Online Classes

Being my final semester, I decided to take a bunch of easy online classes so I could finish easily. This plan has worked well, and I'm finding myself not in the least bit stressed right before finals week. All I have left for the semester is one exam and one presentation. I'm finished with four of my six classes, with an A in every single one. Thank goodness for online learning!

However, as I look back over my education, I think I've officially decided that online learning is inferior to classroom learning. I just plain don't learn as much, and I don't enjoy it as much. Sure, we have tons and TONS of discussion boards so we can "interact" with other students. But a lot of the discussion boards just feel forced. "You must post at least two new threads and comment on other posts." "You must comment on at least five other posts and each of your posts must be at least 250 or 500 words."

In class, this "interaction" is not "required" in any way. It just happens. In classes, it's fun to discuss ideas with the other students. I had so much fun in my little study groups and going to the library and searching through books with my group creating Powerpoint presentations and such. I liked that I knew at any time in any class if I ever had any sort of question all I had to do was raise my hand and BOOM, I'd get an answer or at least a "I don't know but here's something to think about as you search for the answer." Sitting on my bed trying to come up with some way to fake interest in some halfway attempt at a comment written by another student who couldn't care less about what they're doing either is just lame.

I've been studying for my Medical Terminology final today. It's also an online class. The lame thing about this is, there are questions I have that I just want to talk to someone who knows more. The problem with an online class is you're given the material you need for the test and that's all. But I'm reading about neurons and synapses and why injuries to the CNS are irreparable which totally fascinates me, and I'm coming up with all these questions that are too complicated to "just Google." And I feel too weird randomly emailing the teacher asking him to explain this random thing or answer a random question because it's the kind of thing I want to discuss in person with someone who actually knows answers and can explain things... and the teacher's not even in this state. I feel like my learning is slightly stunted.

Not that I think it's "bad" per se. I am still learning. A lot. I still LOVE reading my text books and many of our required discussion boards are good and fun. And I'm definitely learning the idea of "you get out of it what you put into it." It's definitely way easier to slack off and not try to learn in an online class than it is in a classroom class. But still. I've definitely decided, today, once and for all, that no learning can replace classroom learning. Online classes just aren't the same.

(Also, if anyone knows a lot about neuroglia, particularly oligodendrocytes and their functions and such, I would love to talk)

*steps off soapbox*

I'm Gonna Graduate!!!

Grad Fest

Grad Fest was today! It was like a little party thrown for graduates! I got some free stuff... mainly junk, but still. And I got to pick up my gown and TASSEL!!!

I've never had a real tassel before! That's kind of the only part I was excited for. That and the free grad cupcake that was packed with almond flavoring. My dad would have loved it.

Now I'm sitting in my room staring at the gown wondering if it's illegal to try on before graduation.

I kind of don't care. I'll probably do it anyway. :)

Next Friday I will GRADUATE!!!!!!!

Maybe I should have made announcements...

Another Video From Last Semester

My old roommate Ashley made this video of our apartment last semester. I LOVE it!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15k8wseYrsw

And I'm actually kind of in this one!

Sugar City

Yesterday Stanzie and I went to Sugar City to ride bikes with my friend Kelly. She's lived there her whole life, so she knows this place like the back of her hand. Sugar City is just a tiny bit bigger than my town in Virginia.

Kelly borrowed two bikes from neighbors so Stanzie and I could ride. We rode out to the cemetary where Kelly had some friends/relatives buried. It was kind of sad for me to walk around, especially as we saw so many children/baby graves. Stanzie wasn't sad... she said it was just "melancholy."

Yeah, ask her for the difference.

On the way back we took pictures by this lady's house who just had tons of flowers out front. She actually left while we were taking pictures, and as she drove out of her driveway she had this giant smile on her face. Either she was glad we were enjoying her flowers, or she was leaving for the cops. Since she was super old, and we didn't see any cops, I'm guessing it was the first. :) We really did enjoy her flowers.

Sugar City started out as a town that made sugar and had sugar factories. Apparently, now this one is used to house potatoes, but it's not even used much for that anymore.

As for the above picture? You're welcome. (I have no idea what I was doing...)

Our final stop was to get milkshakes. They were great! I took a picture before this one and started making fun of how white Stanzie looked next to Kelly's dark tan. So Stanzie put on her sunglasses to try to counter it. I LOVE this picture! I just love it!

I have the greatest friends EVER!