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Always Learning, Always Improving: A Reflection of My Experience Taking A Class Focused on the Enhancement of Online Learning Skills, Reminding Me That Even the Most Basic Knowledge Plays a Fundamental Role in Our Everyday Lives

When I first signed up for the class ESEPSY 1159: Online Learning Strategies and Skills, I honestly wasn’t expecting that I would learn as much as I have.  I am always using multiple forms of technology, making it second nature to me, which led me to believe that I already knew about anything I would need to know when dealing with the Internet. Although I had this attitude when first beginning the class, I am extremely happy to be able to truly say that I have learned a great deal from this class.  

The world that we live in today is becoming more and more dependent on technology and the Internet at an alarmingly rapid pace.  The dependence we have on technology is mind-blowing when you think about how little time it has been around, and the advances being made to technology are truly changing the world.  Our dependence on technology and our burning desire to continuously improve any aspects of it that we can show me just how important it is, and also reminds me of how big of a role technology and the Internet play in our everyday lives.  Since the Internet plays such a big role in my life outside of my classes, I believe that it should also play a big role in my academic life because of the never-ending options it allows me.

The most beneficial thing I have learned through the course of this class would be all of the strategies and tips to better online searching, which helps lead to much better research.  This class has also introduced me to many different web-based tools like info graphics, mind maps, timelines, Google docs, etc.. This class not only described how to use these tools and when, but it has also given me resources that have allowed me the option to create my own graphics.  These resources have been a tremendous help outside of this class too, and they have allowed me to have a learning platform for all of my classes that suits me better then just plain text.  Those are just a few of the things I have learned from this class, but I will definitely continue to utilize the tools and knowledge mentioned above, as well as continuing to use information I have learned from other aspects of this class.

Through this class I have not only learned about helpful online tools and web-based skills, but I have also learned a little about myself.  I have learned about the most suitable learning styles pertaining to me, and also about other things I am good at and other things I need to improve upon.  I can now use the information gathered about my learning preferences in order to tailor my experiences in my classes in a way that will be as beneficial as possible to me.  I am now fully aware that I am an active learner, a visual learner, a sensing learner, and a global learner, which allows me the option to make sure everything I do corresponds with my learning styles so that I can perform to the best of my abilities.

The most meaningful experience to me from this course would have to be all of the skill builders that taught me beneficial skills about many aspects of online learning.  The skill builders forced me to really pay attention to the activities I needed to complete, which has ensured that I not only know about all of the new skills and strategies from this course, but I also know how to apply each and every skill or how to use all of the tools and resources.  These skills and tools will continue to play a role in my life by ensuring that I am absorbing and utilizing any information that will be important for my success now and for my success in the future.  I am now well adept when dealing with web-based tools and resources that enable me to use technology and the Internet to the best of my ability.

The Internet plays a vital role in my academic life, and because of this I believe it is very necessary for me to be able to gain as much knowledge as I possibly can on the numerous tools and resources online so that I can ensure I am utilizing all of my resources in order to maximize my potential for academic success and for success in the future.  The information from this class will allow me to utilize technology and the Internet to the best of my abilities, which is extremely important to me because I am aspiring to be an Industrial Engineer and to create/develop software for Tech companies in order to further better the world we live in and to improve anything dealing with technology.  I will use the information learned from this class in the future my ensuring I incorporate it into anything dealing with online learning.  I will take the skills and strategies I have learned and apply them to my life, inside and outside of my classes, by using them anytime I find that they can be particularly helpful.   I will also continue to build on the skills learned from this course in an effort to continuously improve my web and technology use, and I will pass on any strategies I find to be beneficial to anyone who is eager and willing to put in the time and effort needed to put these skills to use.

Effective Searching and Researching Online

As a college student, you will have to search/research all of the time for a majority of your classes.  It is extremely important that you are able to conduct effective searches in order to find helpful information from sites that are reliable.  Sometime it might be frustrating trying to locate information the pertains to your topic and that is also from a credible site.  I believe that as long as you are able to properly search, you will be able to find much more than is even required.

The most important thing to know when trying to conduct a search online is that there are numerous different ways, meaning you must try a couple of these at the least to ensure you are getting the exact results that you need.  When using Google make sure that you are using the correct filters and search limitations in order to get results that are not too overwhelming, and to get results that have the information you are looking for; instead of hopelessly wandering through pages and pages of results.

Proper searching not only cuts down the time in which it takes you to find your information, but it can also ensure that you are finding credible sites with reliable information that is up to date.  As long as you incorporate proper methods of searching, you will be able to find great information for your research.  Remember to use your online library resources from your school as well to find information that might not be available online.  By following these tips and using other knowledge you already have you will be on your way to helpful research in no time!

Podcasts and Videos as an Important Tool

The Internet gives us an entirely new format when it comes to online learning.  It opens up a new perspective, which can allow us to have many more options when listening to podcasts and watching educational videos.  I believe that the Internet truly is a wonderful tool when it comes to podcasts and educational videos.  It gives a new depth into what we are learning and what we have previously learned.

Online viewing  and listening is very similar to sitting in a classroom and watching and listening a professor teach.  I personally believe that online viewing and listening is actually better than watching and listening in a classroom.  Some may disagree with me when I say that, but web-enhanced viewing and listening allows to take much more precise and detailed notes because we can replay what we need as many times as we want.  This allows us to really get the full picture and really ensures that we are not missing anything.  I still take notes on paper when using the web to learn from podcasts and videos because that is the way I am most comfortable with, but I prefer listening to academic topics online because of the flexibility it gives.  Overall, I think that web-enhanced viewing and listening can really help us out in the long run, as long as it is still combined with person to person teaching and learning.

Solving Limits in Calculus by Factoring – Embedded Video

The above video describes how to solve a limit in calculus by factoring.  It begins by telling us why we cannot solve the limit like we normally would because there would be a zero in the denominator.  After that, it shows us that there is another way to solve the limit.  The video goes on by showing that if we factor the numerator, that there will no longer be a zero in the denominator.  This method allows us to solve the limit in a new way.

This video was very helpful to me because of the format in which it was shown.  It gave me new information on how to solve limits in a different way by incorporating audio and visuals.  I believe that the visuals were a nice added touch because it made me feel as though I was working through the problem with the teacher, which really allowed me to fully understand.

 

Properly Utilizing the Internet to Enhance Learning & Studying

Although the Internet has many distractions, it also has many highly effective learning tools and resources.  In order to ensure you get the most out of online learning tools you must change your learning approach slightly.  Until recently, I have had a lot of trouble trying to use the Internet to learn and study because of the numerous distractions, but a couple weeks ago one of my friends showed me an application for my computer called SelfControl.  SelfControl allows you to block certain websites (which you can personally choose) for whatever amount of time you want to stay off of them.  This has been extremely beneficial to me because I can now fully utilize many tools and resources online.

I love all of the study tools the Internet can provide; almost anything I can think of I would want to study is right at the tip of my fingertips.  I strongly believe that I am able to perform much better with these tools, but I still have not switched over to like online reading; I have to print out the paper and highlight it if I am ever assigned any online readings.  Although I personally do not like reading online, I do believe that it is a tremendous help being able to have so many readings, books, resources, etc. in a way that it so simple to access.  I think that the web really does provide the next big step in learning, and we need to utilize it to the best of our abilities.

Successful Communication and Collaboration Online

Being able to successfully communicate online is extremely important for college students; not just for academic project collaboration, but also for any other online interactions you may encounter.  Technology now allows us to interact with others in a way that is convenient for all parties involved, but it must be used carefully since it lacks so many aspects of person to person communication.

In order to maximize the potential that the Internet provides, we must understand the differences of online communication from face to face communication. When online we need to make sure we fully acknowledge that facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice are not communicated the same as they would be if you were talking to someone in person; we must filter what we say so that we eliminate the chance of any misunderstandings or confusion.  As long as we remember that the Internet is a very different form of communication than face to face communication, we will be able to engage in numerous activities that facilitate almost everything we do.

Online communication is especially important when dealing with group projects for classes.  As a college student you will most likely have at least one group project and you will probably end up having many more after that. Academic projects require a great deal communication in order to be successfully completed.  All members of the group must ensure they are continuously collaborating with all other group members to guarantee that the project is executed in a way that is favorable to all members of the group, and also in a way that will assure a high grade from the professor.  Online communication can facilitate much easier collaboration between group members in many ways.  The Internet can allow all members a way to make sure everyone is up to date with project requirements and that all members are aware of any changes or new ideas of other members.

We can use many resources the Internet gives us to our advantage when working on group projects.  The Internet gives us many different ways to collaborate with others.  For group projects, the Internet is almost essential for ensuring positive collaboration. Some tools that can greatly assist communication and collaboration on the Internet for a group project include: email, instant messaging, video messaging, polls to assist in scheduling meetings, wikis, google docs, and many others.  All of these tools will allow for easier communication with group members for any projects. Not only can these tools be utilized for group projects, but they can also be used for many other aspects dealing with communication of any kind.