off of your shoulders. In a time like finals week almost everyone is experiencing some level of stress. Some may experience more stress than others but there are many ways to destress. One of the most useful things I learned from this module was how to destress with a few simple tricks including: exercising regularly and sleeping enough, manage habits such as caffeine or alcohol, and find and practice a relaxing technique that you think will help you. With these simple things among others I have found that I was able to manage something as stressful as finals week with ease and was confident in my ability to study efficiently and be successful on my exams.

Another super important topic covered in this module is the necessity of getting enough sleep every night. As a college student I tend to go to bed late and then have to wake up early for class, to study or for whatever it may be which is not good for my mental health or the stress i’m already experiencing in my life. This is an incredibly common theme for all college students and is something I plan on working on in the future. But some people believe that getting your 8 hours is sometimes not necessary. But in fact, sleeping is a way of reenergizing your body and your mind and is able to elevate your memory, learning capacity and ability to deal with stress all throughout the day. Without sleep students would be walking across campus like zombies. One amazing resource that can explain why sleep is something to take a little more seriously, is a video by Shai Marcu called “The benefits of a good night’s sleep.” and is extremely helpful in illustrating the overall benefits of going to bed early rather than cramming the night before an exam.

Video Resource: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gedoSfZvBgE&feature=youtu.be

Module 6: Online Learning Strategies and Skills

In this weeks modules I learned a lot about credible online resources, how to identify the reliability, quality and utility of online articles and journals. One thing that I think is incredibly useful that stood out to me in these modules was about how wikipedia is a source that a lot of students use currently, but is actually a resource that should be avoided when writing an academic or research paper. Wikipedia is very useful for getting general information or general background information but should never be used when writing a paper for class or for anything that requires credible articles or sources. Being a user-generated, editable, online encyclopedia, Wikipedia can be inaccurate and sometimes biased and is not a credible source for any academic or research paper.

One thing that I would recommend to students just coming into college is to learn how to accurately write an academic paper, to start don’t use Wikipedia. Academic papers are something that is required in most classes you will take in college and knowing how to correctly formulate this paper is super important if you want to succeed at the college level. The resource below is an extremely helpful guide to writing a quality academic paper and is something I will use in the future to make sure that my writing is up to par and will be successful.

https://umanitoba.ca/student/academiclearning/media/Writing_an_Academic_Paper_NEW.pdf

 

Module 5: Web-Enhanced Listening and Viewing Strategy

In this weeks modules I learned a lot about note taking and active listening. One of the most important things that I learned this week was how to diligently take notes and not just cramming everything on paper or on my computer mindlessly. Something that I think I will start to incorporate into the future is to start taking notes on my computer instead of on pen and paper. Not only is it easier for me to read, given I have terrible handwriting, but it is also easier to organize and find the notes I have been taking. I will also be able to annotate any lecture slides that are put on carmen so I can add onto anything said in lectures and recitations/labs.

Something that I would suggest to future students is exactly what I plan 0n doing in the future is to start taking notes on your computer as soon as possible because it will make your life so much easier. Especially if you are like me and are unorganized and have bad handwriting then taking notes on a laptop will be super helpful. Some people prefer to take notes on pen and paper but after trying notes on my computer I don’t think I will ever go back.

Reference: https://www.south.edu/blog/handwritten-vs-typed-notes-which-is-best-for-you/

 

Module 4: Web-Enhanced Reading and Study Strategies

In this weeks modules I learned a lot about how technology can improve study strategies and techniques. One of the most important things I got out of this weeks modules was how to properly use the internet and modern day technology to enhance my studying skills and how to efficiently keep track of my time and take notes properly. Websites like Quizlet, Bibme and Google Calendar are all great examples of a resource that students should start using right now if not already, because I use these pretty much every week and they are extremely helpful in getting me through my average academic week. With these tools I am able to study efficiently, manage my time successfully and make sure I am writing and citing in the correct format. I especially like Quizlet, a website that lets you create flashcards and study them in many different ways, because of the variation it provides in its studying possibilities.

In the future I plan to continue to use these tools because not only are they super helpful for students at any level, but they are super easy to use and can be applied into any level of education from elementary school all the way to college and more. These resources are like second nature to me now when studying and I suggest to any student that they start using websites like these as soon as possible because it makes school a lot easier and less stressful.

Resource: https: https://collegeinfogeek.com/20-useful-websites-for-students/

 

Module 3: Efficiency in the Digital Age

In this weeks modules I learned a lot about planning, setting goals and improving time management to help myself improve academically. Something that I had never really done before that I probably should have been doing since high school is efficiently planning out my school work, along with my social life, extracurriculars and even my sleep schedule, that being making sure I actually am getting enough sleep every night. One specific thing that I was able to do in this module to help my poor planning abilities was creating a google sheets document that mapped out my entire week. By using google sheets I was able to see in thirty second increments how I was spending my time, that being on school work, on video games, Netflix and social media, and how much I was actually sleeping. With this I can now see where I’m spending too much time and on what things do I consistently not spend enough time on.

I think by using google sheets now and in the future I can effectively plan out what I need to be doing every week literally by the minute. I can also see what I need to be doing less of, may that be video games or just spending too much time on my phone in general, aimlessly scrolling through instagram or twitter. I think that using something like google sheets or anything similar is a huge step in the right direction academically and one of the best pieces of advice I could give to someone in college or high school is to use google sheets. Not only does it help you schedule your time but it also helps limit procrastination of emphasize a balanced lifestyle.

Resource: Google sheets – https://www.google.com/sheets/about/

Module 1: Communicating and Collaborating

In this weeks modules I learned about online communication and how people around the world are able to collaborate with each other through technology. One of the most important things that was discussed in the modules was the use of something called “the cloud” which many of us including myself use almost everyday. In my experience the cloud is a great way to share information and to easily save and copy important documents. With the click of very few buttons you can share, post or save information within seconds. Not only can you share or save this information on one device, but because of the cloud this information can be access on multiple devices may that be your phone, computer or whichever kind of technology you are using.

Another super important aspect of communication and collaboration, and something that I am relatively new to is email etiquette. In the emails I used to write in high school many of them probably came off as a little informal or unprofessional, but since learning about this my perspective on how to address my professors or employers through email has changed. One thing I learned from this module is that the subject line is super important when emailing a professor. If your subject is not straight and to the point then most likely your professor could just skim over it and may not respond as quick as you would like. Another thing I learned is that an email to a professor is kind of like writing a paper in that you should make sure you are using correct spelling and grammar or you might end up making a fool out of yourself.

Resource for email etiquette tips: https://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/professors-guide/2010/09/30/18-etiquette-tips-for-e-mailing-your-professor