When it comes to online learning, I have to say that being able to communicate with others in the class is a great source of information. Not only do I get the opportunity to communicate with other students while doing completing assignments with feedback by form of discussion replies; however, I am fortunate to be able to access shared knowledge that is passed along. What a wonderful support system online education provides over in class. Online learning allows me to use my strengths such as organization, time management, and ability to adjust my schedule around emergencies or other family obligations and still get my studying and assignments completed. I would like to improve in my notetaking so that I take more efficient notes from textbooks that keep the facts and topics covered to the point without all the unnecessary added points that aren’t important. I spend way too much time taking notes that I could be using elsewhere but trying to figure out what an instructor will be looking for in the beginning of a course is challenging. Now that I have taken this class and understand the oregonstate.edu website and many of the resources better, I am sure that I will find some notetaking help that will open doors for me along my journey at OSU and beyond.

Some of the specific tools, tips and strategies that I will use to help my learning style will be the Prezi for future presentations since it seems so visual as my usual learning style must be for me to comprehend and memorize better. I plan on using some of the subject specific tools, such as the tips for studying psychology to get me through the many different psychology courses I will be required to complete. I want to use flashcards, mapping and especially the calendar at a glance to keep on task for each class. SMART goal setting techniques learned in the course will enable me to stay focused and set specific goals along the way that are more manageable and realistic for me.

I plan on using OSU resources such as the Disabilities Access Services again next term so that I can complete my courses with confidence while I am healing from my surgery. I will use the library interloan services more, NetTutor for my statistics and success counseling if it feels as though things are becoming overwhelming due to my restriction with use of right hand. I would like to become involved more in some of the community resources that were discussed in class such as helping with community gardens and food programs for those less fortunate because it has always been so important to me to give back since I was once in the position that others reached out to help me. I would like to become more involved in community volunteering that would benefit cancer patients and Domestic Violence victims and families due to my own pasts experiences. Becoming a member of the Psi Chi Honor Society for my Psychology major is important so that I have access to more information and more contacts that will allow me to become more involved along the way at OSU.

My short-term goal for the upcoming term is to plan ahead before the term starts by putting family obligations and other appointments into my term at a glance calendar 2 weeks before the term starts. I will follow up by sending emails to my instructors to request copies of the syllabus’ 2 weeks before the term starts to enter into my term at a glance calendar and buy my books as soon as they are verified for the correct versions by the instructors.  My long term goal will be to finish my Statistics courses by end of Summer 2017 while continuing to work and manage other family responsibilities. I used the SMART goal training we learned this term to make sure that my goals were specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely and plan on continuing to use it in the future. Using the SMART goal steps helped me to pinpoint exactly what I need to do to reach each goal without overreaching and being more successful with each goal in the long run.

Throughout my long path to complete my educational goals I have faced many difficult challenges; however, I have found the resilience to get through them so this term will be no different even if it sometimes feels as though the world is crashing down on me I know I will survive another term as in the past. I can look past the old challenges because this year I am closer to my path and am lucky enough to be starting my education at OSU as a Junior knowing that I have been fortunate to have been given such an opportunity and know that there is a new horizon ahead.

I am sure that I mentioned somewhere in my introduction post on the discussion board that this term I had a complete shoulder replacement over the summer on my right (dominant arm). My Struggles are having to accept that it was okay to have to cut back on the number of credits this term was okay and that my best this term may not be quite equal to my best thus far with getting things done and turned in early, being able to spend as much time on each assignment without pushing past my pain threshold, taking detailed notes and typing as fast as I usually can due to having only one hand to do so. I have struggled to take utilize technology and disability resources at OSU to get additional assistance that I normally would be more independent on. I have always been someone who loved a challenge; however, this term has been much more challenging for me as I struggle to keep up with assignments, manage family time, physical therapy appointments, financial challenges related to having fewer resources due to my temporary disability (time off from work) and my husband being laid off from his job within two months of my surgery (another income gone). I know that things will get better because they always seem to work out and I get to look back and say it was just a temporary setback in life that will make my life better in the long run.

My Surprises are that I am doing my first blog without totally freaking out. I have heard about blogging and read my share of blogs while doing research during my educational journey; however, I actually get to be a part of it. I am surprised to see how some of my classmates in this course have been able to just jump right in as though they have done blogging every single day of their adult lives. I have taken many different online courses due to my work and family schedule in the past; however, I have learned so much more from this class which will help me get through my primarily ecampus course schedule throughout my journey with OSU. Being a part of online classes enables me to take all of the input from so many other students and utilize it to help me become a more efficient online student. In a classroom setting, I primarily get to listen to the instructor talk but in the online courses everyone seems to be able to have their input heard and communicate as though we are all working together in the moment and they are all so supportive and encouraging. I am so proud of how all of my classmates are able to overcome many different challenges so that they too can continue their own education for themselves and as examples for their children and anyone else in the world. All of the input, etc. helps me to learn better how to manage my time because I can see that there are many challenging reasons why we all take online courses. Blogging seems to be another way for us to continue to communicate and learn together.

As far as Strengths go, I am finally beginning to get set into a bit of a schedule this week that I can manage. I feel a lot less stressed and not so limited on time to do my assignments now that some additional time restricting challenges have been resolved for now and I can actually set a more manageable schedule. My strength of having taken a few prior online courses with a community college and having this course to help ease me into OSU’s online setup will enable. I have a great deal of determination and resilience which has enabled me to overcome many challenges and I know that the ecampus is a great fit for me. Preparing ahead and organizing tasks into manageable chunks has always been effective and online courses allow me to do this on my time once the first two weeks of the quarter are out of the way and I have better understanding of how the course will be laid out. I am a very visual learner so these online courses are a strength of mine also because I can see tasks that need to be done one thing at a time and when they are due.