Author Archives: kimsh

The Struggles Are Real

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The struggles of college students are real and its an entirely different struggle for online students. I have learned a lot about myself and how to be a more successful student in an online learning education.

Strengths I currently possess are good organization and time-management. Some things that I need to work on to better my future education is not procrastinating and my self-motivation. Throughout the term I had multiple times where I was not motivated to study and it would have been easy for me to just forget my studies. In class I learned to use the time budgeting calendar during busy days so that I can keep on track. I noticed that I had a hard time keeping on the schedule but if I physically see it reminding me when I planned to study then I would most likely do it, or at least a little. I need to work on planning it out better and recognizing how much time I will need for my studies and work it around my other commitments.

After more research on my learning style (kinesthetic/tactile) I realized how important it is for me to take notes. I used Microsoft OneNote almost every day and it has been very useful. I was not only able to learn how to study better by taking more time to understand topics but I also have notes and proof that I read and understood the notes. Taking notes and making physical connections with topics I am studying will greatly benefit me when I am trying to understand materials because it is part of what works well with my learning style. Even if I am typing out notes and not physically writing them I usually need extra time to type out the notes and it is repeated in lectures or readings instead of just hearing/reading it once and it not being comprehended (which can happen since I am not an auditory learner).

Some of the OSU resources I plan on using more is the student success counselor / success blog, career services, the library online, and finding more student organizations to be involved in. I am more focused on my learning more than student organizations because I have already been involved with OSU while I was an on-campus student and now I am concentrating on completing my undergraduate degree. The student success counselor/success blog will help me to get tips and learn more about ways that I can be more efficient in my studies and have an easier time succeeding.

For the upcoming term I plan to meet all requirements for pro-school by completing 16 credits with a C or higher. My longer term goal is to complete my undergraduate degree requirements by Spring of 2017 by taking at least 15 credits a term passing with a C or higher for each course. These are my educational goals that I need to be successful. I know that I want to graduate by spring of 2017 because that would be the end of my 5th year as an OSU student. I have 16 credits left until I can apply to pro-school and then about 2 years’ worth of pro-school courses until I have completed all of the required upper division courses.

After taking this course I feel that I am better prepared for what is to come as I complete my OSU education online. I was skeptical at first if I could handle it, but I have had such a difficult term dealing with a lot in my personal life that I know that I can handle the changes that will come when the fall term starts up until I graduate in a couple years. I now look forward to work on improving my studying skills and matching them with my learning style. The struggles are real and I am one step closer to being highly successful as an online student because of this course.

Online Learning is SO Much Easier… NOT

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What makes online learning so hard? Many people think that it is easier than going to school on-campus, but it’s actually harder to go to school online because of the self-discipline,  self-motivation, and things generally that rely on independence. Yeah, independence can seem more freeing and easy but it requires a lot of self-reflection to know what works for you and your individual situation, which is exactly what online learning is, adjusting oneself to their own learning on their own time.

 

I personally have done lots of self-reflecting in just the first two weeks of being a full-time online student. I have learned that I require more self-motivation and self-discipline. In a way I came to becoming an online student thinking that I was a perfect fit, but I really am not and need work to succeed. I am good at organizing things, but that doesn’t mean I actually get them done. I have begun planning things out so that I have the flexibility to move things around. It is so much easier to procrastinate in an online setting than it is to go to class every day and have homework due every day.

 

Many people who are online students have much busier lives than I do, they have full-time jobs, or are a full-time parent. This is why they almost have to take school online; I don’t because I chose this way of schooling. Yes, I had my own reasons for it, but I really didn’t have to. I am still a full-time student, with a part time job but I have come to realize that having a significant other really effects my online learning. In a way, having a significant other in my life can be both positive and negative.

 

The best advice I heard once was that being in a relationship while being a student is like adding another 3 credit course load to my life. I recently realized how true that is. My significant other can make me motivated to complete my work, but also can be a big distraction in actually succeeding. A perfect example would be this week, I am currently looking forward to a visit from said significant other so I am determined to get things done before he gets here so that we can spend time together without me having to set time aside to do my homework. But on the other hand I am really distracted because I am excited to have him over and we are planning our time together and I am preoccupied with our daily conversations about our future adventures that we are planning. I feel like I am conflicted about having a relationship but I am also very glad to have someone to help me when things get rough, I have a strong support system that will be there to remind me to do my studies but also able to plan adventures together because of the flexibility of online learning.