My first online class - lessons learned

[RollerCoasterMama]

I finished. Right at the last possible moment because I am that procrastinator. I got a 95%, but I am a little frustrated with myself because in the last section I shorted my time to really learn the material.

So...lessons learned:
1. STOP WITH THE PROCRASTINATING!
2. Remember how it sucked to park DS in front of a video all weekend while cramming in the work? IT WAS AVOIDABLE.
3. The professor has a nice, very do-able time-line to get the work done. Stick to it, or even get ahead when possible.

Are you sensing a theme here? I'm lucky because this first class was really simple, if boring and arbitrary. It's the foundation of what I want to get a PhD in some day so I really need to LEARN, not just pass.

I'm glad I started with something easy. It was a good intro to what I'm getting myself into. It shows me that I need to get better at budgeting my time appropriately. The classes are only going to get harder and more time-consuming once I get past all of this debit-credit stuff.

BUT...on the flip side: I pulled it off! I got the A I needed! It wasn't really hard. I did eventually manage to find the time to do it. And the stuff I just finished makes sense, when just a few weeks ago it looked like a foreign language. And I can see how the more in depth stuff has the potential to be really interesting.

On to the next class! (Starting today.)

[La Sombra]

Good luck mama! I did a lot of online classes when I was doing my associate's degree and I can totally relate to the lessons that you learned. There is definitely a learning curve to online classes but it sounds like all ended well for you and that you are going to have lots of success in the future with it!

[Ianthe]

When I take online classes, I schedule in study time and write all assignments and tests on a calendar next to my desk/computer. It helps a lot. I took one online class where i really fell behind, and I learned my lesson for sure!

[RollerCoasterMama]

Originally Posted by LizzyQ

When I take online classes, I schedule in study time and write all assignments and tests on a calendar next to my desk/computer. It helps a lot. I took one online class where i really fell behind, and I learned my lesson for sure!

I try to keep to the schedule suggested by the prof. For summer school it's pretty accelerated and you really need to work to stay on target. It should mellow out a bit this fall--I'll have 2 classes then, but 3 months to do 2 classes, not 1 month per class!

My problem was sleep. I like it. And DS was having some bedtime issues so I started having him lay down to sleep in my bed the whole night (rather than start in his room and join me half-way through). It was good for him...he got more sleep and it seemed to make up a bit for me being busy a lot. But I was falling asleep with him! So much for study time! We're at a happy medium now. On night I really need to work, he'll go to bed in his own room. On other nights he sleeps in my room the whole night. He accepts the back and forth arrangement. Last night he was fine going to bed in his room when I explained that I had to work and he could sleep in my room tonight. So we seem to have gotten through that rough patch.

He also understands why I'm suddenly taking classes...as much as he can. Once I said it was so that someday we can have a big back-yard. He latched onto that as the reason. Only now he wants a clubhouse too. :P If he puts up with me doing all this, he'll have earned himself a clubhouse by then!!

[sparklett]

GOOD FOR YOU for getting through it and earning an A!!!

Yep, online classes have a steep learning curve and you have to be very self-disciplined to get through them. I think you have a really good point when you said that you wanted to really learn the material. If this is going to be fodder for your PhD, then I'm sure you'll have a few more opportunities to study this subject again.

I'm taking 16 units (6 classes) this summer (6 in May, 6 in June and 4 in July) and they are all upper division. I'm transferring to a different college this fall for my second master's and have been promised a full ride as long as I have a 3.8. I worked really hard and have a 4.0.

After doing this for years and years, I've learned that staying ahead is the key. This past summer, I've e-mailed professors to see if I can take tests early. Same say yes, some won't do it.

Again, congrats and best of luck on your next class!!!! You'll do great!!

[RollerCoasterMama]

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