Learning to Observe

1/28/07: One thing I have learned from this online course so far is to be observant, and to stay observant. This means always referring to the syllabus before beginning an assignment and noting all the detailed instructions. It also means to not only refer to the syllabus but to refer to the Course Materials section in Blackboard before beginning an assignment.

I realized this today when I received an e-mail from Dr. Woods saying that I needed to include my three web searches in one document according to the format outlined in Blackboard. Although I had referred to the syllabus for this assignment, I did not refer to Course Materials in Blackboard, so my format was way off! Instead, I submitted each web search separately, not in APA style but in Vanessa's style.

I don't know if I have ever had to be so attentive to detail and various forms of communication and media in my life. In a way, this is difficult for me to get used to, and I know I will need to train myself to consult the syllabus, announcements, class discussion board and course materials for each assignment and on most days of the week!

I'm experiencing that this way of learning, communicating, and receiving an education is very different from the traditional college classroom. Rather than being attentive in a classroom and writing down the instructions the professor speaks aloud in one class period, I need to train myself to search, find and read the instructions the professor has already written in various sections of Blackboard and on the syllabus.

Sure, I don't have to drive to campus and walk to class, but I have to electronically "walk" to Blackboard, find my seat in the Course Materials or relevant section, and read the instructions the professor gives.