I've just taken the time to read some more of my classmate's blogs. It is interesting and fun. Still wish I had more comments from others. But, like I was told one time, "If you want to receive letters, you have to write letters". I decided to write some more comments to others. Many students are commenting on how close we are to the end of this term. Yea! It has passed by incredibly fast. My list for completing the requirements for Clinical Orientation is LONG. My immunization records no longer exist! I was told that it will be necessary to have some tests done to verify the immunizations and I will probably have to take another tetnus shot. So, I have made my doctor and dentist appointments and sent in half of the required papers. This works out well since I need to be doing the same things for my Peace Corps application.
It is exciting, isn't it. Working toward our goals and getting part-way there, then half-way there and then......there is that light at the end of the tunnel! Kudos to all of you who are working so hard, busy with family and work responsibilities. Maybe we'll have the opportunity to share more if we continue to use the blogspot.com. Take care, enjoy! Jan

The blogging process

I was a little lost at first as I had to learn how to navigate to and from my blog and comments from others, etc. It was a learning experience and I'm glad I know about this site. It is different from facebook. My cousin prodded me until I got on facebook. On that site there are a lot of my relatives so it is nice to see the pictures and hear about what is going on with them. With the one or two comments I did get on the blog site, it was fun to have a bit of correspondence with a classmate. I put out some ideas about writing, gardening to try to solicite some comments. Without the interaction with others, the site is not real useful to me. I believe to have it "work", there needs to be comments shared. It could be a matter of time or also a matter of finding a path to use to connect with others, like searching and finding a common topic of interest.

Ah Ha!

My "Ah Ha" moment involving my research paper was when I finished my draft. I proofread and re-read my draft. Then what I realized at that moment, was just how much MORE work I really had to do! I was not happy with it as a whole. I needed more information and so I was frustrated. What I found to be really helpful was the peer review process. As I reviewed my classmate's draft, it made me think that I could apply my own criticism of their draft to my own draft. Then, receiving the comments from classmates was even more helpful. It gave me a boost to re-work my paper with some new ideas. I wish I could have even more peer reviews. I have had some experience with peer review but it has been primarily on performance such as my teaching style, speech giving or other kinds of activities. That kind of feedback from my peers was always useful. I had the opportunity to use their ideas and criticism to improve my speeches, lectures, etc. I've not had many peer reviews on my writing except for when I have written grant proposals for funding. I often had someone (anyone!) read my proposal to get feedback. It's so easy to get lost in my own ideas. So, here's to us helping each other as we learn together.

Change of Seasons

Time to pick out new flower seeds and plan for what new plants to buy. Where to put what and how much upkeep will be needed. I've learned that smaller well kept gardens are more enjoyable that larger unkept ones. It's really exciting to plan. This year I'll draw a diagram and keep notes on the planting; types, when planted, etc. I don't always do that but it can be fun. It doesn't take much for me to pull out the colored pencils and markers. Just another one of my ways to decompress.

Thinking about the change of seasons makes me think of the many changes my classmates are going through. So many people facing challenges and moving on. I am glad to have the opportunity to read about what others' are doing and how if effects their classes. Many are working really hard to succeed. While reading their posts on the blog and some on our discussion boards I am reminded of the strenth of the human spirit.

I've sent some comments and hope to receive some in return. Besides our own strength, we have a lot to gain from others. I've appreciated the support I've received from the Kaplan admissions and academic staff. I've yet to master navigating the library and some of the other resources. I guess I'll be pretty good at it about the time I am done with my courses!

In the meantime, I'll take a break each day to enjoy what the change in the season brings. For us in Wisconsin that has meant more than 2 feet of snow on the ground all winter.....then within less than 2 weeks the snow is gone and I'm looking at the grass!

A STUDENT AGAIN.
It's been awhile since I've been in school. What I am really enjoying is the opportunity to connect with so many new people. I remember my college years as some of the best ever years. All the opportunities to get involved in groups and research as well as the many social activities, communities activities and oh all the cultural events right there on campus regularly. I went to University of LaCrosse and University of Platteville. UW-Platteville had a particularly good cultural arts center. They brought in theater and dance groups that would cost you three times the money in Madison. There was always someone ready to go hiking, skiing, volunteering or whatever. You run in packs and if you are smart you will join as many packs as you can. You have the opportunity of getting to know all kinds of people. There's a big world out there, why limit your experiences and opportunities.
Years later. Work and family has kept me busy but now my childrearing is limited to great nieces and nephews. The advantage of that is you get to do it when you want and don't do it when you've got something else to do. I am grateful for this opportunity to study again. Also, I am in the medical field. That was one of my original goals but I was unable to finish. I was a single mom and the mortgage didn't allow for me to take the time and money to finish as an Occupational Therapist. After years in social work, I am back in the classroom again.
Has anyone heard of the book Simple Abundance? Along with that is the Gratitude Journal. I lost my book but I keep a journal. In this I often write out three to five things that I am grateful for. Sometimes I draw a picture to go with it. It's a time for thankfulness, introspection and discovery. Always learning.......... Jan

MY NEW LIFE ONLINE.
I'm finally feeling comfortable in the online educational evironment. My first classes were in the term that started here at Kaplan in August. It took some adjustment to get in the swing of things in the online environment since I was so entrenched in the traditional classroom environment. For all those years in college, I was geared to the mon-wed-fri classes alternating with tues-thurs classes, and of course it all started every monday and then ended on friday. Since Kaplan's class week starts (wed) in what is the "middle" of the week for me, it was hard to get used to. Friday was the day to get out of class, turn off my brain and focus on getting hours in on some job and then sometime on sunday it was time to put hours in on what papers were coming up due. I've had to jumpstart myself to not turn off my brain on fridays! I'm getting much better at staying on track with this new schedule. Has anyon else had to struggle with making this adjustment? It's not so difficult all by itself but when you start juggling it with family, work and other projects things are more apt to get out of whack. An example would be like almost letting the saturday discussion post slip by.
The seminars took some adjustment also. Let's see......I can hear the teacher but can't see him/her; I can't see or hear my classmates but I can see what they write. OH MY GOSH, everyone is writing at the same time, now we've got several conversations going. Read what they are writing, try to jump in and respond, get involved. Oops, who said that? Is she talking to me? Oooah, professor, I have a question. Now this is when I type it, then hit the wrong button and it doesn't get on the page. I'll type it again and send it, no, don't send. They've moved on to the next slide on power point. Get my drift? Has it happened to you?
Now might be the time to mention a thorn. When we have only one hour with the professor in a live setting, I get really frustrated when there's a lot of extra "chatter" that is not on topic. It's nice to have a comfortable atmosphere but when it gets too much so, time gets wasted. I think the seminar time is best used to review the professor's power point, ask questions and get other types of direction from the professor. Of course that is my opinion. Some may feel that it's not a problem if 20 minutes or more are spent on conversation that is just chatter and not about the class. For me, this has been quite frustrating. In one class, I typed out a question about the upcoming test, it didn't get answered. I typed it a second time, then a third. There was so many people writing about the night and the weather and their kids, etc. that my question kept disappearing as the screen scrolled up! Never did get that question answered. Oh well.
On the bright side. I love my classes. The professors are really good. What is probably the best thing about online classes is the flexibility. Kaplan has it set up so "life" can be worked around the classes and the coursework. It took me a little time to make the most of the discussion posts every week. It works best when we have the opportunity to give and receive as many responses to each other and the professor as possible. I especially like it when the professor poses new questions to us that relate to what we have written. Something I need to do better is to get my questions to the teacher answered via IM. Haven't even tried it yet but I need to get on that as I think that can be really useful.
So, how about you? How has this experience changed your life? Jan

Karma

I've read several classmates new posts. I was able to add a comment to several. I enjoyed the process. After becoming more acquainted with everyone and sharing by sending my comments to them, I felt connected. It's a good feeling. One of the things that I noticed is that many are going through life changes and are facing hurdles and also looking for ways of new support. Many of us are sharing very personal feelings and that shows a lot of trust. I guess we feel connected through this class and as Kaplan students as a whole. It is enlightening to hear how some of you are dealing with various struggles. It helps me to connect and reinforces what I am doing to make my life changes. People are moving, learning, changing jobs, working two jobs, grieving losses and even getting baptized! We are all in this together and I believe we gain strength through the bonds we make together. I see how we can use this blogspot to reach out for assistance in classwork as well as just sharing what is going on in our daily lives. I've got to get working on my discussion posts now but as I said, this was a good experience. Thanks to all of you who vented, reached out, shared and passed on good thoughts. I am a true believer in Karma. You have all left me with some things to think about and a really nice, peaceful feeling.
I look forward to hearing more from each one of you. I've learned more obout the blogspot through trial and error. If anyone has run across anything interesting, please pass it on. I'll do the same.....once I'm through going in my own little circles! jan

I am spending some time just navigating the blog site and trying to see how to use it effectively. At this point I have "effectively" posted an empty post yesterday, added a comment to my own blog when I was trying the edit feature and when I thought I was commenting on MissyJ's blog it actually went on my own. What I am finding out is that there is more than one way to do the same thing. I figure if I keep at it, I'll work out the kinks! Jan

At this point, I guess the amount of time on the blog site effects my feelings about its usefullness. We are not all responding to each other so there is no communication and so then I feel like I am talking to myself! The only time a discussion gets going is when at least two of us get together on a topic important to us. It is not that I don't see the usefullnes of this blog site, I just have not experienced it yet to much degree. Jan

I was wondering if anyone has found any interesting threads while using this blog site. Using this site is all new to me. My cousins kept at me until I finally put my name on facebook. One of them put my picture on it. I don't write many comments but I do enjoy seeing the pictures that my cousins post often. I do follow some of the conversations between my cousins and that is a nice way to keep up with all of them. It just takes up so much time. Where do people find the time to be on the computer for so long?