Hello All. Justin Gaither here. As a first time online learner, I feel like this is the way to go. After re-discovering my learning styles and preferences, I believe I will benefit more from online learning than with traditional learning. As a individual who likes to take the time to read, re-read and sometimes re-re-read the information, being able to take the classes at my own pace is extremely helpful. I also love being able to enjoy the learning at my leisure, sometimes from the back patio and sometimes with a cold IPA in hand. With my desire to have my weekends still be my weekends, online learning is perfect, since it allows me to get a head start on all my assignments, rather than just giving me until next class period to complete them. Every week my goal is to complete all my required readings and assignments by Thursday evening. So when Friday rolls around, my weekend is free and clear to be outside hiking, camping, exploring, etc…
There have been a few surprises within the first three weeks. There is a lot of reading! 100 plus pages can sneak up on you real fast. I had to put a halt on the Frank Zappa Autobiography and pick up Nature’s Economy…Not exactly what I would prefer to be reading, but oh well. Having never taken online learning, I assumed it would be minimal interactions with classmates and more reading and essay writing. I was sadly mistaken. But, I do enjoy the “classroom” participation. Being primarily introverted, it is helpful to get me out of my comfort zone, all the while still somewhat staying in my comfort zone. One welcoming surprise is how fast the weeks seem to go by. I can’t believe week three is halfway over.
I have realized that online learning is not going to be a cake walk. I’m sure I will encounter other struggles as I take more classes, but I have noticed a few already. Reading comprehension is probably not my strongest area. Maybe that is why I can recite almost any movie line or song lyric. So that is why I need to allot myself extra time to read, re-read and sometimes re-re-read the information. Also, It has come to my attention that I may not be as engaging as I should in discussion forums. That could come with not really having school on my mind during the weekend. Perhaps in the future, I will make more of an effort to log on during the week, when not doing assignments, and just read and respond accordingly. I am also excited and nervous about partaking in group projects within the online learning community. Will I thrive as a leader of the group? Or will I just lay back and take direction? In my current job, I lean more towards the former, but who knows here!
These first three weeks have been a nice learning experience. It hasn’t been too much of a struggle with only taking 6 credit hours. I commend the individuals who are balancing working full-time, school full-time and children full-time. My hats off to you all! Good luck to everyone and here’s to a successful term.
I really enjoyed reading your blog. I actually read it to my husband because it reminded me of how he would react to online learning. If you don’t mind me asking who is Frank Zappa? I am a huge reader but I usually stick to my fiction books. Never really got into autobiographies or biographies. But I enjoy broadening my horizons! I completely agree with you on the whole weekend thing. I love being able to get my school work done during the week so I can put more effort into getting my daughter’s nursery ready. And my husband enjoys it too, because he doesn’t lose anytime with me. During the week, were both running around with work and getting things done that we lose each other sometimes. So the weekends are always “us” time and it’s nice to know we can still have that. This was actually one of his bigger worries when I made the decision to go back to school.
I hate to do it, but….http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Zappa
I agree that getting things done during the week at your own pace is a huge benefit to an online classroom compared to a regular one. I also was unaware of the demanding nature of discussion boards and such, although with my wife taking online classes it was perhaps something I should have known! I do have a question though, well 2 actually, first what is an IPA that you are drinking? And second, what learning preferences did you already know you had or discover that you had? I’m trying to learn more about my classmates to possibly see if they have any insight in how to help me or others! Best of luck to you though!
1. Right now I am drinking Dogfish Head Aprihop, India Pale Ale brewed with Apricot Juice.
2. I realized I am a kinestethic learner. In life, I am a very hands-on type of person. When taking traditional classes, I never was able to learn by hearing the instructor’s lecture, but listening to lectures online and/or books on tape seem to be helpful now. Could possibly be having the ability to pause and rewind.
First off, I am extremely jealous! The craft beer scene here in Cambodia is pretty dismal (Budweiser is a premium beer here!). What I would give to leisurely sip an IPA (Indian Pale Ale for you non-beer drinkers — nectar of the gods!). And, secondly, how’s the Zappa book? The world lost a genius when he passed.
Okay, back to reality… I get how the “not having to go to class” aspect of online learning is liberating, but I find I spend at least as much time, usually more, reading through comments, understanding assignments, checking discussion boards, looking for updates, watching for announcements and watching email — and then there’s the video lectures and readings. I feel like I spend much more time getting through a study period than I would have if I were going to class and then hitting the library. Does anyone else feel like this?
The book is good. It is very sporadic and it doesn’t really have structure, which makes it an fun read. It is surely worth a read. Also, Dance Me This, Zappa’s last album is due out June 1st. I do feel like I spend quite a bit of time going through emails, discussion boards, readings, etc…. It may just be getting used to a different type of learning. Maybe it is just growing pains. Or maybe it is because the timelines are longer to be able to tackle on more assignments? A week vs every few days as in a traditional setting.
I was curious what IPA meant, so thank you for explaining that. I am not much of beer/alcohol drinker. 🙂
I find myself spending more time on my studies with online classes than I did in the “in person” classes. I know online learning is more challenging, so I am trying to give myself as fair as a shot as possible. Balancing family life, full time school and work is hard. I really LIKE having the lectures videos, I follow along better with the ability to pause and rewind. In class, trying to write notes as fast as the professors can speak was challenging. :)The first 3 weeks have gone by fast and I hope we are all doing well. Good luck to you on midterms!!
I totally agree with you on the whole leisurely learning. That’s probably my favorite aspect of online learning. Reading a hundred pages out of a textbook about academic writing is definitely more enjoyable when you can do it while laying outside in the sun.
I dig your title, too. Haha
I am a lot like you…I like to carefully “read, re read, and sometimes re re read” the material. My reason is probably different though. I sometimes have a hard time getting the whole gist of what I’m reading the first time. People often tell me that I have the attention span of a gold fish.
I find myself reading out loud a lot. I may look to get more textbooks in the future as audio books. Is that even possible?
I share your goal of keeping my weekends to myself for leisure. This week tripped me up with some travel and unexpected delays. I’m scrambling today and tomorrow to wrap things up. I guess that’s how it goes sometimes, eh?! Good luck this term. You have good goals that are achievable!