Hi everyone! My name is Noka, and I am a 42 year old divorced mom of two teen aged girls. I live in a rural area in Northeastern Oregon where the closest college campus of any kind is nearly sixty miles away. All of these factors made online learning necessary for me. There was more flexibility in scheduling so I could still work and make time for my children’s activities, and I didn’t have to drive over that treacherous pass in the wintertime. So I thought to myself, “I’ll just take online classes. Piece of cake, right?” –NOT.
Yes, I can attend college in my jammies. Yes, I don’t have to brush my hair before going to class. Yes, no one else can see my messy desk (which is good because it may frighten some people.) But easy? It’s not as easy as I thought.
Spring 2015 is my second term of college and my second term of online learning. I finished winter term on the dean’s list, so the coursework, although challenging, doesn’t seem too be too difficult. I’m sure it will become more challenging as I begin to take more upper level classes. The problem is me. In these first two weeks, I have learned that I am totally a right brainer. As I mentioned before, my desk is a mess, which is not a huge problem because it makes sense to me. Sometimes, though, it can be difficult to keep all my assignments in order. I, not just my desk, am also very disorganized, and I tend to procrastinate. I have learned in this class, however, some tools and strategies to help with my organizational shortcomings. For instance, I have implemented a planner that has helped tremendously when it comes to budgeting my time. In my planner, I have set aside certain days for certain classes and/or assignments. This seems to be working quite well, because I don’t feel so stressed, and I don’t seem to be cramming so much into the end of the week to meet deadlines.
I have also learned that my learning style is multi-modal. When I was in grade school and high school, I was the kid that never had to study. If I saw it, heard it, or read it, it was there in my mind. I was always “teacher’s pet”, though not willingly. My fourth grade teacher even used me as an example to another student saying, “Why can’t you be more like her? She could learn off the side of a barn wall!” I hated it because it was embarrassing, and I felt sorry for the little boy. But I will never forget it. It seems now, however, that my memory, especially my short term memory, is not at all what it used to be. I blame it on old age and diabetes. Through discovering my different learning styles, though, I have been able to incorporate different methods to help information stick in my mind. I have found some of my textbooks are offered in audio versions online. Reading along while the text is read to me seems to help me soak in the data. My kids are also studying some of the same or similar coursework. I have found that studying with them and creating interactive learning games to play with them has not only complimented my learning experience, but has aided their enrichment as well.
Though online learning isn’t as easy as I thought it would be, I am quickly developing methods and strategies to help me not just muddle through, but charge through like the cavalry. I have set goals for myself both short term ( some of them very short like I will turn in this blog post by 10 a. m.) and long term to encourage myself to reach my final educational destination: my college degree.
I also am an older student going back to school for a degree. For me school was so easy when I was younger, I never had any issues with any classes. Now I find myself struggling to memorize. It seems to be a lot harder now. Online learning for me is actually easy because my learning is through reading. Although sometimes the understanding doesn’t come as quickly to me. I find sometimes that looking at a video of someone else doing it can help me understand. I also love your planner idea, I myself have a dry erase board that I write my weekly assignments on and that way I can check them off so I know what I have left to do for the week. I think it’s great that you are able to share this experience with your children and all of you are benifiting from it. Not only are you gaining from it but your children will be more prepared for college as well. Congratulations on making the Dean’s list as well, that is a great accomplishment.
A dry erase board it a great idea. I have one at work – I need to get one for school. Thanks for that tip!.
Thanks for your comments! I know it seems the older I get, the worse my memory becomes! I have heard that there are some relaxation techniques that also help improve memory. I’ve been wanting to look into these and see if they help. Maybe they would help you as well!
My least preferred style is aural. Interestingly enough, I do have audio books for my Kindle. I did not know some texts have audio versions to read along. Thanks for mentioning that, as it may increase my ability to learn with that format.
I am also an older student. This time around, I’m not as concerned about grades due to my goal for pursuing it. It allows me to enjoy it a little more – but I’m sure you are enjoying the Dean’s list! Fantastic!
Thanks for your comments! My US History class has a lab that goes with it. The Pearson website for the lab has the textbook in audio form, so I listen and read along. This has helped tremendously! I’m sure there are other audio textbooks online as well. Just make sure they are the same edition so nothing is left out.
Hi Noka. I’m Jon. Great post! I, too, am a little older and have found that I don’t learn like I used to — I chalk it up to my brain being calcified from all the use it has had over the years — at least, that what it feels like! Though I didn’t think this would be easy, I was not prepared for all the extra things that went along with online learning. Sitting at my desk to get through school work is fine, but I have found that I cannot keep my desk clean — and I want it clean! And, like you, I have found the need to better budget my time, dedicating certain blocks of time for certain classes. This requires looking ahead at the week and term to figure out what class is going to need the most attention, but that extra time of dealing with the syllabus is also useful in helping me see the “big picture” of the class. Setting attainable short term and long term goals has been super helpful for me to plot a course and, as you put it, “charge through like the cavalry.” It sounds like you’re focused, organized and doing well. Good for you!
Hi Jon. I may be focused and doing well, but I am not organized, though I’m doing a little better. I don’t mind my desk being messy, actually my daughter cleaned it for me once and I couldn’t find anything. But budgeting my time is helping. I’m glad to know I’m not the only older student and that maybe my lowered ability to retain information is more normal than I thought. I thought I was just losing my mind! We should start a memory loss support group, hahaha!
Ya, but we’d forget to show up!
I think what we lose in ability to retain info is more than made up for in our ability to process and relate to the information. I think real life-experience is a boon in education. What’s the saying, old age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill. Ha, ha!