Author: Keke

Navigating the Digital Classroom 

          Taking online classes really depends on the person. I have heard both good and bad things about taking online courses. A positive is flexibility. They offer the flexibility to learn at your own pace and in your preferred environment. Online classes also allow students to take ownership of their learning and practice self-discipline. However, some negatives are the lack of immediate feedback. Unlike in-person classes, online classes make it harder to receive feedback right away. If you have an important question or concern, it may not be answered immediately. You might have to wait longer for responses to your questions or to receive graded assignments. I have found this to be very frustrating at times. Another negative is the learning environment. For some students it can be harder learning through a computer screen and prefer to learn in person or hands-on. Everybody’s learning style is different. Some students learn better if the lesson is hands-on and if the teacher is physically teaching them. 

        This semester I am taking one online class. Some days I enjoy it. Some days I do not. One thing to avoid is multitasking. There is temptation to engage in unrelated activities such as going on your phone or talking to friends. This often causes me to lack motivation and sometimes my work does not end up getting done until the last minute. Since there is no one physically keeping me on track, like an in-person class does, sometimes this causes me to slack and not get any work done. Some tips for success in online classes are creating a schedule and sticking to it. Establishing a routine will help you maintain focus and stay organized. It can be easy to get off-track. Another important thing is finding a dedicated study space. Somewhere I like to study is the library or my desk in my room. If I go to the library or sit at my desk, I get more work done than if I sit on my bed, for example. Having a designated area for studying helps me stay focused and productive when doing my work. 

Source: www.onlinecoursereport.com 

Strengths & Struggles 

               Everyone has their own opinions and personal experiences with living in dorms. Some people love it, and others hate it. If you are living on campus, living in dorms is a huge part of college. Living in dorms has a huge positive because you learn how to be independent. You have responsibilities that you may not have had before, such as doing your own laundry or cooking your own food. Going to college you have your own schedule, and you learn how to adjust to a different lifestyle which teaches you responsibility. Another positive about living on campus is that it helps you meet so many new people. You meet other people who are adjusting to the same things you are. Living in dorms helps you build relationships with those around you and creates friendships that you may have for the rest of your life.  

              However, some people do not have a good experience living within the dorms and it can be a negative experience. Some people get stuck with a roommate who is unsanitary or someone that they do not get along with. Living in the dorms can be hard for someone if they have never lived by themselves before. Another negative is having less personal space and privacy. The dorm rooms are small, and it can be hard adjusting to sharing a space with another person. Living by yourself comes with a lot of freedom. How you use this freedom is very important. People often feel unmotivated to do their schoolwork and will end up just watching tv or socializing with others. Students come to college to do schoolwork, and oftentimes people forget that. Adjusting to a new way of life takes time getting used to.  

            Going from high school to college is a huge transition to make as a young adult. One moment you are living with your parents, and the next, you are on your own and with twice the responsibilities you had before. A month before move-in day, all I could think about was college. I was worried about the hard classes, living with my roommate, meeting new people, meeting all my professors, and finding my way around campus. All these things are normal things to worry about as an incoming first-year student and I quickly realized that everyone else around me felt the same exact way.  

            Feeling nervous for college is completely normal. However, I realized that everything that I was nervous about was nothing I should have been worrying about in the first place. As soon as I got to campus, everyone was super welcoming. The reality of college did not match my expectations. I came to college scared. I thought I was not going to be able to find my place. But so far, college has been greater than expected. I have loved making new friends and meeting new people. All my professors are nice and genuinely seem like they want to get to know me. College is supposed to be a positive learning experience, and I think the people you surround yourself with plays a big part in that.

Source: www.readersdigest.com