I am naturally a people person and a talker. I have always made friends easily and related to others quickly. I enjoy meeting new people and trying to see things from their point of view. I believe that these skills will help me to be successful at OSU even though I am not face to face with my teachers or peer’s I believe my desire to connect with others will fuel my desire to content with my classmates and Faculty. Two skills that I know I need to improve on or my reading skills and my typing. I am slow at both. I do plan on using my break to check out some of the typing resources that have been suggested to me. As for the reading I think that with time and practice this will improve and I know that with some good time management I will do just fine. I believe that I will use everything that I have learned in this class towards being successful in the future at OSU. I have already used so many of the skills and resources that we have learned about and this is only my first term! As I mentioned before this class has really helped me go from talking myself into being great online student to the confidence that I am a great online student and that I will be successful! I started a list so to say of resources or “things” that I wanted to remember in the future, I know I am terribly forgetful about new resources and skills until I have used them several times so I started this with the idea that I will have it in the future. It started as a nice neat 3×5 card, it is now full of website links, arrows, Randy Pauch video, personal mantras, little reminders (Use TED Talks for research) etc.
Specific tools tips and strategies that I will use keeping my learning style in mind are numerous. I would say that first to take good notes that are complete. I have found that I need note card vs note books, I also write small even if I don’t think I need all the room because I almost find more to add to the card as time goes on. It maybe that I add to the card something to help me remember the definition or theory that the card discusses. Further talking to people about what I am learning is very helpful, participating in the discussion boards has been more helpful then what I initially thought it would be, I think this is also because I was very intimated by the discussion boards at the start of the term and now have much more experience with them. After all I am even a Blogger now! The term at a glance calendar is also something that I will use, I may not use that exact paper as I already have a planner that is full but to continue to use that planner for all my commitments.
An OSU resource that I will use is my academic advisor, Josie. I have met with her a couple times already and she has really helped me to feel welcomed and empowered to take a lead in my education. If or when the time comes that I am struggling with my classes or with success in general I will reach out to the Ecampus success counseling. Student involvement will be with the Discovery garden and a Food Preservation Club that I also found through my local extension office. I’m looking forward to exploring the garden and the options for a minor during break.
As for right now I am thrilled to be rapidly approaching Winter Break! I already have so many things that I hope to accomplish during break. I keep reminding myself that it is a break and their is no reason to have a list a page long before the break has even started. I’m thinking that should throw it away! Take a vacation from organization and feel the crisp breeze in my hair. Ha ha. Thank You each of for participation in my journey to better myself! I wish you the best of luck in the future and a very Merry Holiday Season!
