Online Education Review for Week 15

This class is not my first experience with online courses.  I actually enjoy online classes more because I  don't have to go to a physical classroom with a bunch of other people I don't know.  Please don't take offense to my previous comment though.  I have good reasons for my preference of online classes.  First reason is that I'm an introvert.  I find it harder than some people to "open up" and make friends with people I don't know.  Second, I have a somewhat significant fear of being in a crowded space such as a small room with a bunch of people in it or an elevator too.  It makes my anxiety level increase.  Lastly, I like being able to complete my work in the comfort of my own home and being able to complete the homework, etc on a more flexible schedule.  Most online classes have a deadline for completing homework, etc, but also give you the flexibility to complete the assignments early if desired.

Another major reason I love online classes is because the classes give me the flexibility to work on classwork at any time of the day.  I have four children at home and trying to work my class schedule around their school schedules can be a bit of a challenge at times.  Don't even get me started on how difficult it is to go to classes when you have a house full of sick kids.  It's impossible to attend in-class courses when you have to stay home to tend to the sick children.  Online classes give you the freedom to do work at night when the kids are asleep too.  That way even if the kids are sick, they can still be tended to in-between working on classwork.  

I would also have the freedom to work on my classwork from anywhere there is a computer Internet connection.  I wouldn't be stuck attending a classroom.  If I went on a vacation, I could still work on my classwork from my hotel room because most hotels have free WIFI.  That's just one more way that online classes are considerably more flexible than traditional classroom courses.

I would most definitely take more classes if they were offered online instead of on the campus.  I'd even be willing to pay more to have that choice.  If I were to design a fully online course, I would have the students participate in weekly discussion boards, complete weekly or twice a week assignments, maybe write a paper or two, and/or complete a midterm and final exam online as well.

Online Courses

Gen Ed Review for Week 15

I decided to take this class as one of my upper division Gen. Ed requirements.  The main reasons why I chose this class was because it was about mythology and because it was an online course.  I'm really not convinced that Gen. Ed classes are really necessary to earn a degree in college.  Most of the information in the classes will never be used in the workplace.  I'm a pretty firm believer that Gen. Ed classes should not be required, but offered as optional courses.  With that being said, I do think that some Gen. Ed classes should be required like COMP 1113 and 2113 because everyone will be using writing skills in their future careers.  Math classes should be required up to a certain level such as college algebra.  Unless you're majoring in a Math degree, I just don't see how the more advanced math classes would be helpful in the workplace.  I could go on and on about what I think should be required or not, so I'll just get off my soapbox for now.

For me, the most beneficial part of the Gen. Ed curriculum has been the english classes.  When I first started attending college, I really needed the help with my writing skills because I wasn't that focused on my education when I was in high school.  The least beneficial Gen. Ed classes for me were the Science and History classes.  When I eventually go into my chosen field of being a foster care or adoptions worker, I'm not going to need to know anything I learned in my required Chemistry class or any of the American Federal Government and History classes.

What I will remember most from my Gen. Ed classes are the classes that were most pertinent to my chosen degree field.  The Psychology classes, Sociology classes, English classes, and last but not least the fun classes that I chose as electives (this mythology class).  It has been a pleasure to be in this class.  

Gen Ed quote

College Writing Review for week 15

Since I began college back when I was eighteen or nineteen years old, I have used writing in almost all of my classes.  I have changed majors several times throughout my time in college and in some degrees writing was a major component of the classes I took.  At first, I thought that a degree as a  medical transcriptionist was the field I wanted to pursue.  As a medical transcriptionist, there was a lot of writing required of me.  It turned out to be the wrong choice for me, so I decided to go into deaf interpreting.  Deaf interpreting was as dependent on writing skills, but it also turned out not to be the best fit for me.  After changing my major again to massage therapy, I enjoyed it immensely, but after several years of working in the field I was physically worn down.  There was very minimal writing requirements in the field of massage therapy because it was mostly about hands on training.  Therefore I had to change my major again.  I finally decided what I wanted to do which was acquire a degree in Psychology.  I attended the University of Phoenix at first and I was not pleased with the fact that the classes were completely about writing papers for each assignment in each class.  I wanted some variety, so I decided to transfer to OU and finish my degree there.  So far, the writing requirements at OU have been minimal with the exception of this class.  

Throughout my college career, there have been several classes that have been writing-intensive for me.  Composition 1113 and 2113 were very writing-intensive, as well as, almost all of the classes I took at the University of Phoenix.  The only writing-intensive class I have taken so far at OU has been this Mythology class.  These classes have made me a better writer by making me more familiar with APA and MLA writing formats, proofreading my writing, and keeping me up-to-date on what is considered good writing.  What has been most beneficial about writing for this class is the feedback I receive about each writing assignment I do.  Each person sees different mistakes and/or has suggestions that can help me be a better writer.  The most meaningful writing experience I have had so far in my college career would be this mythology class.  I learned a new skill, blogging, and this class has helped improve my opinion of myself as a writer.  I never really thought of myself as a creative person, or a writer in general, and this class has changed that for me.  A lot of students in this class have liked my work and writing style and that has increased my self-esteem.

I feel that this class would be beneficial for anyone to take while attending OU.  It had definitely helped me to break out of the mindset that I'm not that creative when in all actuality, I AM a creative person who just wasn't believing or allowing myself to be as creative as I can be.  Thanks for this opportunity!

I Am Creative

Famous Last Words: Week 14

Week 14 has been a good week overall.  

Academically, I'm continuing to get good grades in my classes at OU.  Woo, hoo!  I'm about to finish up my postings for this class and I'm feeling really good about my effort and grade in this class.  I've had several stressful weeks throughout this class, but everything ended up on a good note.  Yay!  As for my Trigonometry class at OCCC, well...I'll be taking it again and hopefully since I've had more practice and experience under my belt that I'll do better next time.   Even though I won't be graduating this semester as I had hoped, I only have 3 more classes to finish and I plan to take it really slow so I can get super good grades in all of them.  I should be graduated in approximately 2 more semesters.  I know I can do better in the last of my classes, if I take them one at a time.

Good Grade

On a personal level, my life has been good.  My littlest daughter was sick (throwing up) for two days in a row, but is all better as of yesterday.  She's a tiny little thing, so I was quite worried about her getting dehydrated.  Luckily she didn't get dehydrated and started feeling better.  My other 3 girls are finally finished with the public school standardized testing.  Whew...that was a challenge for my 3rd grader.  Next year, I'm going to have a Kindergartener, a 2nd grader, a 4th grader & a sophomore in high school.  I'm going to be SO busy!

I've also decided to get my butt back into shape.  I finally got sick and tired of being overweight and want to get back into great shape.  I bought an elliptical and my goal is to use it at least 3 days a week to start off, and then work up to everyday.  I'm also starting a fitness boot camp for the next 4 weeks and I'm betting that will make me sweat off a few inches and pounds.  Lol   I also love to dance, so I might sign up for an adult dance class at my girl's dance studio.  I've done it before and it was SO fun!

Motivation Needed

Scary Scale

In my last post I had mentioned that I was getting a new fence installed.  That hasn't happened yet due to all the rain, but it should be done by next weekend.  My husband and I have also been talking about moving to a bigger house as well.  That's still just in the idea phase, but I'm hoping that it does turn into reality in the next few years.  We have to pay off a few bills first, and then fix a few things in our current house before we can make a move.  Waiting sucks, but it will be worth it in the end.

That's all for this week, folks!

You Tube Tech Tip: Week 15

This is another good clip of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody

Another good clip

You Tube Tech Tip

This clip is so funny, I had to share it.

Funny Clip

Extra Reading Diary Post for week 14: Czech Folktales

The unit I chose for this week is Czech Folktales​.  My favorite was The Bear, the Eagle, and the Fish.  

Bear, Fish & Eagle

I love that this story is a happy ending fairytale.  This story reminds me a little bit of the story Beauty and the Beast.  The bear, eagle, and fish were all human princes enchanted by a spell just like the Beast was enchanted by a spell.  

The story diverges from the Disney movie where the women marry the enchanted princes in their animal forms and have children with them.  In the Disney movie, he turns back into a human before he and Belle marry.

I liked the suspense in the beginning of the father getting lost in the woods and needing the help of the three animals to retune home.  I also like the fact that the father had flaws just like all real humans.  This father had a gambling addiction which cost him to lose all his money even though he was given lots of money by each animal.

In the end, the father ended up defeating the magician who had cast a spell on the princes because each of the princes gave him tree things to aid him in his search for the magician.  The bear gave him three tufts of fur, the eagle gave him three feather and the fish gave him three fish scales.  The father used these special gifts to help him defeat the magician.

After the magician was defeated, the princes & their children turned back into their human forms and each of them were given part of the king's land to live out the rest of their days with their families.  Even though this story had a rough beginning with the father losing his daughters, his gambling, and losing his way in the woods and his money, the story ended on a happy note with the magician being defeated and the families living happily ever after together forever.

Czech Castle