A community college history professor for an urban, working class, minority-majority student population. Never yielding in his dedication to his students' success.
Saturday, August 31, 2019
First Week!
The first week is in the can! I don’t get any feedback from students, so I’m never sure how they are doing at the end of this week; after I’ve explained my standards, requirements, policies, and expectations. Do they feel like this?
Leading up to my first day rather than week, I would say I felt what's being depicted here. LOL! After my first week, I was bit relieved because I got through it. The most difficult thing for me was not knowing what to expect. While having the option to be able to take online classes, for those of us trying to juggle all of life’s responsibilities, it definitely requires you to be present and attentive. I log in daily in the early morning to check announcements, I am still watching and reading assignments and modules over and over again trying to make sure I understand. I plan to ask questions on anything I don’t understand. Deciding to take this leap and start school again won’t be easy, but I’m making an intentional effort to give it my all to get what I want out of it. Overall, my first week was a success.
I agree the first week is always chaos. Those of us who have other life responsibilities find it a little more difficult to find the time to really concentrate and understand what is required of us. I check in daily as well and even now that I feel a little more confident in what I need to do this semester, I still find myself double checking everything. I constantly go check the assignment videos and syllabus when I am going to begin an assignment. I am glad your first week was a success and I hope the rest of the semester only gets better.
Hi, I agree with your response after the first week of school I could much relate to this. Your never know what you can expect throughout the class because the professor can add or change anything up. Always being attentive in Canvas is a priority due to its different then actually being in class you have to make the responsibility of your own with online class. Wish you well on your journey and just keeping that positive mind-frame you will succeed.
I am sure most of us most definitely feel like this. Not only are we getting slapped with a lot of information from one class, we are getting it from others as well. Those who work and have families – and care about their education – must adjust their whole schedule to decide when will be the best time to work on all the assignments and how to go about meeting all the requirements for a good grade. Maybe you just have students, like me, who don’t give feedback and try not to make too much of a commotion. We like to try and stay under the radar and just handle our business. I don’t think I have ever given any professor feedback. Only during survey time, we all want those extra credit points. I’m sure as the semester continues you will be bombarded with emails and questions. Especially when the first assignment is graded. Enjoy what time is left not dealing with certain students. That is, if they have not already revealed themselves as the ones who will be asking about things you have repeated numerous times. I’m sure every professor has them.
I believe timing and the manner in wich we can give the feedback is key.The feedback I had the first Wednesday was very little but as I tried to get the hang of the computer system I had a lot of questions. So if that question was asked to like it was on your blog u will get a better response
I'm going to speak for myself my first week was not very hectic. But being older I'm not used to everything being done on computers so I wrote a paper with all my questions and concerns to announce on the first day back after the holiday. Well life had other plans I didn't make it to class on Wednesday so I didn't get to share and today the class went right into the lesson. Long story short I didn't get to give feedback in person. But I will take this opportunity to, it took me 2 days to figure out how to maneuver through all of the links and modules and even asking my 19 year old daughter for help. Sometimes the lack of feedback is for not intentional just feeling like it's the wrong time to bring certain things up.
If I am being honest, I definitely felt like the person in the picture. In fact, I still do. It is my third week of classes, but I still feel the same dread and anxiety I felt on the first day. Now it is just mixed with stress and sleepiness. The feeling(s) are still there mainly due to the fact that I have a late start class coming up, which is psychology. I am extremely worried that I will not be as successful in said class, which I find ironic because I will major in psychology and am planning on working in said field as well. I hope that I do not fail the subject that I will be spending the next 8 years studying. The only silver lining is that I know that no matter what happens, I will be okay. If psychology is not something I am good at, I still have other interests that I know will form into a passion if need be.
Well I for one do feel like the person in the picture above because I get stressed easily as I believe other students do too. Some may not give you feedback the first week because some students do not really get stressed, or they are set and ready to go, or they understand everything you have said, or they just do not care, or they might just be there to warm a seat. But it does not matter what class it is every college course that is taken is stressful and it does consume some students. I’m the kind of student that will not really be open about stress or anything so I am probably one that will not give feedback, but in this class I do not get as stressed as I do in other classes. That is why I do not worry too much I just push myself to do good in my college courses to pass.
The first week of college was an all-encompassing mass of excitement, anxiety, as well as a general feeling of being completely overwhelmed yet utterly underwhelmed at the same time. The work seemed easy enough, everything is spaced out (thus leaving more time to perfect each assignment), and there is no one breathing down my neck for every little thing. It all seemed so perfect at first, albeit a little bothersome but nothing that I couldn’t handle. Then I took into account my situation and realized that everything would not stay this way. I have 2 jobs which take up all of my night time (with the exception of the night that I am typing this as this is one of my few nights off) and between everything I work on a portfolio for an art school that I’m not even sure I can get into. So, while the first week was easy it was not a precursor for the future, I am certain that it will take a toll on first my body and eventually my mind. I know I’ll make it through, but at what cost?
I can definitely relate to the picture as it is almost exactly how I feel after the first week, and sometimes even after winter and summer breaks. Many professors are wise to expect little material to be covered as students are still trying to adjust to expectations, circumstances, and challenges. I know that I was certainly struggling a little when my classes unexpectedly changed in high school, making me loose some free time that I thought I would have for my dual-credit courses. It is not until the third week that I feel comfortable and find my groove, and at that point I feel like I would be able to handle any stray project or situation that comes my way. I think that at a certain point, it does not matter how many classes one takes or how hard they are, but rather how to identify the most important tasks and prioritize accordingly. I’m still refining my skills, but for the time being I can do it well enough to balance school, college, and a well-maintained social and physical life.
As the start of school approached, I grew more and more anxious every day. I can say this picture is the absolute, best depiction of me after the first week of school. Before the first week of school began; I got on rate my professor, which only made things worse for me. I thought to myself, what in the world did I get myself into? As you mentioned in class, we should not go based off everyone else’s opinion. This class is unique in the aspect that the syllabus is not given to us directly on the first day of school. I am the type that likes to organize class due dates for assignment on the first day of school. So that was a barrier that caught me off guard. However, it did pressure me to log onto canvas immediately to not miss any due dates. I was completely lost as to where to begin. Nonetheless, I feel a whole less overwhelmed of what I thought was going to be a dreadful class. It is a lot easier to maneuver my way through the class on canvas after logging in every day. Lastly, I believe that for the first time throughout taking history classes in school I will keep up with my work, be attentive and exceed in this course.
Prior to starting school, I would use “Rate My Professor” to go over the reviews on the ratings to get a brief idea on what to expect. After signing up for class I was bit of anxious and having second thoughts did I want to pursue with the class due to my outside life of working full-time and a single parent thinking will I have the time to fulfill the requirements. With the hectic schedule I throughout the weekday, managing the time for class is time consuming because you need to get on daily to make sure you don’t miss an announcement given. So, yes I can relate to the picture illustrated after completing the first week of class. I was feeling overwhelmed and exhausted from having to prepare me for the class with getting the proper materials and understanding the requirements, but I survived. After reading the syllabus is what made me change my thought on things because you give a very thorough outline of what we should expect from the class this semester feeling less anxious and overwhelmed by simple following the instructions from the syllabus. As I look forward into the semester, I know it may get a little challenging, but I know I can come to my professor with an solution I have for a better outcome.
My first week mentally started for me the week before. I was constantly checking my email for the introductions from my Professors. I needed to see my syllabus and anything else I could get to calm my anxiety as the start day approached I was on pins and needles because I hadn't heard from one class and I didnt know exactly what to do. I finally reached out to my children who are college students and my best friend who work in a University and is a cereal student in my opinon. All my sources told me to stop and take a deep breath and if I didnt I would be worn out before the first assignment was due. As I started reading the imformation sent by my professors I was absulotely overwhelmed by all of the reading I would have to do and all of the asssignments. That would be due by the due dates. So, what finally made me calm down was the fact that all four of my classes are online and as long as I have my laptop I can work on my assignments.I have access to my work 24 hours a day so I literally have no excuses.
College is not as bad as I was told it was going to be. I was expecting to feel overwhelmed and not like any of my professors even though I chose the ones with the best ratings. In high school, teachers made college seem like it was going to be the most challenging thing we would encounter. My sister received a bachelor’s degree and I watched her struggle with studying and stressing over exams. It took a mental and physical toll on her and it made me question if I wanted to go anymore. Obviously, I chose to attend regardless of my self-doubts and fears. I personally felt like my first week was far from tales I was told. Although I was getting information thrown at me from different professors every class, it didn't feel overwhelming to me. I don't regret my choice of professors and enjoy being in their classes.
For me. First week is the first of lesson and first for everything. First week, we always started with easiest thing in all semester. I always spent time to get to know professor and my classmate. I really want to know how my professor like to work and how to get A in class. To be honest, I can work well under pressure but I also need to set up a timeline for myself. I need to finish all my homework before deadline to have time do another thing. I need to read all materials that professor sent to me to catch up with class. It is so far so good.
I have had you before so I already had an idea of what your standards were and what to expect from your class. Although the picture is definitely an accurate way of how i feel after the first week is over, all the assignments from every single class just piled over each other and a whole new semester to tackle. It takes me a bit to get back in to school mode after a long break, sometimes i do find myself overwhelmed at first but then i get the hang of it again and it becomes a priority and i feel like my brain is already used to it.I am glad I have chosen professors now and in the past who go a step further to explain the assignment in further detail and let you know up front what it is that they expect out of you. I also feel like taking all on campus courses helps a lot because you can ask during class and you will get a response then and there rather than having to wait like an online student.
This is a bit different, usually the teachers will give us feedback and not us to them. I'm the type who wouldn't want to start a big commotion, but looking at the picture; I feel the exact same. Going into my first week, I felt overwhelmed. Overwhelmed because of all the information given to us on the syllabus. This led me to manage my time. For example, having a planner and organizing all my dates for each class. However, after figuring out what is expected from this class and getting a rhythm down, I think it will be a lot smoother. Another thing to keep in mind is learning how to balance my life. For example, my classes, social life and study time. My stress levels are normally pretty high starting something new, such as college. I have family and friends advised me to just relax and enjoy my new chapter of school.
The first week of class is always stressful and organizing your life to accommodate your classes, studying and assignment due dates can be challenging especially when taking multiple classes. I think at some point in time everyone experiences being overwhelmed but what I know for sure is it can be done. You are not alone. I have had to give up some of my social hours to make room for studying. Stress is normal. Learning how to manage your stress is what will get you through.
During the first week of college, some students tend to feel overwhelmed with the responsibilities of being an adult, whether its their classes, job, or family. This can build up stress and cause students to be more anxious in the classroom setting, making them more reluctant to ask questions to the professor, waiting till the end of class to talk to the professor, or not speaking up at all. Some people might even be stressed before class, as they read the syllabus and all the requirements on it. Based on the National College Health Assessment (Spring 2013 edition), 46.3 percent of undergraduate students felt “overwhelmed regarding their academic responsibilities,” and about half of the students had reported that they have “more than average or extreme stress.” These percentages show that it is somewhat normal for college students to feel stress and can explain why some of them don’t give feedback during the first week of school. When talking about my personal experience, another possible explanation for the lack of feedback could be that some students are nervous to look unintelligent in front of others—they are cautious and rather stay quiet to avoid the judgment of others. As an introverted person, I do more thinking than talking which is why I might hesitate to speak sometimes. Also, students might feel that it is better to ask questions toward the end or at the end of the class, so that they won’t waste any valuable lecture time. In general, one thing that I notice working in groups is that some students don’t communicate much, so maybe they are shy when it comes to speaking in a classroom, or that they lack interest in the subject.
During the first week of school we as students feel like dying. Not everyone does, personally I found it rather exciting to know that a history professor is prepared and creates this Plan B for students who think they cant do anything with their life. While the first week looks and sounds dreadful but coming in the next week we feel more prepared than ever. We get instructions to how to do the homework, where to get information from who and where, how to sign into our online work, setting up Canvas and lots of other things. All of these things we get done in one week and at the end we do lay around at home, feeling tired. I don’t know much about how other students feel like in the first week of school besides the overwhelming, stressful and sleepless nights but I honestly think not everyone feels this way.
During the first week it was very hectic it’s my first year of college and as i got into the class my expectations were high and I was ready for whatever assignment it is. Overall the class is great, but while showing us the syllabus and every link of history it felt overwhelming thinking this class was going to be hard. At that point I did felt like the guy from the picture, going through the syllabus word by word it was intense. I did expect others to be ready for it and some that aren’t. That’s how it is on every class, but it also depends on the professor. Sometimes there are professors that will do a quick introduction and start the class but there are others that with explain and show the students what we are going to do throughout the semester. Overall the first week of college was overwhelming but still focused and prepared.
I have taken classes at HCC before, but I did not do as well. My headspace was really out of order, and I had not taken my curriculum seriously. This then made me do poorly on my classes, and ultimately hurt my GPA. Starting this fall of 2019, I have actually changed quite a bit in a year. I took the time off for the rest of the year because of my mental health. I started working, and got back into the groove getting into a routine. This really helped me mentally, because I had something to go for, but I knew that I didn’t want my job to be the only thing I did. I started looking back into college, and signed up for them. I was actually a bit nervous to come back, because I personally thought I would just not take any further education past high school, and statistically speaking, people who take a gap year. According to SeattlePi, only about 40 percent go on to get a degree in college, and I didn’t want to be part of the 60 percent. When signing up for my classes, I saw that your class was a 0 cost class, which meant that I wouldn’t have to pay for textbooks. I am grateful that you actually have your class this way for students that struggle with finances have the opportunity to join a class that struggle once paying for classes. Once entering your class, and understanding your policies, requirements, and what you expected of us. It was intimidating to say the least. You stated that we would pass if we followed the syllabus, and upon reading it to pass the gatekeeper quiz… you were right. Almost every question that we have can be answered there. You did give comfort of making sure that people have a good chance of passing if they work for it, and/or followed the syllabus.
This was me. This still is me. I know not every college student feels this way, but I do. I am not a good student and I will admit that. I honestly was not expecting the classes to be so demanding and I find myself struggling to juggle life and school. Even though this course is extremely detailed, and everything is laid out for me, I am still having a hard time making it work. Not because the course is difficult, but because I am not a school person at all. I find it really hard to focus and apply myself. I know I can pass, and I know I can do great in this class, especially since you have given me all the tools to succeed. It’s on me now to apply myself and really focus on the tasks ahead. My hopes are to become a psychologist, and this is the first step in achieving that dream.
The first week of college was really hectic and full of anxiety. Arriving on campus was simple but finding parking was troublesome.This made me ten minutes late to class. As i walked in the professor stopped the whole class and made an example of me on why not to arrive late to class.During the first week we were given minor assignments but had trouble understanding the professors class assignments on canvas. Being the first week of college we had to purchase our books.The line for the bookstore was already out side the bookstore. For one of my courses none of the HCC bookstores had the printed books. As a result, a classmate found the book online for free and we were able to download a PDF. According to the National Association of College Stores each student spends an average of $638 dollars for course material.This was very helpful because we saved $88 dollars. Being my first semester starting with four classes made me uncertain if I would be able to manage but so far I've been doing good and plan to finish strong.
During my first week of my second semester of college I felt very overwhelmed. The math department at HCC called me two days before the fall semester started to inform me that the class, I was enrolled in would be cancelled due to not enough students being enrolled. Now I was forced to choose a class that would be available and would work with my work schedule. On top of that it would be the first time I would be taking on a full school schedule as well as working full time and the first time I would be taking two online courses. To be completely honest I felt exactly like that picture, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect with both of my online classes. I was also really confused by all of files on canvas and I never had a professor that explained everything through videos which was actually very helpful. In order to balance everything, I had to become a part-time employee as well as keep a planner on me at all times. Hopefully next semester I will know what to expect as well as be more prepared and organized for my online classes.
The first week of school ALWAYS drains me to my last core! Why? Well, I am usually running around like crazy with my school stuff plus the kid’s school stuff as well. The joys of having to find parking and find classes. I also must meet new people and new teachers. On top of that, I also must get the house back on track from “Break”. New classes mean that I must learn about new personalities that teachers have and how they teach. Expectations in classes are different each time. Not to mention the commute to and from school. I also must manage to study, cook, and unwind. The first week is very overwhelming because as an adult student I have more responsibilities than a kid straight out of high school. In between that very hectic week I also must find the time to wash, and grocery shop. Ohhh and the occasional… Mom I need this, or Wife can you do me a favor. So, even though I am always excited with butterflies in my stomach for first day of school, I also dread it. Every class has a syllabus to review. Assignments to start and folders to organize. I usually like to organize and print papers so I can manage each class successfully.
My feelings of the first week in school does compare to the attached photo. I’ll use the analogy of the shipping sink as all the stress from all the material such as videos, syllabuses etc., from all my four classes that I had to read and understand that first week. The barrel of water clinched in the distressed man’s arms represents me clinging to my planner which includes all assignments from each class strategically organized for the next 16 weeks of school. The man’s water barrel and my planner are meant for survival. School can be stressful the first week of school because you aren’t sure what to expect from each professor. The beginning of the semester I go through the syllabus to arrange and spread out my class assignments onto my calendar so that I’m not over whelmed. This allows me to see everything at first glance and allows me to get through the whole semester with less stress.
I am a college student, a wife and a mother who always try to achieve my goals. I have been student for almost 25 years, but my first week of school always seems like my first week in the kindergarten. Because we just come back to break time (vacation), I am always overwhelmed. I have to share my journey with school, professional work and home works. To overcome this impasse, I always check for professor announcements, email before each class and I follow the instructions of the professor in the syllabus. I do all my homework as soon as I arrive at home after the class and I look for what we are going to do the next day of class and the assignments due date. In that way, I always overcome the first week of class and I am sure to get a good grade at the end.
I am a full-time student and stay at home mom. To say the first week is a walk in the park after being on break would be a lie. I say it probably takes me a good two weeks to finally get back in the swing of things, with juggling schoolwork, getting my daughter to and from practice, and still having dinner on the table. I think if i actually went into classes instead of taking online things maybe a little different only because I would be focused on my work right then and there and not having to worry about my one year old running all over the place or getting my older daughter to school. You are by far my favorite professor so far because of the way you explain things and your videos for the online students are super helpful.
For the first week of class, I was excited to take both of your classes for History 1301 and 1302. Going to your class for the first week, and listening to the class procedures and your expectations, I was left in confusion about certain assignments that I had to turn in for a grade. For one, I have never heard of a “Social Media Post” and I honestly thought to myself that I was going to post something on Facebook or Twitter. Secondly, this was my first time ever doing an “OER assignment” and that was completely new to me and I had no idea what to expect for and what I had to do in the beginning. I honestly did relate to the picture of the ship sinking to the bottom and the person stranded on the beach. To me personally, the ship related to the class, after first hearing these two new assignments, thinking to myself if I was going to fail the class. I was completely lost on how to complete these assignments, but after you assigned us into groups, I was able to message the other students and ask what are we supposed to do? Gladly both my groups were able to answer my questions and we got through the first set of social media post and the first OER was turned in. As of now, I don’t feel stranded anymore like the person in the picture. One more thing about the first week is that it may be troublesome for some students when you don’t know what to expect from the class and from the professor. Every professor teaches differently and it’s up to the student to see what the professor’s standards are and their expectations. Another reason is that no matter how prepared you think you are for the class, things can always turn up for worse. For example, I remember the first time I enrolled in a class and found out last minute that my class was canceled because of lack of students. Luckily, I was able to find a class that was available for second start of the semester. These are some of the other reasons that can make a student feel confused at the beginning of the semester.
The picture posted is very similar to how I feel the first week of school. After having been on break, that first week back to school I am needing to revert back to student mode. It is not necessarily the load of any one course that can feel draining but sitting in one class and thinking about the load of the others simultaneously can be a huge stressor. This semester I began taking my classes full time unlike the semesters I’ve had for the past two years. It was an adjustment, to say the least. The first couple of weeks were very tough but they taught me what’s to come of future semesters. From day one of this semester until now, the most important things that I’ve learned is to work hard and to just keep pushing through to the next day, through to the next assignment .
I would say that the picture posted is an accurate representation of my state of being following my first week of school. This is only my second semester of college, but so far my first week has seemed hectic both times. Going over the syllabus for each class, discussing course expectations, grading procedures and discussing all of the upcoming assignments leaves me feeling overwhelmed. Luckily, this only lasts for about another week and I am into the swing of being a student and focusing my time on class assignments and homework. For me personally, the most stressful part about the first week, and I guess school in general, is being in one class hearing about all of the upcoming assignments, while simultaneously thinking about all the other course work I have for my other classes. It can seem overwhelming at times. Having a positive mindset and tackling one assignment at a time helps me maintain a clear vision and accomplish the necessary coursework. Another thing I also find difficult is how to prioritize schoolwork and things I have going on outside of school. Like most college students, I have many things going on outside of school, and juggling them all can be chaotic at times. However, I feel like it will only make getting my degree that much more satisfying.
After reading all of the guidelines and requirements for this class I feel it is quite possible for anyone to do what it takes to be successful. If you are given the certain requirements for this class up front then there isn’t anything that would be stopping you from completing this class successfully. Upon choosing this class I already am taking 2 more classes and working the overnight shift at my job full time. If I wasn’t mentally prepared for more than one class then I wouldn’t put myself in this situation but sometimes you just have to do what it takes to conquer your goals. I view this class as a good test for me, given all of the expectations by the end of the first week. I kind of wish my other classes were similar to this class by the way the standards, requirements, and expectations are presented to me by the first week. With all of the information given to me up front, the students should follow the instructions and let their grade fall into their own hands.
First week of school is always the most relaxed for me. I try my best not to stress. By reading the requirements and syllabus thoroughly, it gives me a feel on what I need to do throughout the semester. By knowing what to do ahead of time, I am more prepared for my assignments. I am currently taking 3 online courses plus working fulltime as well as being a wife and a mother. Scheduling out my day helps me as well. By me being organized, it helps with assignment due dates and exam dates as well. The first week was a breeze and so were the weeks that followed.
During the first week, some students tend to get overwhelmed with everything that is being thrown at them. Such as going over the syllabus, discussing about what needs to be expected, and the grading. But the most stressful thing about the first week for me is being told about all the assignments that need to be done. Some professors tend to make this particular topic very overwhelming. But having a positive mindset and getting one assignment done at a time motivates me to keep on going.
At the end of the first week of class, I definitely felt like the man in the picture. For this course, there was a lot of information to process the first days. All the instructions, all the readings/lectures provided, and the OER textbooks were overwhelming. The first days, the students are getting the syllabus from all our classes, not only from this one, and that’s probably why we feel under so much pressure and already exhausted. The hardest instructions to learn about were the ones related to the OER assignments, mostly because I hadn’t bought the Pearson’s access code yet and I wasn’t sure of what I was supposed to do. What helped me the most to understand each assignment was to watch the instructional videos and to make a “homework calendar” to put it all together and organize my schedule. The good thing (although I did not think the same the first week of class) is that everything the students need to be successful in this course was already uploaded on Canvas. It took me roughly a month to figure out what would be the course about.
During the first week, I think it would be hard for any student to give feedback due to it only being the first week, and also having a ton of other classes to worry about. But for this class during the first week I think everyone struggled on figuring out what the requirements are for the assignments because they were video explanations and 1. Some students couldn't find the videos 2. Students overlooked the videos. The class itself is super easy and enjoyable i think just in the first week the videos should be a bit more prioritised and easy to access along with a readable link of the offer and what should be included like a guideline, cause i know me and a couple classmates were struggling to figure out what to do but once we did figure it out it wasn't nearly as complicated as we thought.
As many of my fellow classmates, i felt like the man in the picture. i felt overwhelmed with the amount of work and information i was exposed to in this class alone, let alone the rest of my classes.The first week of school alone completely DRAINED me. mentally and physically, i could see school taking a toll on me. it took a while to get used to, but i feel like i got the hang of it. its a big step from high school. in my first semester of college alone, i studied and did more work here than anything ive done in high school. but at the end of the day, you gotta do what you gotta do. ive made it to the end of the semester and for the most part, everything has been alright. i cant wait what more college has in store for me. its a journey im ready to embark on.
The first week is always so draining for some students but for me it is the most relaxing week of the semester. We just go over the syllabus and get to know our professors. At first, I was undecided whether to take your class or not based on the comments left on rate my professor. They said such things as you don’t care about students’ grades, that your assignments are difficult and that you give a lot of outside classwork. But there was one thing that catch my attention, it was that we don’t have to take a final for your class, that is when I decided to give it a try and take your class. Finals have always terrified me. I’m not going to lie the first day of school I walked into your class kind of timorous trying to figure it out if what was said on rate my professor was true. After assisting class for a week and seeing the way you explained what you expected from us and how things get done in your class didn’t seem anything like how they described you on that website. You talked to us how you care for your students, if we ever needed anything we were able to go to your office and talk about it or even if we were hungry you always had some snacks for us. In the end I enjoyed your class for it was an introduction to my college life and what I now know will be expected in my future classes.
It is weird that I am replying to the first week article at the end of the semester but I have a reason for waiting this long. The reason for this is to compare and contrast between both the first week and the last week of the entire semester. First week was super exciting as all first week of semester are but particularly with this class I was more confused than being excited. It was challenging that we are about to write just two 500 word essay, 5 short online discussion and social media posts which will determine the entire course grades. But as soon as getting to the module section that professor had set up was not only helpful but more motivating while reading the first two sections. It is a great way of teaching students in a different approach than having regular exams and long papers. I am now surprised that I have learnt many things about our history than ever by taking an online class because I was able to choose what to read and write by myself rather than OER assignment where we were assigned topics. However, my first week of college was awesome and now I am on my way to University. I have learned and enjoyed history a lot by taking this class and I would like to thank our professor for everything and want to tell all my classmate a warm good-luck.
Leading up to my first day rather than week, I would say I felt what's being depicted here. LOL!
ReplyDeleteAfter my first week, I was bit relieved because I got through it. The most difficult thing for me was not knowing what to expect. While having the option to be able to take online classes, for those of us trying to juggle all of life’s responsibilities, it definitely requires you to be present and attentive. I log in daily in the early morning to check announcements, I am still watching and reading assignments and modules over and over again trying to make sure I understand. I plan to ask questions on anything I don’t understand. Deciding to take this leap and start school again won’t be easy, but I’m making an intentional effort to give it my all to get what I want out of it. Overall, my first week was a success.
I agree the first week is always chaos. Those of us who have other life responsibilities find it a little more difficult to find the time to really concentrate and understand what is required of us. I check in daily as well and even now that I feel a little more confident in what I need to do this semester, I still find myself double checking everything. I constantly go check the assignment videos and syllabus when I am going to begin an assignment. I am glad your first week was a success and I hope the rest of the semester only gets better.
DeleteHi, I agree with your response after the first week of school I could much relate to this. Your never know what you can expect throughout the class because the professor can add or change anything up. Always being attentive in Canvas is a priority due to its different then actually being in class you have to make the responsibility of your own with online class. Wish you well on your journey and just keeping that positive mind-frame you will succeed.
DeleteI am sure most of us most definitely feel like this. Not only are we getting slapped with a lot of information from one class, we are getting it from others as well. Those who work and have families – and care about their education – must adjust their whole schedule to decide when will be the best time to work on all the assignments and how to go about meeting all the requirements for a good grade. Maybe you just have students, like me, who don’t give feedback and try not to make too much of a commotion. We like to try and stay under the radar and just handle our business. I don’t think I have ever given any professor feedback. Only during survey time, we all want those extra credit points. I’m sure as the semester continues you will be bombarded with emails and questions. Especially when the first assignment is graded. Enjoy what time is left not dealing with certain students. That is, if they have not already revealed themselves as the ones who will be asking about things you have repeated numerous times. I’m sure every professor has them.
ReplyDeleteI believe timing and the manner in wich we can give the feedback is key.The feedback I had the first Wednesday was very little but as I tried to get the hang of the computer system I had a lot of questions. So if that question was asked to like it was on your blog u will get a better response
DeleteI'm going to speak for myself my first week was not very hectic. But being older I'm not used to everything being done on computers so I wrote a paper with all my questions and concerns to announce on the first day back after the holiday. Well life had other plans I didn't make it to class on Wednesday so I didn't get to share and today the class went right into the lesson. Long story short I didn't get to give feedback in person. But I will take this opportunity to, it took me 2 days to figure out how to maneuver through all of the links and modules and even asking my 19 year old daughter for help. Sometimes the lack of feedback is for not intentional just feeling like it's the wrong time to bring certain things up.
ReplyDeleteIf I am being honest, I definitely felt like the person in the picture. In fact, I still do. It is my third week of classes, but I still feel the same dread and anxiety I felt on the first day. Now it is just mixed with stress and sleepiness. The feeling(s) are still there mainly due to the fact that I have a late start class coming up, which is psychology. I am extremely worried that I will not be as successful in said class, which I find ironic because I will major in psychology and am planning on working in said field as well. I hope that I do not fail the subject that I will be spending the next 8 years studying. The only silver lining is that I know that no matter what happens, I will be okay. If psychology is not something I am good at, I still have other interests that I know will form into a passion if need be.
ReplyDeleteWell I for one do feel like the person in the picture above because I get stressed easily as I believe other students do too. Some may not give you feedback the first week because some students do not really get stressed, or they are set and ready to go, or they understand everything you have said, or they just do not care, or they might just be there to warm a seat. But it does not matter what class it is every college course that is taken is stressful and it does consume some students. I’m the kind of student that will not really be open about stress or anything so I am probably one that will not give feedback, but in this class I do not get as stressed as I do in other classes. That is why I do not worry too much I just push myself to do good in my college courses to pass.
ReplyDeleteThe first week of college was an all-encompassing mass of excitement, anxiety, as well as a general feeling of being completely overwhelmed yet utterly underwhelmed at the same time. The work seemed easy enough, everything is spaced out (thus leaving more time to perfect each assignment), and there is no one breathing down my neck for every little thing. It all seemed so perfect at first, albeit a little bothersome but nothing that I couldn’t handle. Then I took into account my situation and realized that everything would not stay this way. I have 2 jobs which take up all of my night time (with the exception of the night that I am typing this as this is one of my few nights off) and between everything I work on a portfolio for an art school that I’m not even sure I can get into. So, while the first week was easy it was not a precursor for the future, I am certain that it will take a toll on first my body and eventually my mind. I know I’ll make it through, but at what cost?
ReplyDeleteI can definitely relate to the picture as it is almost exactly how I feel after the first week, and sometimes even after winter and summer breaks. Many professors are wise to expect little material to be covered as students are still trying to adjust to expectations, circumstances, and challenges. I know that I was certainly struggling a little when my classes unexpectedly changed in high school, making me loose some free time that I thought I would have for my dual-credit courses. It is not until the third week that I feel comfortable and find my groove, and at that point I feel like I would be able to handle any stray project or situation that comes my way. I think that at a certain point, it does not matter how many classes one takes or how hard they are, but rather how to identify the most important tasks and prioritize accordingly. I’m still refining my skills, but for the time being I can do it well enough to balance school, college, and a well-maintained social and physical life.
ReplyDeleteAs the start of school approached, I grew more and more anxious every day. I can say this picture is the absolute, best depiction of me after the first week of school. Before the first week of school began; I got on rate my professor, which only made things worse for me. I thought to myself, what in the world did I get myself into? As you mentioned in class, we should not go based off everyone else’s opinion. This class is unique in the aspect that the syllabus is not given to us directly on the first day of school. I am the type that likes to organize class due dates for assignment on the first day of school. So that was a barrier that caught me off guard. However, it did pressure me to log onto canvas immediately to not miss any due dates. I was completely lost as to where to begin. Nonetheless, I feel a whole less overwhelmed of what I thought was going to be a dreadful class. It is a lot easier to maneuver my way through the class on canvas after logging in every day. Lastly, I believe that for the first time throughout taking history classes in school I will keep up with my work, be attentive and exceed in this course.
ReplyDeletePrior to starting school, I would use “Rate My Professor” to go over the reviews on the ratings to get a brief idea on what to expect. After signing up for class I was bit of anxious and having second thoughts did I want to pursue with the class due to my outside life of working full-time and a single parent thinking will I have the time to fulfill the requirements. With the hectic schedule I throughout the weekday, managing the time for class is time consuming because you need to get on daily to make sure you don’t miss an announcement given. So, yes I can relate to the picture illustrated after completing the first week of class. I was feeling overwhelmed and exhausted from having to prepare me for the class with getting the proper materials and understanding the requirements, but I survived. After reading the syllabus is what made me change my thought on things because you give a very thorough outline of what we should expect from the class this semester feeling less anxious and overwhelmed by simple following the instructions from the syllabus. As I look forward into the semester, I know it may get a little challenging, but I know I can come to my professor with an solution I have for a better outcome.
ReplyDeleteMy first week mentally started for me the week before. I was constantly checking my email for the introductions from my Professors. I needed to see my syllabus and anything else I could get to calm my anxiety as the start day approached I was on pins and needles because I hadn't heard from one class and I didnt know exactly what to do. I finally reached out to my children who are college students and my best friend who work in a University and is a cereal student in my opinon. All my sources told me to stop and take a deep breath and if I didnt I would be worn out before the first assignment was due. As I started reading the imformation sent by my professors I was absulotely overwhelmed by all of the reading I would have to do and all of the asssignments. That would be due by the due dates. So, what finally made me calm down was the fact that all four of my classes are online and as long as I have my laptop I can work on my assignments.I have access to my work 24 hours a day so I literally have no excuses.
ReplyDeleteCollege is not as bad as I was told it was going to be. I was expecting to feel overwhelmed and not like any of my professors even though I chose the ones with the best ratings. In high school, teachers made college seem like it was going to be the most challenging thing we would encounter. My sister received a bachelor’s degree and I watched her struggle with studying and stressing over exams. It took a mental and physical toll on her and it made me question if I wanted to go anymore. Obviously, I chose to attend regardless of my self-doubts and fears. I personally felt like my first week was far from tales I was told. Although I was getting information thrown at me from different professors every class, it didn't feel overwhelming to me. I don't regret my choice of professors and enjoy being in their classes.
ReplyDeleteFor me. First week is the first of lesson and first for everything. First week, we always started with easiest thing in all semester. I always spent time to get to know professor and my classmate. I really want to know how my professor like to work and how to get A in class. To be honest, I can work well under pressure but I also need to set up a timeline for myself. I need to finish all my homework before deadline to have time do another thing. I need to read all materials that professor sent to me to catch up with class. It is so far so good.
ReplyDeleteI have had you before so I already had an idea of what your standards were and what to expect from your class. Although the picture is definitely an accurate way of how i feel after the first week is over, all the assignments from every single class just piled over each other and a whole new semester to tackle. It takes me a bit to get back in to school mode after a long break, sometimes i do find myself overwhelmed at first but then i get the hang of it again and it becomes a priority and i feel like my brain is already used to it.I am glad I have chosen professors now and in the past who go a step further to explain the assignment in further detail and let you know up front what it is that they expect out of you. I also feel like taking all on campus courses helps a lot because you can ask during class and you will get a response then and there rather than having to wait like an online student.
ReplyDeleteThis is a bit different, usually the teachers will give us feedback and not us to them. I'm the type who wouldn't want to start a big commotion, but looking at the picture; I feel the exact same. Going into my first week, I felt overwhelmed. Overwhelmed because of all the information given to us on the syllabus. This led me to manage my time. For example, having a planner and organizing all my dates for each class. However, after figuring out what is expected from this class and getting a rhythm down, I think it will be a lot smoother. Another thing to keep in mind is learning how to balance my life. For example, my classes, social life and study time. My stress levels are normally pretty high starting something new, such as college. I have family and friends advised me to just relax and enjoy my new chapter of school.
ReplyDeleteThe first week of class is always stressful and organizing your life to accommodate your classes, studying and assignment due dates can be challenging especially when taking multiple classes. I think at some point in time everyone experiences being overwhelmed but what I know for sure is it can be done. You are not alone. I have had to give up some of my social hours to make room for studying. Stress is normal. Learning how to manage your stress is what will get you through.
DeleteDuring the first week of college, some students tend to feel overwhelmed with the responsibilities of being an adult, whether its their classes, job, or family. This can build up stress and cause students to be more anxious in the classroom setting, making them more reluctant to ask questions to the professor, waiting till the end of class to talk to the professor, or not speaking up at all. Some people might even be stressed before class, as they read the syllabus and all the requirements on it. Based on the National College Health Assessment (Spring 2013 edition), 46.3 percent of undergraduate students felt “overwhelmed regarding their academic responsibilities,” and about half of the students had reported that they have “more than average or extreme stress.” These percentages show that it is somewhat normal for college students to feel stress and can explain why some of them don’t give feedback during the first week of school.
ReplyDeleteWhen talking about my personal experience, another possible explanation for the lack of feedback could be that some students are nervous to look unintelligent in front of others—they are cautious and rather stay quiet to avoid the judgment of others. As an introverted person, I do more thinking than talking which is why I might hesitate to speak sometimes. Also, students might feel that it is better to ask questions toward the end or at the end of the class, so that they won’t waste any valuable lecture time. In general, one thing that I notice working in groups is that some students don’t communicate much, so maybe they are shy when it comes to speaking in a classroom, or that they lack interest in the subject.
During the first week of school we as students feel like dying. Not everyone does, personally I found it rather exciting to know that a history professor is prepared and creates this Plan B for students who think they cant do anything with their life. While the first week looks and sounds dreadful but coming in the next week we feel more prepared than ever. We get instructions to how to do the homework, where to get information from who and where, how to sign into our online work, setting up Canvas and lots of other things. All of these things we get done in one week and at the end we do lay around at home, feeling tired. I don’t know much about how other students feel like in the first week of school besides the overwhelming, stressful and sleepless nights but I honestly think not everyone feels this way.
ReplyDeleteDuring the first week it was very hectic it’s my first year of college and as i got into the class my expectations were high and I was ready for whatever assignment it is. Overall the class is great, but while showing us the syllabus and every link of history it felt overwhelming thinking this class was going to be hard. At that point I did felt like the guy from the picture, going through the syllabus word by word it was intense. I did expect others to be ready for it and some that aren’t. That’s how it is on every class, but it also depends on the professor. Sometimes there are professors that will do a quick introduction and start the class but there are others that with explain and show the students what we are going to do throughout the semester. Overall the first week of college was overwhelming but still focused and prepared.
ReplyDeleteI have taken classes at HCC before, but I did not do as well. My headspace was really out of order, and I had not taken my curriculum seriously. This then made me do poorly on my classes, and ultimately hurt my GPA. Starting this fall of 2019, I have actually changed quite a bit in a year. I took the time off for the rest of the year because of my mental health. I started working, and got back into the groove getting into a routine. This really helped me mentally, because I had something to go for, but I knew that I didn’t want my job to be the only thing I did. I started looking back into college, and signed up for them. I was actually a bit nervous to come back, because I personally thought I would just not take any further education past high school, and statistically speaking, people who take a gap year. According to SeattlePi, only about 40 percent go on to get a degree in college, and I didn’t want to be part of the 60 percent. When signing up for my classes, I saw that your class was a 0 cost class, which meant that I wouldn’t have to pay for textbooks. I am grateful that you actually have your class this way for students that struggle with finances have the opportunity to join a class that struggle once paying for classes. Once entering your class, and understanding your policies, requirements, and what you expected of us. It was intimidating to say the least. You stated that we would pass if we followed the syllabus, and upon reading it to pass the gatekeeper quiz… you were right. Almost every question that we have can be answered there. You did give comfort of making sure that people have a good chance of passing if they work for it, and/or followed the syllabus.
ReplyDeletehttps://education.seattlepi.com/disadvantages-postponing-college-1216.html
This was me. This still is me. I know not every college student feels this way, but I do. I am not a good student and I will admit that. I honestly was not expecting the classes to be so demanding and I find myself struggling to juggle life and school. Even though this course is extremely detailed, and everything is laid out for me, I am still having a hard time making it work. Not because the course is difficult, but because I am not a school person at all. I find it really hard to focus and apply myself. I know I can pass, and I know I can do great in this class, especially since you have given me all the tools to succeed. It’s on me now to apply myself and really focus on the tasks ahead. My hopes are to become a psychologist, and this is the first step in achieving that dream.
ReplyDeleteCarlos Medrano
ReplyDeleteThe first week of college was really hectic and full of anxiety. Arriving on campus was simple but finding parking was troublesome.This made me ten minutes late to class. As i walked in the professor stopped the whole class and made an example of me on why not to arrive late to class.During the first week we were given minor assignments but had trouble understanding the professors class assignments on canvas. Being the first week of college we had to purchase our books.The line for the bookstore was already out side the bookstore. For one of my courses none of the HCC bookstores had the printed books. As a result, a classmate found the book online for free and we were able to download a PDF. According to the National Association of College Stores each student spends an average of $638 dollars for course material.This was very helpful because we saved $88 dollars. Being my first semester starting with four classes made me uncertain if I would be able to manage but so far I've been doing good and plan to finish strong.
During my first week of my second semester of college I felt very overwhelmed. The math department at HCC called me two days before the fall semester started to inform me that the class, I was enrolled in would be cancelled due to not enough students being enrolled. Now I was forced to choose a class that would be available and would work with my work schedule. On top of that it would be the first time I would be taking on a full school schedule as well as working full time and the first time I would be taking two online courses. To be completely honest I felt exactly like that picture, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect with both of my online classes. I was also really confused by all of files on canvas and I never had a professor that explained everything through videos which was actually very helpful. In order to balance everything, I had to become a part-time employee as well as keep a planner on me at all times. Hopefully next semester I will know what to expect as well as be more prepared and organized for my online classes.
ReplyDeleteThe first week of school ALWAYS drains me to my last core! Why? Well, I am usually running around like crazy with my school stuff plus the kid’s school stuff as well. The joys of having to find parking and find classes. I also must meet new people and new teachers. On top of that, I also must get the house back on track from “Break”. New classes mean that I must learn about new personalities that teachers have and how they teach. Expectations in classes are different each time. Not to mention the commute to and from school. I also must manage to study, cook, and unwind. The first week is very overwhelming because as an adult student I have more responsibilities than a kid straight out of high school. In between that very hectic week I also must find the time to wash, and grocery shop. Ohhh and the occasional… Mom I need this, or Wife can you do me a favor. So, even though I am always excited with butterflies in my stomach for first day of school, I also dread it. Every class has a syllabus to review. Assignments to start and folders to organize. I usually like to organize and print papers so I can manage each class successfully.
ReplyDeleteMy feelings of the first week in school does compare to the attached photo. I’ll use the analogy of the shipping sink as all the stress from all the material such as videos, syllabuses etc., from all my four classes that I had to read and understand that first week. The barrel of water clinched in the distressed man’s arms represents me clinging to my planner which includes all assignments from each class strategically organized for the next 16 weeks of school. The man’s water barrel and my planner are meant for survival. School can be stressful the first week of school because you aren’t sure what to expect from each professor. The beginning of the semester I go through the syllabus to arrange and spread out my class assignments onto my calendar so that I’m not over whelmed. This allows me to see everything at first glance and allows me to get through the whole semester with less stress.
ReplyDeleteI am a college student, a wife and a mother who always try to achieve my goals. I have been student for almost 25 years, but my first week of school always seems like my first week in the kindergarten. Because we just come back to break time (vacation), I am always overwhelmed. I have to share my journey with school, professional work and home works. To overcome this impasse, I always check for professor announcements, email before each class and I follow the instructions of the professor in the syllabus. I do all my homework as soon as I arrive at home after the class and I look for what we are going to do the next day of class and the assignments due date. In that way, I always overcome the first week of class and I am sure to get a good grade at the end.
ReplyDeleteI am a full-time student and stay at home mom. To say the first week is a walk in the park after being on break would be a lie. I say it probably takes me a good two weeks to finally get back in the swing of things, with juggling schoolwork, getting my daughter to and from practice, and still having dinner on the table. I think if i actually went into classes instead of taking online things maybe a little different only because I would be focused on my work right then and there and not having to worry about my one year old running all over the place or getting my older daughter to school. You are by far my favorite professor so far because of the way you explain things and your videos for the online students are super helpful.
ReplyDeleteFor the first week of class, I was excited to take both of your classes for History 1301 and 1302. Going to your class for the first week, and listening to the class procedures and your expectations, I was left in confusion about certain assignments that I had to turn in for a grade. For one, I have never heard of a “Social Media Post” and I honestly thought to myself that I was going to post something on Facebook or Twitter. Secondly, this was my first time ever doing an “OER assignment” and that was completely new to me and I had no idea what to expect for and what I had to do in the beginning. I honestly did relate to the picture of the ship sinking to the bottom and the person stranded on the beach. To me personally, the ship related to the class, after first hearing these two new assignments, thinking to myself if I was going to fail the class. I was completely lost on how to complete these assignments, but after you assigned us into groups, I was able to message the other students and ask what are we supposed to do? Gladly both my groups were able to answer my questions and we got through the first set of social media post and the first OER was turned in. As of now, I don’t feel stranded anymore like the person in the picture. One more thing about the first week is that it may be troublesome for some students when you don’t know what to expect from the class and from the professor. Every professor teaches differently and it’s up to the student to see what the professor’s standards are and their expectations. Another reason is that no matter how prepared you think you are for the class, things can always turn up for worse. For example, I remember the first time I enrolled in a class and found out last minute that my class was canceled because of lack of students. Luckily, I was able to find a class that was available for second start of the semester. These are some of the other reasons that can make a student feel confused at the beginning of the semester.
ReplyDeleteThe picture posted is very similar to how I feel the first week of school. After having been on break, that first week back to school I am needing to revert back to student mode. It is not necessarily the load of any one course that can feel draining but sitting in one class and thinking about the load of the others simultaneously can be a huge stressor. This semester I began taking my classes full time unlike the semesters I’ve had for the past two years. It was an adjustment, to say the least. The first couple of weeks were very tough but they taught me what’s to come of future semesters. From day one of this semester until now, the most important things that I’ve learned is to work hard and to just keep pushing through to the next day, through to the next assignment .
ReplyDeleteI would say that the picture posted is an accurate representation of my state of being following my first week of school. This is only my second semester of college, but so far my first week has seemed hectic both times. Going over the syllabus for each class, discussing course expectations, grading procedures and discussing all of the upcoming assignments leaves me feeling overwhelmed. Luckily, this only lasts for about another week and I am into the swing of being a student and focusing my time on class assignments and homework. For me personally, the most stressful part about the first week, and I guess school in general, is being in one class hearing about all of the upcoming assignments, while simultaneously thinking about all the other course work I have for my other classes. It can seem overwhelming at times. Having a positive mindset and tackling one assignment at a time helps me maintain a clear vision and accomplish the necessary coursework. Another thing I also find difficult is how to prioritize schoolwork and things I have going on outside of school. Like most college students, I have many things going on outside of school, and juggling them all can be chaotic at times. However, I feel like it will only make getting my degree that much more satisfying.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading all of the guidelines and requirements for this class I feel it is quite possible for anyone to do what it takes to be successful. If you are given the certain requirements for this class up front then there isn’t anything that would be stopping you from completing this class successfully. Upon choosing this class I already am taking 2 more classes and working the overnight shift at my job full time. If I wasn’t mentally prepared for more than one class then I wouldn’t put myself in this situation but sometimes you just have to do what it takes to conquer your goals. I view this class as a good test for me, given all of the expectations by the end of the first week. I kind of wish my other classes were similar to this class by the way the standards, requirements, and expectations are presented to me by the first week. With all of the information given to me up front, the students should follow the instructions and let their grade fall into their own hands.
ReplyDeleteFirst week of school is always the most relaxed for me. I try my best not to stress. By reading the requirements and syllabus thoroughly, it gives me a feel on what I need to do throughout the semester. By knowing what to do ahead of time, I am more prepared for my assignments. I am currently taking 3 online courses plus working fulltime as well as being a wife and a mother. Scheduling out my day helps me as well. By me being organized, it helps with assignment due dates and exam dates as well. The first week was a breeze and so were the weeks that followed.
ReplyDeleteDuring the first week, some students tend to get overwhelmed with everything that is being thrown at them. Such as going over the syllabus, discussing about what needs to be expected, and the grading. But the most stressful thing about the first week for me is being told about all the assignments that need to be done. Some professors tend to make this particular topic very overwhelming. But having a positive mindset and getting one assignment done at a time motivates me to keep on going.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the first week of class, I definitely felt like the man in the picture. For this course, there was a lot of information to process the first days. All the instructions, all the readings/lectures provided, and the OER textbooks were overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteThe first days, the students are getting the syllabus from all our classes, not only from this one, and that’s probably why we feel under so much pressure and already exhausted. The hardest instructions to learn about were the ones related to the OER assignments, mostly because I hadn’t bought the Pearson’s access code yet and I wasn’t sure of what I was supposed to do. What helped me the most to understand each assignment was to watch the instructional videos and to make a “homework calendar” to put it all together and organize my schedule. The good thing (although I did not think the same the first week of class) is that everything the students need to be successful in this course was already uploaded on Canvas. It took me roughly a month to figure out what would be the course about.
During the first week, I think it would be hard for any student to give feedback due to it only being the first week, and also having a ton of other classes to worry about. But for this class during the first week I think everyone struggled on figuring out what the requirements are for the assignments because they were video explanations and 1. Some students couldn't find the videos 2. Students overlooked the videos. The class itself is super easy and enjoyable i think just in the first week the videos should be a bit more prioritised and easy to access along with a readable link of the offer and what should be included like a guideline, cause i know me and a couple classmates were struggling to figure out what to do but once we did figure it out it wasn't nearly as complicated as we thought.
ReplyDeleteAs many of my fellow classmates, i felt like the man in the picture. i felt overwhelmed with the amount of work and information i was exposed to in this class alone, let alone the rest of my classes.The first week of school alone completely DRAINED me. mentally and physically, i could see school taking a toll on me. it took a while to get used to, but i feel like i got the hang of it. its a big step from high school. in my first semester of college alone, i studied and did more work here than anything ive done in high school. but at the end of the day, you gotta do what you gotta do. ive made it to the end of the semester and for the most part, everything has been alright. i cant wait what more college has in store for me. its a journey im ready to embark on.
ReplyDeleteThe first week is always so draining for some students but for me it is the most relaxing week of the semester. We just go over the syllabus and get to know our professors. At first, I was undecided whether to take your class or not based on the comments left on rate my professor. They said such things as you don’t care about students’ grades, that your assignments are difficult and that you give a lot of outside classwork. But there was one thing that catch my attention, it was that we don’t have to take a final for your class, that is when I decided to give it a try and take your class. Finals have always terrified me. I’m not going to lie the first day of school I walked into your class kind of timorous trying to figure it out if what was said on rate my professor was true. After assisting class for a week and seeing the way you explained what you expected from us and how things get done in your class didn’t seem anything like how they described you on that website. You talked to us how you care for your students, if we ever needed anything we were able to go to your office and talk about it or even if we were hungry you always had some snacks for us. In the end I enjoyed your class for it was an introduction to my college life and what I now know will be expected in my future classes.
ReplyDeleteIt is weird that I am replying to the first week article at the end of the semester but I have a reason for waiting this long. The reason for this is to compare and contrast between both the first week and the last week of the entire semester. First week was super exciting as all first week of semester are but particularly with this class I was more confused than being excited. It was challenging that we are about to write just two 500 word essay, 5 short online discussion and social media posts which will determine the entire course grades. But as soon as getting to the module section that professor had set up was not only helpful but more motivating while reading the first two sections. It is a great way of teaching students in a different approach than having regular exams and long papers. I am now surprised that I have learnt many things about our history than ever by taking an online class because I was able to choose what to read and write by myself rather than OER assignment where we were assigned topics.
ReplyDeleteHowever, my first week of college was awesome and now I am on my way to University. I have learned and enjoyed history a lot by taking this class and I would like to thank our professor for everything and want to tell all my classmate a warm good-luck.