Today while I was perusing class schedules for next semester I came to the realization that I am two, count them two, classes away from obtaining my Associate’s Degree. As in, I could sign up for two classes for next semester and have the degree in May and be in a Bachelor’s program a year from now. Oh.My.God. That light at the end of the tunnel instantaneously got a heck of a lot brighter, so bright, I feel like I’m walking on the sun right now.
Cue my cautious nature.
I am a planner and most actions in my life are well thought out before being executed. I do love spontaneity but my close friends can tell you, for the most part, I have thoroughly researched the decisions I have made. So my real story for finishing my Associate’s Degree is that I will taking one class next semester while avidly researching which school/Bachelor’s Degree program I will be transferring to. Sure I’ve had many ideas, but now, I have to make the commitment. Now I have to put my research to paper, make comparisons, and apply to the school that I want to complete my Bachelor’s Degree at
In my heart I want to be a Teacher of the Visually Impaired. Due to an eye condition I was born with, I worked with Vision Teachers as a child and I adored every one of them (with the exception of one); they made a huge impact on my life and did a lot for me academically as a just in case (that fortunately was not needed). This is something I am pretty passionate about, I love the one on one attention you are able to give the child and I am intrigued by the challenges that come with trying to teach a child that has a visual impairment.
My cautious nature rears its’ ugly head again.
I have a back-up plan, I’ve had one for years.
My back-up plan is to go into Corporate Training or Human Resources when I am finished with my Bachelor’s Degree. While we’re at it, Event Planning has also been an interest of mine. Then you could also throw in to the mix my love of reading and adoration of music; I’ve always thought it would be neat to find some sort of occupation that involved one of those. A close friend had thought of getting a Librarian Degree, that thought lingers in my head as well.
Knowing that I will be finishing my degree on-line I have done research here and there about which traditional schools offer degrees on-line; but I’ve never put it to paper and mapped out an actual decision, not to mention looked at any extra pre-requisites that I might need. Now, I have to.
Oh.My.God.
:D
Monday, October 3, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
A Pitfall of On-Line Learning?
Tomorrow begins my fourth week of class. I was ecstatic when my teacher opened up the course on-line, a whole five days before the first day of the semester; this gave me time to print the syllabus, take a look at what was coming, mark my calendar with assignments due, and jump ahead with the reading for the first week.
Fast forward to today; it appears my teacher is M.I.A. The first week of class there was no welcoming e-mail, though teacher did post somewhat of a welcome message on the front page of our class portal; teacher also did manually grade one assignment. (Just for clarification, what I mean by manually graded, is that it wasn’t one of our weekly quizzes where our grades are automatically graded and posted to our grade book by the classroom software).
At first I thought that maybe teacher was behind on grading, as each week’s section was closed on time, at the end of our academic week, so there was some minute visible activity from teacher’s end. Late this week, it occurred to me; teacher could have set that up to happen automatically each week. The unanswered email I sent in the second week of class combined with this realization really made me wonder where teacher is. This weekend, another student posted to our common message board asking the same question; they too had ungraded assignments in their grade book, and an unanswered e-mail as well. What the heck?! I am paying for this?! I do not want to stir the hornet’s nest but I don’t think it’s fair that teacher has disappeared without a trace.
I’ve been lucky in my on-line learning, degree seeking quest to have had some really great teachers who enjoy, and are dedicated to, what they do. The teacher I had during my first semester back set the bar high, in his video lessons you could see he enjoyed his subject matter. When this teacher was diagnosed with Leukemia during my semester with him, he graded assignments and answered e-mails during his month long hospital stay. When his treatment became too much he had another take over the class. Every step of the way he communicated with us to let us know how our studies would be affected. My second year, I had a teacher whose 3rd child was due at any moment; she communicated with us, and graded our assignments in a very timely fashion. For three years I took this communication and dedication for granted; well I guess it was a good run huh?
I’m sure that critics of on-line learning would say that is what you get for not setting foot in a classroom. I completely disagree. One of the things I like most about my school is that they are dedicated to treat the on-line classroom as they do the bricks and mortar classroom. Almost every class I have taken at my school has a paragraph in the syllabus stating how many hours you can expect to dedicate to schoolwork each week and the warning that we will spend more hours a week on our schoolwork than a student who has opted to be in the classroom.
The lesson I have learned already from this semester, is that I will have to have a diligent attitude when it comes to finding the school I will finish out my Bachelor’s Degree at. I am lucky to go to a school where this teacher behavior has been an anomaly.
What about you? Have you had a teacher who has become M.I.A. during the semester?
Fast forward to today; it appears my teacher is M.I.A. The first week of class there was no welcoming e-mail, though teacher did post somewhat of a welcome message on the front page of our class portal; teacher also did manually grade one assignment. (Just for clarification, what I mean by manually graded, is that it wasn’t one of our weekly quizzes where our grades are automatically graded and posted to our grade book by the classroom software).
At first I thought that maybe teacher was behind on grading, as each week’s section was closed on time, at the end of our academic week, so there was some minute visible activity from teacher’s end. Late this week, it occurred to me; teacher could have set that up to happen automatically each week. The unanswered email I sent in the second week of class combined with this realization really made me wonder where teacher is. This weekend, another student posted to our common message board asking the same question; they too had ungraded assignments in their grade book, and an unanswered e-mail as well. What the heck?! I am paying for this?! I do not want to stir the hornet’s nest but I don’t think it’s fair that teacher has disappeared without a trace.
I’ve been lucky in my on-line learning, degree seeking quest to have had some really great teachers who enjoy, and are dedicated to, what they do. The teacher I had during my first semester back set the bar high, in his video lessons you could see he enjoyed his subject matter. When this teacher was diagnosed with Leukemia during my semester with him, he graded assignments and answered e-mails during his month long hospital stay. When his treatment became too much he had another take over the class. Every step of the way he communicated with us to let us know how our studies would be affected. My second year, I had a teacher whose 3rd child was due at any moment; she communicated with us, and graded our assignments in a very timely fashion. For three years I took this communication and dedication for granted; well I guess it was a good run huh?
I’m sure that critics of on-line learning would say that is what you get for not setting foot in a classroom. I completely disagree. One of the things I like most about my school is that they are dedicated to treat the on-line classroom as they do the bricks and mortar classroom. Almost every class I have taken at my school has a paragraph in the syllabus stating how many hours you can expect to dedicate to schoolwork each week and the warning that we will spend more hours a week on our schoolwork than a student who has opted to be in the classroom.
The lesson I have learned already from this semester, is that I will have to have a diligent attitude when it comes to finding the school I will finish out my Bachelor’s Degree at. I am lucky to go to a school where this teacher behavior has been an anomaly.
What about you? Have you had a teacher who has become M.I.A. during the semester?
Thursday, August 25, 2011
The First Week of the Fall Semester
School started this week. The beginning of the semester is a mixed bag; a joyous occasion as I look forward to the fresh start it brings along with the opportunity to improve my academic skills and habits. On the other hand the new semester reminds me that I have been doing this for three years now. Working full-time, while going to school part-time is an arduous and time consuming task, a task that I love, but one that is not easy to love.
I am fortunate that I am a single woman who does not have a family or home to care for but really I am most fortunate that I am surrounded by a number of women who currently walk a similar path as me; we are women who are working to better our lives while working to pay our bills. As of late, I have wanted to create a place on-line for all of us to come together, to commiserate, compare notes, share resources, and possibly learn something from each other that will make our own path easier.
So, this brings me here, to share my thoughts with you, hoping that you will share with me as well.
I would love for you to introduce yourself, leave a comment here saying hi, tell us what you are taking this semester, and if you are so inclined please share what you are majoring in and what school you are attending.
Happy Studying,
The Academic Diva
a/k/a Lambda Lady L.
The Academic Diva
a/k/a Lambda Lady L.
P.S. I am taking Humanities this semester and about 12 credit hours away from obtaining my Associate’s Degree, allowing me to transfer out of my current school into a Bachelor’s Degree program.
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