Words: 959
This survival guide has been put together to help me achieve academic success while attending Axia College Online. This guide will focus on six main topics. The topics covered will be: Using Axia’s Educational Resources, Upholding Academic Honesty, Setting and Achieving Goals, Managing Time Wisely, Fostering Reading Comprehension and Retention, and Applying Personality and Learning Styles. Axia’s student web-sit is set up to be user friendly and gives me access to any tools and resources I will need throughout my academic career. My favorite resource I use as much as possible is the Center for Writing Excellence (CWE).
The CWE can be used to proof read material before it is submitted to the instructor. Here I can get helpful tips on how to improve my work. You can also use the plagiarism checker in CWE. Here I can submit my paper to check if I plagiarized someone else’s work. These are both great resource. I use them every time I have to turn in a paper. Another one of my favorite resource is the online University Library. The library offers a variety of articles, journals, and assorted information. If I can’t find what I am looking for I can always use the link “Ask a Librarian”.
Another resource I like to use is asking my instructors for help. In an online environment it is easy to feel isolated. An instructor is never more than an email or phone call away. I could also reach out to my classmates if I have any uncertainty. Axia, along with all colleges, takes academic honesty seriously. It is important to be honest in everything you do. I think that upholding academic honesty is not hard to do. It basically means you do your. Do not submit work that was not written by you. Do not engage in any type or form of plagiarism. It is not worth it.
If you use someone else’s words at all in your writing you must accurately cite the work you are using. It is easy for me to set goals professional and personal but most of the time they are hard to achieve. It is important to set goals that are realistic and challenging. When a goal is completed it needs to be rewarded. Failure to accomplish goals can lead to a loss of self esteem. Goals should be three tiered, short term, medium term and long term. Short term goals should be set as weekly or monthly goals, while medium goals can be set as yearly goals and long term goals can be set in multiple years, e. . a three year plan. When setting goals I start with long term goals and work down. Questions I keep in mind when setting goals, what do I want to achieve this week or month or where do I want to be this time next year. I am sure to answer the questions honestly and keep in mind to set goals that are achievable. When meeting a goal it will feel rewarding. Should a goal come up short I do not become disappointed, but rather I put more effort into achieving them. Time management is one of the most difficult tasks for me as an adult student in distance-learning environment.
With full time jobs, children and household duties, I often find my studying time is very limited. By creating a schedule for myself, I can not only keep up with my work, family and household duties but also make more time for studying. I set the schedule to reflect personal needs, professional and academic obligations and allow for time for me. When creating a schedule I prioritize the tasks. Put down the most important tasks first, then add the next important and so on. When scheduling school tasks I make sure to allow time for discussions, writing, studying, research and postings.
I do not put off anything unless it is unavoidable. I try to be flexible whenever possible in case something unexpected comes up. When reading an assignment, I take one paragraph at a time and absorb it before moving to the next one. I utilize SQ3R or PQ4R when reading; survey (peruse) the text, question what I have read, read the text thoroughly, optionally reflect upon what I have read, recite the text orally or take notes and review what I have read daily until I have it committed to memory. I like to create a Mindmap of Major Concepts.
Starting with an idea, concept, or question in the center, I capture information by connecting key concepts and thoughts to the center idea, more and more detailed information, related to these thoughts, is then captured in branches that radiate out from the key concepts, away from the central idea. Mindmapping is a useful technique to use while reading, since the non-linear format allows you to view the entirety of your notes at a glance, then easily place new information in the appropriate branch or make connections between ideas. It is also a useful technique when solving problems or planning projects.
Start with a question or project description and then capture all ideas or necessary tasks in the appropriate branches. Knowing who I am and what I am capable of helps out a lot. I have learned what my intelligences and personality types are as well as the intelligences and personality types of those around me, i. e. classmates, instructors, coworkers, ect. When dealing with others I utilize my strengths. I work with the strengths of others and learn from them how to enhance my lesser developed intelligence. I am not afraid to ask for help or an explanation on something someone says.