I am going to try something different with this week’s journal. I am going to treat it more like a journal than a reflection assignment. I am going to treat this week’s journal differently because I have been thinking a lot about school lately and need to get some of those thoughts out into the air. I am still going to talk and reflect about my homework progress but this journal should have a more personal feel to it.
Like last week, I have managed to get lost in the CD 315 homework pile. I have managed to complete nothing more than the work from the previous week. I slacked for a week and can’t seem to find the time to catch up on everything. My work schedule wasn’t quite so demanding this week, but with the start of my anatomy class and the holiday weekend, I ended up wasting my homework hours. We haven’t had any tests or quizzes in my anatomy class yet, but I am beginning to get really scared about how I am going to do in the class. We have two tests this week. One of the tests is a lecture test and the other one is a lab test. None of the lecture material seems to be that difficult and I think that if I burn some midnight oil I will do well on the test. On the other hand, I am really afraid that I am going to bomb the lab test. We have to identify different types of cells that we see under a microscope. Initially, I thought that it would be easy, but after completing the cell lab I am under a different impression. I couldn’t tell the difference between any of the cell types. Sure, I saw tiny differences when they were pointed out to me, but I couldn’t do it by myself. My lab partner and I were both lost. I just pray that I get a couple chances to look at the cells again before the test on Thursday.
My mission in CD this week was to prepare for information literacy. (As you know, this is week 3’s mission.) I prepared myself for information literacy by subscribing to a professional mailing list, searching the web for information about my last name, Jude, and my research topic, which is Auditory Processing Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder, reading articles that concentrated on unfamiliar resources, reading, developing a prompt, and responding to my prompt about teacher development, taking the VARK inventory to examine my learning style, and by responding to a prompt that focused on my experience as a learner.
Much of the homework that I completed this week was done on Monday. Monday’s seem to be the day that I have the most time to concentrate on this class. I also have ample time to do homework on Tuesday, but I never want to turn the computer back on after our weekly MOO session. The first thing that I did this week was subscribe to an appropriate professional mailing list. In order to complete this task, I simple clicked on the hyperlink that was providing under the assignments page of the class website. After connecting to Net Connections to Communication Disorders and Sciences, I explored the site. I looked around the site for a short while before clicking the “discussion forums and electronic newsletters link”. Soon after, I was given a list that provided information on various topics. I ended up subscribing to the Central Auditory Processing List. I subscribed to the list by sending an email that stated “subscribecapd-valeriejude” in the body of the message to the mailing list manager. After minutes of sending my message, I was sent a confirmation letter that I forwarded to the class list. I have been a member of the CAPD mailing list for a week and have only received one message from the group and that message was not useful for this class or my research. The message simple stated that the online discussion had changed rooms.
The next homework assignment that I completed was a web search for information about my last name. In order to complete this assignment I had to read several articles that contained information about searching the World Wide Web. The information I the articles were very helpful because I am very unfamiliar with web searching. I had to select several search engines and compare their results in response to my topic, which was my last name, Jude. I choose to use Google, AltaVista, and Yahoo for my search. I entered my last name at each of the search engines, then examined and analyzed my results to the search in a narrative type email message that I sent to the class. I was not very effective at comparing the sites due to the nature of my search. However, I was able to compare Google, AltaVista, and Dogpile in a similar assignment that dealt with a search about my project topic, Auditory Processing Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder. I also examined and analyzed my results to my topic research in an email that I sent to the class via email. The topic search was easier when comparing sites because I knew what exactly what I was looking for and what information would be helpful for my MRP. In this assignment, I found that Google was the most useful search engine for me. Here, I did a refined search and managed to find articles that directly answered questions that are essential for my research topic.
My next task for the week was to read an article about teacher development, create a prompt that related to the article, than answer my prompt. This article was very interesting. It discussed pairing distinguished and inexperienced teachers to continue the growth of knowledge even after college. I really enjoyed this article because I thought that it discussed a very important concept for governmental officials to consider. I think it would be very beneficial for new teachers to pair up with experienced teachers before they start their independent teaching. I think that both teachers could learn a lot about different methods and styles of teaching that would most benefit their students. I continued this assignment by revealing more of my opinions in an email that I sent to the class list.
After completing this assignment, I took that VARK inventory. First, I clicked onto the VARK inventory hyperlink provided on the class homepage. After entering the VARK website, I answered several questions that related to my learning style. After completion of the VARK, I emailed my experience and results to the class. I really enjoyed this assignment because it was fun, helpful, and, most importantly, it didn’t feel like homework at all. Although I enjoyed the assignment, I wasn’t surprised at all by my results. The inventory said that I was an aural learner. I was well aware of this information before taking the Vark inventory. I tend to learn and understand best when I hear information being taught. This is why I only miss class when I have to. I hate to miss class because I know that it will be much harder for me to understand the lecture material through notes than by hearing it firsthand. In addition to being fun, this assignment provided me with some helpful study tips for the future.
The last assignment for the week required my response to a prompt that was provided by Mrs. McComas. This prompt asked me to think about my experience and history as a learner. The prompt also asked me to share a story about a time that I remember learning something. In addition, I was supposed to share my disconnections and excitement associated with learning new things. This assignment was the most difficult to complete. It is so difficult for me to relate a specific example about a learning experience. You would think that I am 92 years old because I have so much trouble remembering things. In addition to the mere recollection of details, it is also difficult to share. I have mentioned this in a previous journal but it is difficult to write information that I will share with everyone. I don’t know why I have difficulty writing things that will be read by everyone in class, but I do. I think that it is the fear that my work will be inferior to the rest of the class’ work. I know that my work won’t be inferior to the rest of the class’ (And even if it is it won’t be dramatically inferior.), but that fear is there. I almost always wait until the last minute to post my narrative stories on the class page. I do this because I think that not as many people will read it. How awful am I? It is really unfair for me to act this way because I love to read everyone else’s responses. I think to read them because the prompts given to use allow us to really get to know each other better. It is not very nice for me to read someone’s work and get to know more about them without revealing my own thoughts on the topic. Anyway, these current discussions questions are always the most difficult part of the week’s work.
Besides all of the homework, I also gained a lot of insight through the MOO connection this week. While online, I had numerous questions about the MRP assignment. Most of my questions were cleared up and now I have a better understanding about how to complete this class’ final assignment. I manage to amaze myself at every MOO session that we have had. I get off the computer and am amazed at how much class time I consume by typing/talking away. I hate to take away everyone’s turn to talk but I always have questions. (As I said in the MOO session, I have difficulty understanding the discussions because I am an aural learner.) In addition to pure confusion, I really hate to have dead time in the MOO class. For me, it is much easier to undergo quiet times in a classroom than it is on the computer. I don’t know why, but it is. Even though I continue to slack, I am still learning a lot of information in this class. (I am just learning things a week later than everyone else.) The most crucial piece of information that I learned this week is about the MRP in the MOO session and how to refine searches online. I have completed several researches online for research in the past, but for some reason I have never clicked on the refine button to get the most effective search. I gained the computer confidence to click refine and gained information that will really help save time when researching future topics. Overall, I have had a good week. I wasn’t all that productive, but tomorrow is my CD homework day. I will do homework all day and night, but I will get the work from week 4 completed.

Wow! This is very difficult task. I kept putting off this assignment because I couldn't think of a particular learning experience. Finally, I realized that I have to complete this assignment so I will just write about a couple of incidences that I remember. Problem is I don't remember any specific learning situations. It is so funny that I have trouble recalling a specific situation because I literally learn new things everyday. I don't remember learning the alphabet, to read, to write, to tie my shoe, etc. All of the important learning milestones are completely blank in my head.

The only situation that I remeber having difficulty with in grade school was the timed mult. test. When I was in third grade, we were given these tests on the multiplication tables. The tests were timed. We were given one minute to complete about 65 multication problems. I had a lot of trouble with these timed tests, but I do not think that I had difficulty learning the material. I just had difficulty completing the test within the given timeframe. I remember getting so nervous before these tests. At home, my mom would make out a test for me, turn on the microwave timer, and give me the test. I always did fine at home, but it was a different story when I got to school. In this situation, I think that I struggled with the pressures of learning, rather than the learning itself. For days, I would practice my multiplication tables for hours upon hours. I really wanted to master the timed test. Finally, I got all of my answers right and I was so thrilled. I was so excited that I didn't have to worry about the tests anymore. I remember getting so mad at myself because I was convinced that I knew all of the answers, but when it came to test time I didn't. This frustration lead to my efforts to work harder and practice more.

Now as I am looking back on my school career, many of my learning experiences have been similar to that one. When I encounter new learning situations, I always look at the situation by telling myself that it isn't that difficult and I know that I can do it. If I begin to struggle, I get frustrated with myself, but I push forward with the confidence that I will get it...eventually. I tell myself that if I just try a little bit harder it will eventually become clear in my head and soon it will be easy.

I believe that my most problematic area with learning is the pressure that I put on myself. No matter what the situation may be, I always have some form of pressure to put on myself. I wonder why I am having so much difficulty in an area. I continuously tell myself that this is or should be easy-why don't you have it yet. This pressure causes the most grief, but I believe that this grief is essential to my personal learning behavior. If I didn't put pressure on myself about the more difficult learning tasks, I don't believe that I would strike harder to complete it.

Another area of learning that gives me grief is fear. This fear is geared more toward my college career, rather than the previous years. As I am getting older and closer to graduation (Thank god!), I am beginning to develop a fear of not knowing or forgetting. I am so scared that I will graduate college and will be unable to be successful in graduate school. Or worse, I will get out into the real working world and will be unable to do the job. This is a growing fear. Here lately, I have been getting excited about being a senior who is graduating college in May. Every time that I start to celebrate my future success, those fears surface. I am hoping that this is a common fear among graduating seniors. If it's not, I hope that I am just being silly. Either way, I hope that these fears go away soon. But I think that my fears will probable get worse before they get better.

My excitments associated with learning is the mere accomplishment of the task. I just feel better about myself when I learn something new. I think that everyone does. Every piece of information that I learn, I am greatful for. Whether the information is about school, work, etc, it doesn't matter. It is still fun to learn new things. You will always benefit from learning new things. I just think that you recieve a good feeling about yourself when you are knowlegable about things. I think that knowledge is important for everything. This is awful to write about, but I love knowing something that someone else doesn't. Especially my boyfriend, I love teaching him new things. It gives me confidence and makes me feel smart and important. If I was a billionaire who never had to work a day in my life or go to school another day, I would continue to go to school because I want to be as smart as I can I be. I think that Ricki Lewis said it right when she said, "I want to play Jeopardy and win", in a class discussion last semester. That is exactly the way I feel about learning. I may not be the smartest person in the world, but I want to be as smart as I can be. Therefore, I think that the most exciting thing about learning new things is knowing new things. The accomplishment of knowing new things is the most exciting part of learning.