ESLTECH 2011 course : Keys to Academic Success for Online Learners was a very helpful class and I have learned several things to be successful when it comes to online learning. Here are three of my takeaways from the course :
- I have always struggled with procrastination. This class offered helpful readings that gave me insight on why I procrastinate and how to change this area of my learning. I discovered that procrastination is a problem of self regulation. By establishing a schedule, limiting distractions, asking for help, and celebrating accomplishments I have seen this produce effective change in my learning.
- The S.M.A.R.T goal strategy has been a great takeaway from this course and an effective tool for my learning. They are meaningful goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and defined within a timeframe for completion. Creating these goals have increased my confidence and motivation for learning.
- One of the strategies we learned for note taking is called ‘active note taking’. This is not transcribing but writing down the instructors key information by listening to what the instructor emphasizes. It is putting things into your own words and using phrases or short statements. This has been very helpful for me since I used to get far behind trying to write everything the instructor said rather than trying to understand what they were saying and putting them into my own words for my notes.