Starting out this term, I was not very comfortable with participating in online discussions or forums. I can write well enough, it’s just the process of opening up and sharing thoughts and ideas that was problematic for me. Well, with feedback from Brandi and many of you, I think I have been able to find a way to do this – I take on another version of me, someone I imagine who’d be open to sharing, and let them participate. I still have to work at it and I find it difficult to be spontaneous – everything must be proofed and reread! But this is something that will be more and more important the further I get into my degree. The ability to, not just communicate, but to openly communicate in a casual, open manner will be very important as my classes begin to involve more group-work (which, I understand from the computer science TAs, is going to happen!). So, participating in this class’s back-and-forth in discussions and blogs has been very instructive and helped me realize how to still set boundaries without being closed off.
I consider myself fairly organized, but have had some serious challenges (especially in May)! I learned that all the planning and scheduling doesn’t mean a thing if you can’t get online. Being able to complete assignments and access online resources has been a huge challenge for me – not just in this class, but also in my computer science class, in which we have to write and compile programs on an OSU server. (That’s very hard to do with weak/no internet!). I’ve worked to resolve this a number of ways, but finally had to break down and pay for a premium internet package (over $2k a year for internet). I’ve arrived at the conclusion that this is just another expense of going back to school…an unexpected but, nevertheless, necessary one!
All that to say, I haven’t been as focused on my learning style lately as I would have liked. It’s been more about finding internet access, getting things downloaded to work at home, and then finding time to steal back out and upload assignments. Not so easy in Cambodia!
A new strategy I learned in class and started implementing is to start the week with a planning session. I use the first part of the hour to review and update “to do” lists and calendars. Of course, there are constant changes happening throughout the week to these two items, but my Monday morning session helps me get in my mind what schoolwork is coming up and to give it the necessary time it needs during the week. I find this very useful!
I have also adopted the use of the “priority to do list” that we heard about in Randy Pausch Lecture back in week 4. It is so obvious and so simple. Sometimes it takes a little time to determine what is important and what is not, but I find thinking through that a useful exercise in understanding what my tasks are. I have found this to be super useful and will continue to use this for everything in my life.
I am quite excited at the prospet of participating in some undergrad research, especially in the end-user software engineering field. I plan to use the next term or two to find some research money and become acquainted with my the professor I want to be my mentor. I can see applying for that in the next several terms, so I have that to work toward.
Many of the goals I have developed over the past several months are still valid – I want to finish this degree in at least 1.5 years, I want to find a mentor, I want to participate in research, I want to maintain a 4.0. However, this term has proven to be a lot more difficult than I anticipated. This is primarily due to the internet situation. But even still, I have found that not being able to check in on the class (or look at assignments) has really taken a toll on me – it’s really exausting being so anxious all the time. So I am going to try and roll with it a little more and be a little more relaxed – this is something my wife and kids have mentioned and I think they’re right. I’m still going to be doing my best, but will try to also recognize what I can and cannot control.
Anyway, I wish you all good luck and maybe we’ll meet (virtually) again.
Oh wow! You helped me realize just how spoiled I am here in the United States. I had not ever considered that obtaining internet access would be a difficulty for anyone. Just wasn’t thinking.
Anyway, the support of your family and their help is super and wonderful. You brought up some very good points about how best to use the tools we have learned about. Thank you for explaining that. And it is good to hear from you on this blog and in discussions.
Remember the TED talk, too, about “fake it till you make it”….. You will get to where it is much more comfortable, like she did, and look back on these days as just a memory of when it was uncomfortable. You’re doing great!
I’m glad that you shared how posting your thoughts in discussions makes you a little bit uncomfortable because I’ve felt very similar. I have always been the shy girl in school, so being forced to share my thoughts and opinions with the class seemed very daunting to me at first. Although, I still feel a tad nervous and I always proofread everything a million and one times, I am slowly breaking out of my shell. I think the biggest thing that has helped me thus far has been the realization that I am not the only one that is facing this problem. Along with the fact that all of my peers and instructors have been nothing but kind and helpful. I think my biggest fear of it was having others judge me, but I now know that is just a silly, paranoid thought. I’m glad to hear that this class has helped you and you’re allowing yourself to open up more now, too. Keep it up and good luck on completing your degree!