School was never at the top of my "to-do" list. I was never really interested in learning things that happened before my time. Any form of history was like a knife being stabbed in my back. I hated every minute of it. In 7th grade I had a teacher that got me involved in Science. He would give out monopoly money for completeing extra credit assignments in the book. Each assignment was worth X dollar amount. Once a month he would spend his own money on various things and hold an auction where we used the fake money we had earned. Needless to say, this was the only class where I bothered doing the work.
In high school I felt as if I could be somewhere else doing something better. Every class I took, it didn't matter if I showed up or not. In English class I only showed up on Fridays in order to take the weekly test. Suprisingly, I passed the class with an A. I devoted most of my time to wood and metal shop. I loved coming up with ideas and then building them. This was by far my favorite class. This has inspired me to start buying the tools I need so that once my wife and I decide on where to live and buy a house, I can build all the furniture myself. I have done this before, but my ex-wife got all that. Hahahaha.
Then there was my Algebra teacher. She was a wonderful woman and got me interested in math. She took the time to sit down and talk students through problems that were causing them trouble. I'm actually thinking about changing my major to teaching math/algebra. I've been asked many times to be a tutor and my algebra teacher at COTC actually suggested that I teach. Maybe this is why my soon-to-be thirteen year old daughter bombards me with math homework on Wednesdays and every other weekend when she visits.
All in all, high school was just an obstacle I had to get around before I could do what I had planned for years. I just needed a diploma to join the military. I joined the summer of my junior year under the delayed entry program. One month after graduation, I was enjoying that hot summer heat in Fort Benning, Georgia. But, things happen and a shattered leg sent me back here. After working in factories for the past 14 years or so, here I am.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Choosing DMD
Throughout my education experiences I can certainly say I have tried a bit of everything. It was not until I found Digital Media that I was really happy and could see myself doing this kind of work for the rest of my professional career. Granted it has taken me awhile to find what it is that I want but now that I am here I want to keep learning and enjoy the Digital Media classes.
In 2001 I started college at Zane State College as a Criminal Justice Major. I picked this major because I was so tired of math and science from high school that I wanted to stay away from it in my profession. How silly when I think about it now. I ended up finishing with a double major in Criminal Justice; I have an Associates in Applied Science for Police Science and Corrections. I went to work at the Juvenile Detention Center in Muskingum County as a Juvenile Corrections Officer. At first it wasn't so bad, however, you can only do so many crosswords and stare aimlessly before you realize you are not happy. There was no way could have done that forever it was beyond boring.
I actually did not start back to college until 2006. When I did all I knew is that I wanted to find something I loved to do because I could not picture dreading my job everyday again. My mom and sister are nurses so I tried to do Human Biology. Quickly, I realized it's not really for me. At COTC I actually started out in Forensic Science, but the degree you earn is apparently only valid in Florida so I moved on. I went through Child Development and Social Work before I found Digital Media. A couple girls in my Public Speaking class were showing me their work and telling me about the program. I have always had an artistic and creative talent so I knew it just may be what I was looking for.
The Winter of 2007 I enrolled in Digital Media and I began seeing the world through a new set of eyes. Colors never seemed so different, a landscape was never so picturesque, a billboard never again was the same. I have one class left for my Digital Graphics degree, however, I want to learn so much more. There are so many places you can go with Digital Media and that is one thing that makes me love the program; I don't have to go to work everyday to do the exact same thing day after day. I want to keep learning and know all that I can in this program so that I can not only be an asset to a company when I start my profession, but so that I can go to work everyday knowing that I am going to be happy and enjoy what I do for a living.
In 2001 I started college at Zane State College as a Criminal Justice Major. I picked this major because I was so tired of math and science from high school that I wanted to stay away from it in my profession. How silly when I think about it now. I ended up finishing with a double major in Criminal Justice; I have an Associates in Applied Science for Police Science and Corrections. I went to work at the Juvenile Detention Center in Muskingum County as a Juvenile Corrections Officer. At first it wasn't so bad, however, you can only do so many crosswords and stare aimlessly before you realize you are not happy. There was no way could have done that forever it was beyond boring.
I actually did not start back to college until 2006. When I did all I knew is that I wanted to find something I loved to do because I could not picture dreading my job everyday again. My mom and sister are nurses so I tried to do Human Biology. Quickly, I realized it's not really for me. At COTC I actually started out in Forensic Science, but the degree you earn is apparently only valid in Florida so I moved on. I went through Child Development and Social Work before I found Digital Media. A couple girls in my Public Speaking class were showing me their work and telling me about the program. I have always had an artistic and creative talent so I knew it just may be what I was looking for.
The Winter of 2007 I enrolled in Digital Media and I began seeing the world through a new set of eyes. Colors never seemed so different, a landscape was never so picturesque, a billboard never again was the same. I have one class left for my Digital Graphics degree, however, I want to learn so much more. There are so many places you can go with Digital Media and that is one thing that makes me love the program; I don't have to go to work everyday to do the exact same thing day after day. I want to keep learning and know all that I can in this program so that I can not only be an asset to a company when I start my profession, but so that I can go to work everyday knowing that I am going to be happy and enjoy what I do for a living.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
A Lifelong Learner
Growing up, school was part of my everyday life at home. It wasn’t something I went to; it was an activity that involved my entire family. I am blessed to have parents that took the time to educate my siblings and I at home. I never went to public school, and my entire approach towards life and learning has been shaped by my years of growing and exploring at home.
When I was little, my mom was my main teacher. Through her, I took my first steps as a learner. She always showed careful attention to detail and created a solid foundation of knowledge and skills to prepare my siblings and I for the later grades.
Somewhere around fifth grade, Mom had her hands full with the next set of students, and Dad decided to start teaching the older ones (I was one of them). Mom and Dad are opposite in many ways, and teaching was no exception. While my mom focused on neatness and attention to detail, my dad pressed for speed and accuracy. I can remember occasions like:
“This is an easy problem. You should be able to do it in your head. I’ll give you to the count of three. ONE…TWO...”
If you’ve never been in a situation like this, I can tell you that your mind goes completely blank. :) My dad’s classes were often hard, but I grew a lot through having him as a teacher.
I can thank both my mom and dad for giving me a great education, and I’m also grateful that they taught me to keep learning. It’s more than completing assignments and getting diplomas. It’s not something that you can finish. Learning is a process that should never end.
I remember telling my dad once that I didn’t think we covered enough history, only to have him point me to a shelf full of books and say, “It’s all right there. You can learn anything you want to know.” I admit, I felt dissatisfied with this answer, but he was right. At some point, I was responsible for my own education. My parents had worked hard to give me a foundation. Now it was my job to keep building on it.
Now that I am in the Digital Media Design program, I see the wisdom of what my dad was saying. You can’t expect to learn everything you will ever need to know in school. Yes, I am learning useful skills from my instructors, but it is my responsibility to keep practicing and exploring new techniques. In a field that is changing fast, only a dedicated learner will be able to adapt and succeed. That is what I hope to be, a lifelong learner.
When I was little, my mom was my main teacher. Through her, I took my first steps as a learner. She always showed careful attention to detail and created a solid foundation of knowledge and skills to prepare my siblings and I for the later grades.
Somewhere around fifth grade, Mom had her hands full with the next set of students, and Dad decided to start teaching the older ones (I was one of them). Mom and Dad are opposite in many ways, and teaching was no exception. While my mom focused on neatness and attention to detail, my dad pressed for speed and accuracy. I can remember occasions like:
“This is an easy problem. You should be able to do it in your head. I’ll give you to the count of three. ONE…TWO...”
If you’ve never been in a situation like this, I can tell you that your mind goes completely blank. :) My dad’s classes were often hard, but I grew a lot through having him as a teacher.
I can thank both my mom and dad for giving me a great education, and I’m also grateful that they taught me to keep learning. It’s more than completing assignments and getting diplomas. It’s not something that you can finish. Learning is a process that should never end.
I remember telling my dad once that I didn’t think we covered enough history, only to have him point me to a shelf full of books and say, “It’s all right there. You can learn anything you want to know.” I admit, I felt dissatisfied with this answer, but he was right. At some point, I was responsible for my own education. My parents had worked hard to give me a foundation. Now it was my job to keep building on it.
Now that I am in the Digital Media Design program, I see the wisdom of what my dad was saying. You can’t expect to learn everything you will ever need to know in school. Yes, I am learning useful skills from my instructors, but it is my responsibility to keep practicing and exploring new techniques. In a field that is changing fast, only a dedicated learner will be able to adapt and succeed. That is what I hope to be, a lifelong learner.
More Education Experiences
Compared to COTC, my high school experience meant nothing to me academically. By the time I started at MVHS (Mount Vernon High School), I had a track record of not caring about my classes and not doing homework. Not many of the teachers or staff seemed to care, so I questioned why I was forced to be there and eventually started skipping class more. I didn't know what I wanted to do for a career, and there were not many who cared until my senior year when I went to the KCCC (Knox County Career Center). If I hadn't gone there, I don't know how things would have turned out.
After spending most of my life in the public education system, I'm not very impressed. You gain some social skills, but overall I consider it a massive waste of time. In all honesty, it felt like an over-glorified day care facility. I know I have learned more in the past few years at COTC than I have learned in all of my time in the public education system. This saddens me, and I am scared to think about what these schools will be like 10 years from now. If things don't change drastically, the entire system has the potential to collapse.
After spending most of my life in the public education system, I'm not very impressed. You gain some social skills, but overall I consider it a massive waste of time. In all honesty, it felt like an over-glorified day care facility. I know I have learned more in the past few years at COTC than I have learned in all of my time in the public education system. This saddens me, and I am scared to think about what these schools will be like 10 years from now. If things don't change drastically, the entire system has the potential to collapse.
My Experience at C-TEC
Before coming to college, I went to C-TEC during the last two years of high school. I was in the computer information system (CIS) program for two years. I also took some college math classes. These classes were for high school and college credit. CIS was a general computer course. The students were to learn how to build computers and websites. We had capstone projects each year where we could do whatever we wanted as a project (sort of). There’s a lot more to the course than that, but that’s the basic description of the course. It had its good points and bad points.
I certainly preferred working with computers than spending all day in study hall at my high school. I really enjoyed doing my capstone projects. During my first year I built a space shooter in flash. During my second year I built a website for our class. Our class had software we could borrow through the Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance (MSDNAA). To check out the software we had a notebook that we could sign out the software and check it back in when we were done with it. The website allowed users to register, login, check out, check in and request software. It was built in PHP and MySQL. It had an admin backend for the teacher to see who had what checked out. It had a log of everything that was ever checked in and out for record purposes. It also emailed the student and teacher about what they checked out. I really wanted to do something with PHP and MySQL so I was happy to be able to work on that project especially. I learned a lot from these projects.
I have a couple problems with C-TEC. Our instructor was not qualified to teach this subject. He lacked a large amount of knowledge in many areas. He did not keep up with the current trends in technology. Many subjects he taught us about were lectures that he copied word for word information from Wikipedia (he never cited this information). He generally did not have an answer to your question. He was very unprofessional and had grammar mistakes in his presentations. Not the best teacher I’ve ever had. I have had a couple other teachers like him in high school. Not prepared at all, lacks knowledge, and unprofessional.
My other problem with C-TEC was that many of the credits I earned were wasted when I enrolled in DMD. The only ones I got credit for were Web I and my math courses. Some of the programs like programming had no credits that would transfer. I wish they would work on making the credits transfer to more of the programs at COTC. I didn’t think I would get a bunch of credits to transfer over since it was CIS, but I was hoping for more. A lot of the non technical classes like business ethics, salesmanship and so forth were taught in this course, but we did not get credit for it. I might have enrolled in another program if more credits were transferred over, but there were no other programs like that. So almost all of the college credits I earned were wasted. The idea of earning college credits while in high school is a great idea, but still needs improvement.
I certainly preferred working with computers than spending all day in study hall at my high school. I really enjoyed doing my capstone projects. During my first year I built a space shooter in flash. During my second year I built a website for our class. Our class had software we could borrow through the Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance (MSDNAA). To check out the software we had a notebook that we could sign out the software and check it back in when we were done with it. The website allowed users to register, login, check out, check in and request software. It was built in PHP and MySQL. It had an admin backend for the teacher to see who had what checked out. It had a log of everything that was ever checked in and out for record purposes. It also emailed the student and teacher about what they checked out. I really wanted to do something with PHP and MySQL so I was happy to be able to work on that project especially. I learned a lot from these projects.
I have a couple problems with C-TEC. Our instructor was not qualified to teach this subject. He lacked a large amount of knowledge in many areas. He did not keep up with the current trends in technology. Many subjects he taught us about were lectures that he copied word for word information from Wikipedia (he never cited this information). He generally did not have an answer to your question. He was very unprofessional and had grammar mistakes in his presentations. Not the best teacher I’ve ever had. I have had a couple other teachers like him in high school. Not prepared at all, lacks knowledge, and unprofessional.
My other problem with C-TEC was that many of the credits I earned were wasted when I enrolled in DMD. The only ones I got credit for were Web I and my math courses. Some of the programs like programming had no credits that would transfer. I wish they would work on making the credits transfer to more of the programs at COTC. I didn’t think I would get a bunch of credits to transfer over since it was CIS, but I was hoping for more. A lot of the non technical classes like business ethics, salesmanship and so forth were taught in this course, but we did not get credit for it. I might have enrolled in another program if more credits were transferred over, but there were no other programs like that. So almost all of the college credits I earned were wasted. The idea of earning college credits while in high school is a great idea, but still needs improvement.
Carry on!
I spoke with Bill this afternoon, and he would like us to continue discussing education. We are not limited to talking about this class and can share about any educational experiences we have had.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Learning Online
I have been taking online courses throughout my college experience starting back when I was earning my degree for Police Science and Corrections at Zane State seven years ago. Over this time online learning has come a long way.
At first I took web classes because I was a new mom and the classes seemed slower paced and convenient for my new schedule, however, I did not take much away from them. To be quite honest I did not learn much. In the past seven years my online classes have changed dramatically. My first web classes included homework set up like Wheel of Fortune to learn vocabulary words; in turn that is all I was tested on. Now my homework consists of detailed outlines and tutorials that guide me through the actual homework where I apply what I have learned in a simulated interface. Not only am I getting much more information now, but I have aspects from the classroom like hands-on learning and one on one guidance available to me on my schedule.
At first I took web classes because I was a new mom and the classes seemed slower paced and convenient for my new schedule, however, I did not take much away from them. To be quite honest I did not learn much. In the past seven years my online classes have changed dramatically. My first web classes included homework set up like Wheel of Fortune to learn vocabulary words; in turn that is all I was tested on. Now my homework consists of detailed outlines and tutorials that guide me through the actual homework where I apply what I have learned in a simulated interface. Not only am I getting much more information now, but I have aspects from the classroom like hands-on learning and one on one guidance available to me on my schedule.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Teacher 2.0
As far as my online learning experience goes; day and night. My previous experience was a summer government class. This class is only comparable to the difference between gym and summer gym. In gym I spent 5 days a week for 5 months doing various recorded games and conditioning. In the summer gym, however, we played putt-putt and bowled, and if it couldn't get any less tiring; the putt-putt was Young's Jersey Dairy. As a government class would take 5 days of 9 months, my summer government class to me all of 3 nights.
Now we have Captain Bill. Lectures are more like informative television shows embedded with brilliant embedded resources from things I have experienced and been apart of firsthand. When someone interrupts me working on this class I pause everything, and not because I don't understand most of it already but because they are quite interesting. In a web2.0 world it is extremely convenient to have a teacher2.0 who is on the same page as not only my web interests but more importantly my schedule.
References:
http://www.youngsdairy.com/
Now we have Captain Bill. Lectures are more like informative television shows embedded with brilliant embedded resources from things I have experienced and been apart of firsthand. When someone interrupts me working on this class I pause everything, and not because I don't understand most of it already but because they are quite interesting. In a web2.0 world it is extremely convenient to have a teacher2.0 who is on the same page as not only my web interests but more importantly my schedule.
References:
http://www.youngsdairy.com/
Thursday, October 22, 2009
My Online Learning Experience
So far this course has been the most interesting online course I have had. This is my 7th quarter at COTC, and each quarter I have had at least one online course (11 altogether counting this quarter). Most of the classes had some sort of discussion board posting required. Most of them were rather dry and boring. I have had a couple classes where the discussion board was a little more interesting, but this has certainly has had the most interesting discussions I have seen.
One of my favorite things about this course is the video lectures. Almost every online course other than typography (also taught by Bill), gave us regular PowerPoints to look at. Having these video lectures makes the online experience feel a lot more interactive.
This class has a great mix of interaction, but not so much that you have be online at a certain time to talk to everyone. You have plenty of time before your first post. This gives us more time about what to post. I personally love the freedom of being able to choose what time to get online. I much rather work online later in the night; rather than early in the morning. Online courses make that freedom possible!
The only thing I do not like about this course is the blog that Angel uses took a while to get use to. I have gotten more use to it though. I had the same problem when I first started using Angel. I really did not like it at all. I was more familiar with BlackBoard. However, that has changed, and now I love Angel!
I wish more classes were available online at COTC. I took a math class last year, like John, and even though it was very hard. I believe I would have had a lot more trouble with the work if it was not online. They had a lot of interactive problems that showed you step by step how to solve it. I do not think I would have understood it as well without being able to look at the previews whenever I needed them. They showed alternatives ways of doing it as well. The only problem I had with that course was the fact that we had to come in and take 3 exams at COTC. That would have been fine, but it seems like the problems on the test were slightly different, or a lot harder.
I think just about every class, except for maybe a science class that requires you to use lab equipment; should be online.
Online Experiences to This Point
As far as this course is concerned, it is a very positive experience for me. In the past 5 weeks, I have learned more about the Internet and the Web than I thought I ever would. There have been discussions here that have really made me think, especially the moral dilemmas concerning Net Neutrality. The only gripe I have about the course is the blog on Angel Learning, and how it seems to have little to no structure whatsoever. Other than that, things have been very smooth as far as discussions and assignments.
Even though there is a lack of face-to-face discussion, I don't really mind. In fact, for me it works very well. My words seem to become jumbled in some face-to-face discussions, with an online class it is easier to organize your thoughts and present them in an easy to understand way.
Some students would benefit more by having classes in a classroom, especially if it is a subject like Math or Science. I took math online last year, and it was probably the worst time I have ever had in an online class. Considering I am not a "Math Person", I should have probably reconsidered taking the class online. For these types of situations, it would be better to be in class.
I have heard recommendations about using programs like "Skype" to fix the situation about face-to-face time, but I personally think it somewhat goes against the purpose of having an online class. Some people take online classes to be able to work around their schedule, and they may not be able to join conversations at a time that is convenient for everyone else.
Even though there is a lack of face-to-face discussion, I don't really mind. In fact, for me it works very well. My words seem to become jumbled in some face-to-face discussions, with an online class it is easier to organize your thoughts and present them in an easy to understand way.
Some students would benefit more by having classes in a classroom, especially if it is a subject like Math or Science. I took math online last year, and it was probably the worst time I have ever had in an online class. Considering I am not a "Math Person", I should have probably reconsidered taking the class online. For these types of situations, it would be better to be in class.
I have heard recommendations about using programs like "Skype" to fix the situation about face-to-face time, but I personally think it somewhat goes against the purpose of having an online class. Some people take online classes to be able to work around their schedule, and they may not be able to join conversations at a time that is convenient for everyone else.
Learning Online...
I have taken six online classes so far, and I really enjoy that style of learning. I appreciate being able to log on and complete my work whenever it is most convenient. Also, I like having the freedom to put as much time as I need into each assignment, spending more time on troublesome concepts and moving quickly through ones that I find easier to grasp.
Most of all, I enjoy communicating online. Interacting through a blog is very different than having a normal classroom conversation. There is no pressure for an immediate answer and no classroom full of people watching you. Each student has the opportunity to reflect and give thoughtful responses.
Though I think online learning has some distinct advantages, there are times that I do miss having face-to-face interaction with my instructors and classmates. The energy and flexibility of an in-person conversation is hard to replicate online. In a classroom, we can easily adapt to the moment, whether responding to a casual question or taking the lesson an entirely different direction to explore something the students don’t understand.
I think it would be interesting to integrate some type of real-time communication into online classes. Yes, we would be less asynchronous, but I think it could make online learning a more dynamic and spontaneous experience. I know that many classes incorporate this already, and I hope to be able to experience it at some point.
Overall, I have really enjoyed learning online, and I am excited to watch it continue to grow and develop.
Most of all, I enjoy communicating online. Interacting through a blog is very different than having a normal classroom conversation. There is no pressure for an immediate answer and no classroom full of people watching you. Each student has the opportunity to reflect and give thoughtful responses.
Though I think online learning has some distinct advantages, there are times that I do miss having face-to-face interaction with my instructors and classmates. The energy and flexibility of an in-person conversation is hard to replicate online. In a classroom, we can easily adapt to the moment, whether responding to a casual question or taking the lesson an entirely different direction to explore something the students don’t understand.
I think it would be interesting to integrate some type of real-time communication into online classes. Yes, we would be less asynchronous, but I think it could make online learning a more dynamic and spontaneous experience. I know that many classes incorporate this already, and I hope to be able to experience it at some point.
Overall, I have really enjoyed learning online, and I am excited to watch it continue to grow and develop.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
My Online Learning Experience to This Point......
So far, my online classes have been fairly easy. This is my second year and I have my first face-to-face class this quarter. The only difficult class I have had online so far is Digital Software Fundamentals. The book is way to confusing to follow.
I would like to see some online classes that actually use a webcast. It would be nice to have an online class, but get to see the instructor and any examples that the class may be shown.
Overall, my online experience has been very enjoyable.
I would like to see some online classes that actually use a webcast. It would be nice to have an online class, but get to see the instructor and any examples that the class may be shown.
Overall, my online experience has been very enjoyable.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Education - 21st Century Style
I'm in grad school. That's right, at age sixty-something I'm back in school. Why? Because there's stuff I want to know, and this is a good way to make sure I allocate the time to do it. I've only been in class since the 1st of October, but I've already passed the first class and am halfway through the second. Yes, I'm moving very fast, but I have a lot of experience in allocating time and meeting deadlines. Plus I really am eager to get to my thesis. I've already been collecting journal articles for my research phase (which is yet a third and fourth course), and I'm working on the problem statement.
What has been your own experience so far in online learning? Are you finding it a smooth journey? Are you missing the feedback of face-to-face classes? What do you think we could do about that?
In your own blog postings, discuss with each other what your educational experiences and observations are/have been. You don't have to stick to talking about this course. Do that first, but over the next few weeks you can talk about any educational experience. Remember, though, that you'll need to comment thoughtfully on other people's posts and a "Yeah, me too" response doesn't count. Think of what else you can add to your peer's post to expand upon their story or think about how it might be different today or how you might want to change education to make that issue better.
I'll try to lead the discussion with a prompt each week, and comment myself. Feel free to comment on my own comments. And I'll see you online.
What has been your own experience so far in online learning? Are you finding it a smooth journey? Are you missing the feedback of face-to-face classes? What do you think we could do about that?
In your own blog postings, discuss with each other what your educational experiences and observations are/have been. You don't have to stick to talking about this course. Do that first, but over the next few weeks you can talk about any educational experience. Remember, though, that you'll need to comment thoughtfully on other people's posts and a "Yeah, me too" response doesn't count. Think of what else you can add to your peer's post to expand upon their story or think about how it might be different today or how you might want to change education to make that issue better.
I'll try to lead the discussion with a prompt each week, and comment myself. Feel free to comment on my own comments. And I'll see you online.
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