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So technology, huh? You one of those techno-fad people who are way too into those e-books? Personally? Can't stand them. Okay, now I'll tell you how I really feel about them ;) No but really!!! So I am one of those old school readers (not leisurely, I assure you), where in I like to have physical pages to turn, mark up, highlight, take marginal notes in. So since I am only reading for school these days, I need to take notes as I go or I do not retain any of what I read. Since teaching myself how to speed-read my junior year of high school, if I read a paragraph without coloring all over the page I will have to read it over and over again. So e-books. The women in my family, and a bro, are all about these kindles! They get every dang new one! My brother is the worst, about the newest kindle. So I can see a pro to these type things, which is you can take multiple books with you wherever you go with just one, lightweight device! Now I'm sounding like a commercial.... uugghhhh. That means it is time to go on to how I use technology for school. FUN!
In case you are just plain dumb, or simply forgot, I attend the University of Louisville and am writing this part of my blog for my communications technology class. So per my wonderful professor I am to discuss how technologies have either improved or distracted me regarding my studies. But obviously it has only improved my studies. So I mentioned in my first blog post that I have a tablet that I began using to take notes with last year and I have never been more organized or focused in class. I think the key point whether or not technology is going to be beneficial for you or not is whether or not you are disciplined enough to stay on task and not start 10 other projects because you "can". Okay time for a little time travel, we are going back to 2009, my first semester in college (I'm a professional student at this point). I bought a brand new laptop to take notes on bc that is what everybody in college did! Well, I would quickly get bored in class and start on Facebook or Pinterest or Twitter, instead of listening to lecture and properly taking notes. Needless to say, I may or may not have failed miserably. Well, with my age I have became wiser (or so I like to believe) and have learned that technology can be THE key to my success in school. So I can take more notes, that are more detailed, and be more organized, than I would if I were to hand write all notes. But it does mean I have to study more because I am typing my notes rather than handwriting, I am not getting that additional tool for retaining information. BUT, I still purchase physical copies of my required textbooks so I can have hard pages to color up, even though e-books are usually cheaper. And according to the short article about this topic, many students feel the same as i do. If we want to save money on books by getting e-books, we are willingly jeopardizing our education. But overall, even back to grade school, having computers and PowerPoints made learning easier for all students because it naturally added visual and textile learning.
Another HUGE way that technology has aided in my learning, is online classes. Being a single mom, working around 25 hours a week, taking online classes (even though having to pay stupid expensive prices) has allowed me to take more credit hours per semester which helps me to graduate sooner. Currently, I have 4 classes on campus (12 hrs) and 2 online (6 hrs). This is a huge deal for me because this allows me to only have to commute to campus 2 days out of the week, freeing up 3 days for nothing but work, and keeps my evenings free to spend time with my offspring.
SO what I think is going on and what SHOULD go on is as follows. I think that the reason colleges are keeping the prices of online classes so much higher per credit hour is because they know if they make them the same price, or even a lower price, like the "Reinventing College" article, it would only be a matter of time before brick and mortar colleges would be a thing of the past. I personally think this is stupid. I get nothing more from on campus classes other than being able to talk to ppl during class and waste productivity time. Most of my professors have gotten lazier, do less work, and therefore, I get more off task and bored. There is no logic behind why distance education should cost more than on campus. My guess is just as I said, and in addition to that, they want to include all those stupid sports fees, food fees, etc. I live a VERY busy lifestyle and I want to be able to learn on my schedule. Let me read on my own time, do homework, take tests etc. Give me a start date and an end date of an online class and I will knock it all out and get great grades. So hopefully the prices will change when it is time for my baby to go to college (heaven forbid) because the further education programs and schools need some changes that don't include raising tuition...AGAIN!!!
Another HUGE way that technology has aided in my learning, is online classes. Being a single mom, working around 25 hours a week, taking online classes (even though having to pay stupid expensive prices) has allowed me to take more credit hours per semester which helps me to graduate sooner. Currently, I have 4 classes on campus (12 hrs) and 2 online (6 hrs). This is a huge deal for me because this allows me to only have to commute to campus 2 days out of the week, freeing up 3 days for nothing but work, and keeps my evenings free to spend time with my offspring.
SO what I think is going on and what SHOULD go on is as follows. I think that the reason colleges are keeping the prices of online classes so much higher per credit hour is because they know if they make them the same price, or even a lower price, like the "Reinventing College" article, it would only be a matter of time before brick and mortar colleges would be a thing of the past. I personally think this is stupid. I get nothing more from on campus classes other than being able to talk to ppl during class and waste productivity time. Most of my professors have gotten lazier, do less work, and therefore, I get more off task and bored. There is no logic behind why distance education should cost more than on campus. My guess is just as I said, and in addition to that, they want to include all those stupid sports fees, food fees, etc. I live a VERY busy lifestyle and I want to be able to learn on my schedule. Let me read on my own time, do homework, take tests etc. Give me a start date and an end date of an online class and I will knock it all out and get great grades. So hopefully the prices will change when it is time for my baby to go to college (heaven forbid) because the further education programs and schools need some changes that don't include raising tuition...AGAIN!!!