It has been a most eventful and stressful term. Due to scheduling foul-ups and miscommunication between departments, my student loans and financial aid from this term had to pay for my last term; I started work on my associates degree; I took (and probably aced) five courses; I ran out of money before the end of the term and am teetering dangerously between being penniless and being unable to pay for my car insurance. I have not paid my rent in two terms due to financial restrictions and my significant other has been feeling ignored and shoved to the back burner for 10 weeks which was the length of this term.
I have been sleep deprived; cursed the idiocy of certain administrative departments; railed against the inequities of social services and scholarships. I have argued against the over pricing at our book store as well as their practice of over-charging beyond their shelf price and vowed to never shop there again unless it was utterly impossible to obtain my supplies somewhere else. I have also met some of the most incredible instructors who changed my life in ways they probably cannot imagine.
Last term I took Legal Transcription, that instructor saved me by suggesting I double major in order to keep my financial aid and better my chances of employment; had it not been for her suggestion, I’d be working at McDonald's flipping burgers today, paying for my student loans out of a minimum wage job and going to school part time (for two more terms) to finish my paralegal certificate. You cannot imagine how many people I approached to try to solve the dilemma the schools class scheduling habits and the financial aid department threw me into; she was the only one who had a real solution.
My math instructor helped me learn how to learn pre-algebra and what it takes for me to transfer English to mathematical formulas. I have been attempting to learn that for over 36 years from mathematical geniuses, professors, web sites… her analytical approach combined with her adaptability and the use of the Hawkes program was what it took. As far as I am concerned, she is the most intellectual and well-rounded instructor I’ve ever met or heard of. No matter what your IQ is, no matter how smart you are in any arena; when there is something basic that you think you can’t do, it is impossible to have enough confidence in yourself about anything else. It invariably makes you feel like an utter idiot. At 52 years of age, I finally believe that I can do anything I decide to do.
My office technologies instructor taught me more than what was in the curriculum. She taught me that it is ok to not be perfect. Having OCD tendencies can be a crutch, it goes well with multi-tasking and attention to detail only if you can moderate it with achievement in a timely fashion and know when to decide that enough is enough. If a certain parent of mine had allowed me this information, instead of capitalizing on those OCD tendencies and exaggerating them further, I would have had a much different life in every aspect.
My power-point instructor not only allowed all of her students to excel with her unusual grading structure, but has such a calm manner in instruction that there is no way a student can feel overwhelmed in her class. No matter what the work load is, you know it can be done and you accomplish it with creativity and fun. The substitute she brought in during a personal emergency situation is a lovely, fun woman who obviously is not someone I can take a course from because of her high energy level. She clued me in on how to deal with my own problems in the school environment which flairs up my ADHD; small lessons can be the best.
My Civil Lit instructor gave me the necessary shove to really understand what several instructors kept telling me, "Do not over think it." Due to the bookstores foul ups, she changed the assignments so many times that I quit doing my over-kill research.
My internet instructor gave me the opportunity to have a lot of fun while taking her class. For me, that was a huge influence on my stress level. I do not think I would have made it through this term without her course.
I will not again take five courses in a term; I recognize my limits and the limits of those around me who are important in my life. That said, I’ve made it through without killing my grade average, or any one/thing else.
27 January 2012
18 January 2012
How to fully and successfully use an on-line college course.
On line courses are entirely different from classroom courses for a number of reasons. You are entirely responsible for your own success, there are no acceptable excuses. You decide how many hours you spend on preparation, typing your work up, research outside the assigned course book, and you are responsible for the time you spend on the ‘blackboard’ site.
Stay on top of your assignments; turn your work in on time. Participate in the discussion boards. Don’t procrastinate, try being early rather than late on any assignment/test.
Write using proper grammar and use correct spelling; you are in college, not third grade.
Do not attempt to plagiarize, you can get kicked out of the class and forfeit the tuition costs; you could even get kicked out of school. That kind of thing is information that goes with you from school to school, and even to possible employers. Simply don’t do it.
If you borrow something from an internet site, make certain you use the information to write your own sentences- do not copy/paste. One thing that can help is forming a document that is named differently from what you will use to turn in. I call my pre-turned in work, ‘homework’ and my post turned in work, ‘posted work’. I also use highlighting on all documents prior to a final copy. Use a specific color for research info you have copied from a site, use another color for text that you have not yet fully answered, and another color for finished text that you are ready to copy onto your posting work.
Another thing that is actually attempted is hiring someone else to do your work. People have been known to try to hire ‘ghost writers’ off craigslist and school bulletin boards. This is insane; it is cheating yourself out of an education and a future. You could, in all probability, get caught and can lose your right to attend any college/university. It is better to just withdraw from the class.
With all that ugly stuff out of the way, here comes the great part about on-line classes!
You control your environment. There is no one else in the classroom to annoy you by talking on their cell phone about how drunk they got last night. You can be as noisy or as quiet as works for you! If you prefer to work at 3am, it’s all up to you!
You control how much you learn. If the text covers general information, you have the ability to research at a library or on line to get more information. The more research you do, the more likely you will retain the information.
If you have problems, do contact your instructor. Do not try to just be chatty with them, be specific about what your problem is and ask directly if there is something you can do to rectify the problem.
On line classes require more attention, planning, detail control, and self-discipline than classroom classes. On line courses also provide you with more opportunity for success if you take the initiative.
Stay on top of your assignments; turn your work in on time. Participate in the discussion boards. Don’t procrastinate, try being early rather than late on any assignment/test.
Write using proper grammar and use correct spelling; you are in college, not third grade.
Do not attempt to plagiarize, you can get kicked out of the class and forfeit the tuition costs; you could even get kicked out of school. That kind of thing is information that goes with you from school to school, and even to possible employers. Simply don’t do it.
If you borrow something from an internet site, make certain you use the information to write your own sentences- do not copy/paste. One thing that can help is forming a document that is named differently from what you will use to turn in. I call my pre-turned in work, ‘homework’ and my post turned in work, ‘posted work’. I also use highlighting on all documents prior to a final copy. Use a specific color for research info you have copied from a site, use another color for text that you have not yet fully answered, and another color for finished text that you are ready to copy onto your posting work.
Another thing that is actually attempted is hiring someone else to do your work. People have been known to try to hire ‘ghost writers’ off craigslist and school bulletin boards. This is insane; it is cheating yourself out of an education and a future. You could, in all probability, get caught and can lose your right to attend any college/university. It is better to just withdraw from the class.
With all that ugly stuff out of the way, here comes the great part about on-line classes!
You control your environment. There is no one else in the classroom to annoy you by talking on their cell phone about how drunk they got last night. You can be as noisy or as quiet as works for you! If you prefer to work at 3am, it’s all up to you!
You control how much you learn. If the text covers general information, you have the ability to research at a library or on line to get more information. The more research you do, the more likely you will retain the information.
If you have problems, do contact your instructor. Do not try to just be chatty with them, be specific about what your problem is and ask directly if there is something you can do to rectify the problem.
On line classes require more attention, planning, detail control, and self-discipline than classroom classes. On line courses also provide you with more opportunity for success if you take the initiative.
10 January 2012
Tomorrow is my Mother's birthday.
Tomorrow is my Mother’s birthday. That seems like a simple enough statement to make, followed by some kind of birthday presentation… cake, presents, cards, etc. That isn’t as easy for her/me as one might think. My Mother has Alzheimer’s and she lives in a facility.
My Mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s years ago. She was a brilliant woman who had been challenged in her lifetime by alcohol, the death of a husband, getting a University degree at a time when women did not go to University for much more than a teaching certificate, working for civil rights when it was not a safe thing to do, and other things.
My Mom sang for over a decade with the Cincinnati May Festival. She was politically active, she was a person who believed in equal rights for everyone, no matter what your religion, gender, sexual preference, race, or education level was. She had a warped sense of humor and a big laugh; she would dance and/or sing anywhere and at any time.
My mother and I did not get along for the first 30 years. After she divorced my step-father and quit drinking, we became best of friends. Mom is now about 3 years old, she wears a diaper, she is strapped into a wheel chair, she doesn’t walk, she hardly opens her eyes, she can’t read (English or Music) anymore, and she barely feeds herself.
I miss my mother. Recently I drove down to Georgia, and upon getting into the mountains I had one of those epiphanies that people sometimes speak of. Mom spent her childhood in Idaho, that’s also where I was born, and to her it is home. Years ago, shortly after her diagnosis, she asked me to take her to Idaho. I joked with her about it, partly because she’d never been a person who asked anyone to take her anywhere, she’s been around the world under her own power. I assumed that she meant to drop her off. Then I saw the mountains in Georgia. The power of those mountains, the beauty in everything from the trees to the waterfalls to the rock, the overwhelming feeling of home grabbed a hold of my mind and my heart and ripped them from me.
I suddenly understood what Mom had asked. She didn’t want me to drop her off in the Teton’s and let the bears take care of her; she simply wanted to go home.
Sorry Mom.
My Mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s years ago. She was a brilliant woman who had been challenged in her lifetime by alcohol, the death of a husband, getting a University degree at a time when women did not go to University for much more than a teaching certificate, working for civil rights when it was not a safe thing to do, and other things.
My Mom sang for over a decade with the Cincinnati May Festival. She was politically active, she was a person who believed in equal rights for everyone, no matter what your religion, gender, sexual preference, race, or education level was. She had a warped sense of humor and a big laugh; she would dance and/or sing anywhere and at any time.
My mother and I did not get along for the first 30 years. After she divorced my step-father and quit drinking, we became best of friends. Mom is now about 3 years old, she wears a diaper, she is strapped into a wheel chair, she doesn’t walk, she hardly opens her eyes, she can’t read (English or Music) anymore, and she barely feeds herself.
I miss my mother. Recently I drove down to Georgia, and upon getting into the mountains I had one of those epiphanies that people sometimes speak of. Mom spent her childhood in Idaho, that’s also where I was born, and to her it is home. Years ago, shortly after her diagnosis, she asked me to take her to Idaho. I joked with her about it, partly because she’d never been a person who asked anyone to take her anywhere, she’s been around the world under her own power. I assumed that she meant to drop her off. Then I saw the mountains in Georgia. The power of those mountains, the beauty in everything from the trees to the waterfalls to the rock, the overwhelming feeling of home grabbed a hold of my mind and my heart and ripped them from me.
I suddenly understood what Mom had asked. She didn’t want me to drop her off in the Teton’s and let the bears take care of her; she simply wanted to go home.
Sorry Mom.
08 January 2012
Tips For Surviving College
Get A Good Start
Most people who are entering the college environment will need to take an assessment called the Compass. Brush up on the basics in English and Math beforehand. That information does not always stay with you, unless you use it on a regular basis, and going over it beforehand can save you months of ‘remedial’ classes.
Math help: www.khanacademy.org/
Don’t let the thought of school intimidate you, I worked for 30 years before re-entering the school environment and did not have a good grasp on algebra in high school. I had been convinced for most of my life that math simply wasn’t my subject. Fortunately, math teachers have learned a lot of useful tools for teaching and for recognizing the different ways people think. You can do this!
Once You’ve Enrolled
Financial aid is not all it’s cracked up to be. The interest rate is high, both on the federal loans and the private loans you will need simply to pay for tuition and supplies. If you do not have parents or a significant other to support you, you will need to keep your class hours low enough to afford also working a job. There are some scholarships you can apply for, not as many as most people think though.
Be prepared for bureaucratic red tape and understand that you will be dealing with people who seemingly know nothing about their jobs. Most of the people who work in administration have their hands tied with too much of a work load to really learn all the information necessary to deal with the problems that crop up, plus there doesn’t seem to be a manual for them to refer to when a question crops up. Seek advice from teachers who have been at the college for a while and from more experienced students. No matter what problem you encounter, someone else has been there and has found some form of a solution. Talk with others, post of the school bulletin board (in blackboard). Even if you are a private person, it is through talking with complete strangers that you will solve most of the problems you encounter.
Do not purchase your books from the book store unless you have lots of disposable income. Bless their hearts, these stores are private organizations who are out to make a profit and they do. It is perfectly alright to go to class on the first day without a text book. Some of the instructors will supply a syllabus before class starts on the blackboard site, if they use a blackboard companion site, and if so; they have the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) of the text book on the syllabus. Put that number into a Google search and buy the book at its lowest price possible. If not; you will receive a syllabus on the first day of class. Also, some classes may not require a book; some of them use computer programs. Make it a point to ask the instructor! If you do purchase from the bookstore, check your receipt against the shelf price; I’ve found a few times when they have mistakenly over charged me.
College is a bit different from University. In the University atmosphere, most often one encounters large numbers of people in each class and instructors who may not have time to deal with students on a personal level. In the College environment the classes may start out with 20 people and within a week usually weed down to a number between 10 and 15. The instructors try to help you out as much as they can. They may have a tough attendance policy and might seem to be intimidating, but in reality every one of them wants each student enrolled in their class on the first day to stay enrolled and to succeed in their class. Talk with them; most of them will go out of their way to help you out.
Match The Instructor To Your Learning Style
Ask your advisor or the department chair(s) about the teaching styles/ personalities of the different instructors. If there is still a conflict, ask if the course is offered on-line. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that an on-line course will be easier; they require more self-discipline and usually are double the work of a classroom course.
Basic Stuff
Give yourself a little extra time to check out the locations. Locate bathrooms and vending machines near your classrooms. Check the charts for fire routine paths. Locate the various offices on campus including the lunch room. Talk to the welcome desk and find out where the student labs are, where the bad weather shelter is located and how to get a campus parking pass and student ID.
Relationships are work, they live, transform, grow, flourish, and falter. Relationships need to be nourished. Spend time with the people who are important in your life or they will feel neglected and you might find them wandering away from you. If you are lucky and have picked the right people, the relationship will continue to grow. Don’t become so overwhelmed with school that you neglect family and friends.
Cincinnati State Specific
If you’re a coffee drinker I personally recommend the bakery on the second floor of the ATLC building. They have quality baked goods and excellent coffee, including espresso. The surge card office location is a must know.
I know nothing about the men’s bathrooms, but will say that there are a number of women’s bathrooms with automatic features. The automatic flushers in the main building are awful. Not only do they flush with little or no provocation, and then refuse to flush when you’re finished, but they spray your butt while you are seated. This is offensive and a waste of water. The second floor bathroom furthest away from the ATLC building is the worst of these offenders. The non-automatic flushers are located on the second floor nearest the ATLC building. The best bathrooms are located in the ATLC building between the bakery and the gourmet restaurant. They seem to have the automatic functions tooled in correctly and are the cleanest with the best lighting. The support staff does a great job of keeping the bathrooms supplied and cleaned; most of the staff I’ve seen are students.
We have a weight room/exercise room and a swimming pool. Use them!
Most people who are entering the college environment will need to take an assessment called the Compass. Brush up on the basics in English and Math beforehand. That information does not always stay with you, unless you use it on a regular basis, and going over it beforehand can save you months of ‘remedial’ classes.
Math help: www.khanacademy.org/
Don’t let the thought of school intimidate you, I worked for 30 years before re-entering the school environment and did not have a good grasp on algebra in high school. I had been convinced for most of my life that math simply wasn’t my subject. Fortunately, math teachers have learned a lot of useful tools for teaching and for recognizing the different ways people think. You can do this!
Once You’ve Enrolled
Financial aid is not all it’s cracked up to be. The interest rate is high, both on the federal loans and the private loans you will need simply to pay for tuition and supplies. If you do not have parents or a significant other to support you, you will need to keep your class hours low enough to afford also working a job. There are some scholarships you can apply for, not as many as most people think though.
Be prepared for bureaucratic red tape and understand that you will be dealing with people who seemingly know nothing about their jobs. Most of the people who work in administration have their hands tied with too much of a work load to really learn all the information necessary to deal with the problems that crop up, plus there doesn’t seem to be a manual for them to refer to when a question crops up. Seek advice from teachers who have been at the college for a while and from more experienced students. No matter what problem you encounter, someone else has been there and has found some form of a solution. Talk with others, post of the school bulletin board (in blackboard). Even if you are a private person, it is through talking with complete strangers that you will solve most of the problems you encounter.
Do not purchase your books from the book store unless you have lots of disposable income. Bless their hearts, these stores are private organizations who are out to make a profit and they do. It is perfectly alright to go to class on the first day without a text book. Some of the instructors will supply a syllabus before class starts on the blackboard site, if they use a blackboard companion site, and if so; they have the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) of the text book on the syllabus. Put that number into a Google search and buy the book at its lowest price possible. If not; you will receive a syllabus on the first day of class. Also, some classes may not require a book; some of them use computer programs. Make it a point to ask the instructor! If you do purchase from the bookstore, check your receipt against the shelf price; I’ve found a few times when they have mistakenly over charged me.
College is a bit different from University. In the University atmosphere, most often one encounters large numbers of people in each class and instructors who may not have time to deal with students on a personal level. In the College environment the classes may start out with 20 people and within a week usually weed down to a number between 10 and 15. The instructors try to help you out as much as they can. They may have a tough attendance policy and might seem to be intimidating, but in reality every one of them wants each student enrolled in their class on the first day to stay enrolled and to succeed in their class. Talk with them; most of them will go out of their way to help you out.
Match The Instructor To Your Learning Style
Ask your advisor or the department chair(s) about the teaching styles/ personalities of the different instructors. If there is still a conflict, ask if the course is offered on-line. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that an on-line course will be easier; they require more self-discipline and usually are double the work of a classroom course.
Basic Stuff
Give yourself a little extra time to check out the locations. Locate bathrooms and vending machines near your classrooms. Check the charts for fire routine paths. Locate the various offices on campus including the lunch room. Talk to the welcome desk and find out where the student labs are, where the bad weather shelter is located and how to get a campus parking pass and student ID.
Relationships are work, they live, transform, grow, flourish, and falter. Relationships need to be nourished. Spend time with the people who are important in your life or they will feel neglected and you might find them wandering away from you. If you are lucky and have picked the right people, the relationship will continue to grow. Don’t become so overwhelmed with school that you neglect family and friends.
Cincinnati State Specific
If you’re a coffee drinker I personally recommend the bakery on the second floor of the ATLC building. They have quality baked goods and excellent coffee, including espresso. The surge card office location is a must know.
I know nothing about the men’s bathrooms, but will say that there are a number of women’s bathrooms with automatic features. The automatic flushers in the main building are awful. Not only do they flush with little or no provocation, and then refuse to flush when you’re finished, but they spray your butt while you are seated. This is offensive and a waste of water. The second floor bathroom furthest away from the ATLC building is the worst of these offenders. The non-automatic flushers are located on the second floor nearest the ATLC building. The best bathrooms are located in the ATLC building between the bakery and the gourmet restaurant. They seem to have the automatic functions tooled in correctly and are the cleanest with the best lighting. The support staff does a great job of keeping the bathrooms supplied and cleaned; most of the staff I’ve seen are students.
We have a weight room/exercise room and a swimming pool. Use them!
05 January 2012
Small, Heroic Deeds
A class earlier today started me thinking about the small, heroic things that people do to affect the world around them. I had an experience with an instructor whose teaching style totally whipped my ADHD into frenzy.
I normally do not have a problem with this class, computers and I generally get along rather well and learning to use a program seems to be a comfortable subject for me. This day, however, I was lost within five minutes. The instructor spoke so quickly, with such volume, and had her own scattered thoughts as she followed the books directions that almost the entire class was lost and everyone was speaking at once.
I attempted to put my head down and focus on the written words; that did not work. In the midst of the confusion I heard a calm voice behind me. One of the younger women was slowly, methodically, and calmly working over the directions with the student seated next to her. Her voice was a beacon in the dark for me. I finished my work by focusing on her instructions.
After the initial assignment, we were to pair up with another student and work on a project from the chapters end. I moved to the table at the far corner of the room and paired up with a quiet young woman who usually sits alone at a table. As I was sitting in front of my computer, staring at my book in total frustration, the woman very quietly started talking to me. Had it not been for her calm, soft method of talking to me, I would not have been able to focus or function during that entire time. She kept me sane, and allowed me to have something to focus on. I made sure to thank her.
After the class ended I went outside and ran into the first young woman whose voice had helped me get through class. I thanked her for her stability and explained how she had helped me.
Both these young women were heroes for me; reaching out to help someone, even when you are not directly trying to do so, affects others and deserves notice.
What kind of heroic things have happened in your life?
I normally do not have a problem with this class, computers and I generally get along rather well and learning to use a program seems to be a comfortable subject for me. This day, however, I was lost within five minutes. The instructor spoke so quickly, with such volume, and had her own scattered thoughts as she followed the books directions that almost the entire class was lost and everyone was speaking at once.
I attempted to put my head down and focus on the written words; that did not work. In the midst of the confusion I heard a calm voice behind me. One of the younger women was slowly, methodically, and calmly working over the directions with the student seated next to her. Her voice was a beacon in the dark for me. I finished my work by focusing on her instructions.
After the initial assignment, we were to pair up with another student and work on a project from the chapters end. I moved to the table at the far corner of the room and paired up with a quiet young woman who usually sits alone at a table. As I was sitting in front of my computer, staring at my book in total frustration, the woman very quietly started talking to me. Had it not been for her calm, soft method of talking to me, I would not have been able to focus or function during that entire time. She kept me sane, and allowed me to have something to focus on. I made sure to thank her.
After the class ended I went outside and ran into the first young woman whose voice had helped me get through class. I thanked her for her stability and explained how she had helped me.
Both these young women were heroes for me; reaching out to help someone, even when you are not directly trying to do so, affects others and deserves notice.
What kind of heroic things have happened in your life?
04 January 2012
Ann's Ginger Snaps
Winter sends me inside to hibernate as much as possible; it also sends me to the cupboards looking for comfort foods. Mind you, I totally understand that this is
- part psychological; relating to the foods you enjoyed at positive times during childhood,
- part boredom; there is nothing to do, therefore I will eat,
- and part basic, human survival instinct; following the call of the wild, it is colder, my body wants warmth and thus asks for foods that create fat within my physical body.
Due to the past recent holiday, I went way off the deep end and ate too many fatty, sugary, and salty foods. Salt and I do not get along, I have Meniere's disease. This means that my body doesn’t process salt in an effective way; instead it stores salt up and causes pockets of fluid to build. This creates additional problems which end up reducing my ability to hear and causes dizziness. So, for me, January is the month of self-induced diet that greatly (if not totally) reduces the salt and sugar content of my foods.
That said; I love to bake. I take recipes that are tried and true, and then change them with a few tweaks; I also make up my own recipes that people tend to love. My favorite winter foods include ginger. Even though I need to eliminate salt and sugar from my diet for a while, I still bake for other people. Sometimes having the scents of your favorite food can be just as comforting as having the tastes. Below please find my recipe for ginger snaps. You will find others on the web and in books, but this has just the right amount of spice to delight your tastes buds without biting back. Watch out though, my cookie recipes can become addicting!
The tricks with this recipe are:
- Using both brown and white sugar increases the depth of taste
- Adding a bit more cinnamon changes the spice to a delightful surprise
- Using orange juice inside the icing adds a marvelous contrast to the spice
Ann’s Ginger Snaps | ||
3/4 cup butter | 1/4 teaspoon salt | |
1/2 cup white sugar | 2& 1/4 cups flour | |
1/2 cup brown sugar | 2 teaspoons baking soda | |
1 egg | 1 teaspoon ground ginger | |
1/4 cup molasses | 1 teaspoon ground cloves | |
1 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon | ||
Mix together the sugar, oil, molasses, and egg | ||
Mix together the flour, baking soda, salt, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger | ||
Combine the two mixes | ||
Roll dough into 1 1/4 inch balls | ||
350° F. 6 to 10 minutes. They are done when you can touch the tops of the cookie without leaving a dent. | ||
Cool on wire racks. | ||
Icing | Sift confectioners’ sugar into a bowl, then stir in water until smooth. Evenly brush tops of cooled cookies with icing. Let icing set, about 1 hour. | |
2 cups confectioners’ sugar | ||
3 tablespoons orange juice | ||
Makes 2 to 3 dozen | ||
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)