Happy New Year!
As I have worked towards getting courses done in an attempt to try to finish this whole 'back-to-school' adventure by the end of 2014, I have spent the Christmas break working through my first ever online course. here are some thoughts that have come to me as I have experienced the joys of Personal Wellness online!!
-Get the textbook early, no time to mess around - and just as they say about bullies, it is easy to hide behind a computer screen - no pity from the online professor! Which makes me wonder, do you get the same kind of whining & requests for change, bonus points & re-do that a teacher gets in traditional, face-to-face classes? Seems as if there are many benefits to the online professorial job - although I would hate not knowing who I was helping, or being able to build supportive relationships with my students.
-Don't wait for the course syllabus. Contact the bookstore to see if they know the textbook needed. The professor posted the course requirements one day before the first three assignments were due; each of which needed the textbook!
-I missed the relationship building of a regular class. Although I did notice that there are a few names that I already search out on class discussion posts. One girl writes beautifully; I enjoy her thoughts and ideas.
-Some of this Personal Wellness stuff goes a bit deep. I am glad we are online. Middle Level Psych got that way, but not until the end of the semester, and you could choose to share.....or not. This one we had a required posting about out spiritual selves. We Brits don't do really that. It was tough.
-One assignment included taking the Presidential Fitness test. I wonder if I was the only student who actually took that?
-The professor obviously sees this as a truly easy gig with minimal effort, and no desire to help. A past master at letting you know who else might be able to answer your question rather than sending the answer directly to you herself.
- It was pretty funny comparing my 40-something answers to questions and experiences concerning diet, exercise, smoking, and the like, compared with the average 18-19 year old (on quitting smoking, mine was a discussion on the intent and desire needs to be 100%, it doesn't matter what tools and support are available without that deep desire to quit. The average student response was more along the lines of, 'there are many support systems in place and there is no reason that everyone can't just stop because there is something for everyone.')
- I did have to take my first zero though. One assignment was to watch a video & answer questions. The only problem was that the video is on Windows Media Player, which is inaccessible on a MAC. I did send an email to the professor to let her know, and to suggest that as an online course, it might be a good idea to include the fact that parts of the course suited PC users only in the course catalog. At the time that I type this, she has still not responded. The zero assignment is frustrating, but as it is valued at less than 1%, I will live.
- I have one more assignment and my final. Due 11:55pm tomorrow. Almost done!
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