The Reflection

Over the last seven weeks I have learned a great deal about the benefits of technology in the classroom and for online courses. Additionally, the information that I have learned about myself has been equally beneficial.  EDUPL 1159 has helped me evolve as a student and the techniques that I have acquired in this class will help in my last two years at Ohio State and beyond. 

I think the most beneficial aspect of this course has been the technology tools that were outlined in the course.  As a student growing up with technology, it was incredible to see how many online features that I was unaware of. This class definitely opened my eyes to how many resources are truly available to students.  As students, it is our responsibility to fully utilize these resources and take advantage of the ways in which they can help us in the academia world. Two of the most helpful lessons included information from Modules 4 and 6. Module 4 helped open my eyes to all of the different studying resources and other websites that can aid my education. Module 6 also taught me news ways to enhance my search engine skills. There were so many tools on Google that I was unaware even existed. The new search techniques learned in Module 6 now will be utilized whenever I am conducting a search for school.

This course has also brought light to some of my weaknesses and strengths as a student. I have learned throughout the course that like many other college students, I have trouble starting my school work. While procrastination does not cause me to miss assignments, if I am able to use the techniques in the course, I will be able to complete my schoolwork at an earlier date and more efficiently.  I have learned however, to better prioritize my schoolwork. This has allowed me to finish my most important assignments before I work on less significant assignments.

I think one of the most unique aspects of this course was the feedback and posts from our fellow classmates. I think it is somewhat difficult to have interaction between students in an online class because there isn’t face-to-face interaction. However, in this class I feel like were able to successfully interact just by reading each other’s post, giving feedback, and commenting on student posts. I also think this class helped me realize just how helpful the internet can be in aiding your educational experience. I think more students should be open to learning more about online resources. While many students may be feel like they have already mastered the internet there are so many resources and tips that can further your experience. 

I believe there are two aspects of this class that I can take away from this class. The first is that I have learned my tendencies as a worker. I now know what my weaknesses are as a student and hopefully with the techniques I have learned from this class I will be able to improve my habits when I enter the workforce. The second thing that I have learned that I will be able to apply the rest of my life is that there are always new things to be learned. While this class specifically outlined the mountains of knowledge that was still untapped online, I think it is important for me to continue to build upon the knowledge I currently have in all aspects of my life.

Search and Site Resources

The internet is a very useful resource, however very few students know how to fully utilize all of the resources that are available to them. Whether you are searching on a search engine, trying to find a scholarly article through the Ohio State website, or cite resources for a paper, there are many ways to better enhance your internet experience.

There are many ways in which you can improve your search skills to find better results when using a search engine. One way to enhance your search is by utilizing one of the advanced search options. For example, Google has options such as, “search within,” “advanced search” and “Google scholar” all which better improve your search. Even by changing terminology or the structure of the search, students can improve their search to find the best resources.

You can also waste less time searching for scholarly articles if you can identify and locate titles, authors, and article availability. If you can recognize where your search results are coming from then you can gain a better understanding of which articles are better for your search.

Another important skill a student should be able to utilize is citing sources. In college it is vital for students for students to be able to not only cite sources, but do it so in a quick and efficient manner.  Students must also know how to cite sources to ensure that they do not fail to credit any authors and plagiarize other author’s ideas.

Listening and Viewing Strategies

While there are many similarities between online learning and traditional learning, there are many differences in terms of listening and viewing online lectures. Viewing online lectures is a much different experience for students and it can be difficult to comprehend all of the information that is being delivered to you. There are many differences between podcasts and traditional lectures and if students are able to understand these differences, it can help them become more successful in their online classes.

One of the major differences between the two learning styles is that there are no visual cues for online lectures. Unlike traditional lectures, students who are listening to online lectures do not have the benefit of seeing the body language of the lecturer or the environment in which the lecture is taking place. Another difference is that problems could arise involving the clarity and volume of the recording. Problems are always possible when dealing with online resources.

While there are possible disadvantages of online lectures, there are advantages of online learning and multiple strategies to overcome any difficulties. One way in which you can overcome any shortcomings is by listening to online podcasts in a quiet and distraction-free environment. Online lectures have the advantage of being able to watch them  when and wherever is most convenient to the student. The second strategy that can help students is learning how to listen for verbal cues. If students can identify changes in the lectures tone or volume, they can identify important topics or facts. Also, if students understand the structure of lectures, they can identify when new topics are being introduced and the main topics that are being discussed. The third and most important advantage is the student’s ability to stop and rewind online lecturers. If students miss or need to revisit any information from the lecture, they have the ability to watch any parts of the lecture again.

Michael Jordan: A Marketer's Best Friend

The video of interest that I have chosen is titled, “Michael Jordan: The Most Well-Crafted Brand of our Generation (1984-2009)”. The video shows a collection of Michael Jordan commercials beginning with a commercial from rookie his year (1984) and ending in 2009, well after retirement. The different commercials range from advertising Jordan shoes to advertising Hane’s underwear. The commercials articulate how well Michael Jordan was able to build up his brand, “Air Jordan”. He began his advertising career with Nike and over the years built up a brand that included sponsorships from some of the most popular brands around the world including McDonalds, Gatorade, Hanes, Coke, and Wheaties. Michael Jordan was the first athlete to create such a well-known brand and his success in advertising will likely never be matched. The video shows several marketing techniques that aided in the growth of the Jordan brand and the growth of sports marketing as a whole.
As a marketing major, this video was particular interesting because it showed how sports and branding have become so intertwined over recent decades. Building a strong and well-known brand is vital for companies or organizations that are trying to attract a global audience. Some of the many ways companies accomplish this is by introducing fear and humor or by introducing celebrities into their advertising campaign. Companies that used Michael Jordan as celebrity endorser were able to expand their brand because of the Jordan name but also because they were able to use the right level of fear and humor to keep consumers engaged and interested in their products. Michael Jordan is such an interesting case, because as an individual, he was able to create brand awareness that has been unmatched by any other athlete. At the same time, he was able to help other companies such as Gatorade and Nike, expand their brands and become leaders in their respective product categories.

Recent advancements in technology have made the internet a very helpful resource for students. Students now have the ability to use the internet and online resources to complete homework, read their textbooks, and study for quizzes and tests. Instead having to use a variety of resource to complete schoolwork, students can use the internet to complete all of their different assignments.  These online resources are very useful and can help students better organize their classwork in order to study more efficiently. Resources range from creating online flashcards to offering writing tips to helping students prepare for upcoming classes by providing insight on potential class times and professors.

Some of the resources that are available students include sources that can help student’s complete projects. Resources such as http://sketchcast.com/, http://www.voicethread.com/, and http://www.timetoast.com/ all offer many different ways to present information. These resources are much different than the traditional presentation ideas and offer a very creative alternative for students to present their information.

Other resources that are available for students include resources that aid students in the scheduling process. Scheduling is often a very frustrating time for students but there are now many different resources that offer help in preparing for upcoming classes and semesters.  Websites such as http://www.schedulizer.com/ and http://www.ratemyprofessor.com/ are two of the many resources that help students prepare for scheduling and help make the scheduling process a much easier for students.

While online resources can be extremely helpful for students, it is important for students not to abuse them. There are many temptations that students are faced with when working online so it is vital for students to use online resources appropriately. If students can use these resources correctly and efficiently, they can benefit greatly.  

Module 3

Developing online relationships is often a difficult and overlooked skill that many students have trouble perfecting while in college. However, it is vital for students to build strong relationships with students and professors in order to ensure that they are maximizing all of their resources. Fellow classmates and teachers can offer unique information and knowledge that cannot always be discovered in a textbook.
 While there are many discrepancies between online and face-to-face interaction, many skills used in the conventional classroom can be translated to online learning. Two skills that are shared between in class learning and online learning are making a good first impression and getting to know fellow classmates and professors. Making a good first impression can often make fellow classmates feel more comfortable and can lead to better relationships throughout the quarter. Good first impressions can also lead to better relationships with professors as well. While many students are uncomfortable with developing relationships with professors, professors are the most valuable resource available to students and students utilize them as often as possible.

There are some skills, however, that are unique to online learning. Because there is no face-to-face interaction and nonverbal communication is non-existent, there other skills needed to succeed in an online learning community. Emailing becomes much more important in an online class. It is imperative for students to make sure that their emails are well written and without grammatical and spelling errors. It is also important that students make sure to personalize emails to classmates to allow for better relationships. Sending individualized emails rather than Listserves and correctly attaching documents are some of the many ways in which students can enhance their online learning experience.  Organization is also a significant skill needed to succeed in online learning. It is important for students to organize their emails into specific folders to ensure that emails are handled in a timely and efficient manner.

Building an online relationship with fellow students and teachers can enhance your learning experience for online classes as well as courses taught in the classroom.