This term has flew by!  It just seemed like yesterday I was trying to figure out what a google doc was (my wife is so patient with me) and now I am doing one of my final posts of the course.  As a new online learner, these past 9 weeks have shown me that I need to take the initiative and do the assignments as soon as they are available.  Next thing I know it is Friday night and I am trying to make weekend plans, but low and behold there is a discussion board staring me right in the face.  They say the early bird gets the worm, and my worm is a school-free, relaxing weekend enjoying life.  I am also not a great procrastinator, so I have to allot myself extra time to get over any speedbumps.  To all the successful procrastinators out there, I SALUTE YOU!  I have come to realize that my reading comprehension may need some work.  I have to figure out how to be a more proficient reader before I get into my core classes for Earth and Environmental Sciences.  From this class, I have realized the importance of goal setting and To-Do lists.  I utilize both in my professional life and it was a nice realization that the two just mapped right over to online learning.  I have to tell myself that if I write down a task and don’t complete it, that maybe I should break down that task into subtasks.  Progress is progress no matter how big or small!  My strategy of staying ahead of schedule has worked thus far for me, so I will try to continue down that path for as long as I can.  Having a 7:00am to 3:00pm work schedule, two dogs and no TV really makes me able to stay on top of school assignments.  Again to all the students out there who work multiple jobs, have children and work on school well into my bedtime, I SALUTE YOU!  I envy students who get to live on or be in such close proximity to the main Corvallis Campus.  I really missed out on “college life” when attending a traditional school way back when.  I heard it was just like Animal House!  No, but really, I would love to get involved with the KBVR-FM student radio and the Memorial Union Program Council.  Beaver Radio is pretty sweet to listen to as you are studying away (and I think you can make requests).  The Program Council puts on what seems like some pretty cool events on campus.  I think my long term goal is similar to most people:  GRADUATE!  As of now, I am only planning on taking no more than 6 credit hours each term, so my graduation date may be later than most everyone else!  I enjoyed the required reading from the textbook and the Ted Talk video this week.  It was a nice motivation heading into the last few weeks of school.  The speaker had some poignant words that I will keep in my brain bank:  “Choose Now, Choose Well.”  “Living an incredible life is no accident.  You have to do it on purpose.”  With this new chapter in most of our lives, dedicated to online learning, we must all remember that as long as we set clear objectives and goals and maintain positivity, we will all come out successful.  The textbook stated that “We must enjoy the journey of education.”  We have a similar saying in the Gaither household.  On a trip to San Francisco, my in-laws encountered a gentleman by the Golden Gate Bridge that gave them a piece of advice that we have now adopted and continue to pass when out in the world, “Wherever you go. Whatever you do.  Enjoy the journey.”

Cheers,

Justin

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.