So far into the semester I have identified one strength in myself. I have found that I learn best by listening. In some of my online classes, the professors have posted video lectures on each weeks’ reading. I have found this very helpful in learning the material each week. It helps the online courses feel more like going to an actual class. I have also been surprised about how much time I have had to spend each week doing school work. I underestimated the amount of time that online learning would require, which, has also became one of my greatest struggles thus far. I also have a full time job along with going to school online. It so far has been difficult to balance work, school, and my social life. I feel that so far my school work has been pushed to the back burner. I am trying to work to fix this. I have been trying to develop a daily routine that allows me to work on homework at the same time each day everyday. It is taking some getting used to, but so far it seems to be working.
I agree with you, I really do enjoy the posted video lectures as long as they don’t try to cram all the white space with material. An Army General once gave us some advise pertaining to power point slide briefings, “Be bold, be brief, be gone”. A little different presentation than class material but I still think it applies. Give me the information I need in a palatable form and move on.
I am having that same challenge as well, working and balancing my school work. Online courses seem to take the idea of having the lectures or information be similar to being in an actual class. In addition, it also seems like many of the items required each week in some courses seem like busy work. One course this week I had a quiz, 3 chapters to read, 4 online discussions, team project assignment due, and had to watch 2.5 hours of lecture. I remember my bachelors program when I got my first degree, most of my classes consisted of exams which I was fine with because I was able to make note-cards and study in ways that help me best through visual/auditory methods. Some online courses feel as if I am rushing to get the busy work done without being able to fully grasp the concepts in my learning preferences.
I share your pain. It has been an interesting transition going back to school, working full-time, and maintaining an even remote semblance of a social life. What I have picked up thus far is that it’s crucial to come up with a game plan and really to and stick with it. You can handle life’s curve balls a little bit better when you are not rushing at the last minute trying to finish tasks that could have been handled earlier in the week.
Hello, I also have realized how much time I have to spend on each one of my classes. It feels sometimes to be a bit overwhelming. I have two part time jobs as well as going to school and it is very challenging balancing your time between all of them. I think it is really good that you realize you have to structure your time well. I hope the rest of the semester goes well for you.
-Joey Cramer
I am not sure if we are technically allowed to do this, so I wont tell you the websites that do this, but their are websites that allow you to take videos on webpages and turn them into audio files. This is a good tool for you if you are particularly good at listening and you are short on time and need to do some of your listening of instruction while you cook, exercise or even drive/travel to work. Also, I have felt that sometimes my classes are on the back burner, but I think sometimes I am actively doing that. So I plan on starting a journal and ask myself how do I make classes a priority everyday. Maybe you can do something like this to get you stimulated in promoting your studies in your own life?