Today is my first day of "class". Ive got mixed feelings about how I think it will go. Im taking Intro to Business and Human Relations. The intro to business seems pretty cookie cutter, and I like that. The whole class is outlined with due dates and tests and everything for me to knock out and turn in and take, along with neat little slide shows the instructor put together for me to watch as needed. Read the chapter, do the assignment, participate in a discussion, take the test, voila, done A+++ for me.
However, the human relations, while a much easier topic I think. Its what I call a "common sense" class. The format seems a lot more difficult. Already I took a peek into my first assignment and it said:
"Your instructor will assign you to a team and assign a case study to your team for Module 2. Read ahead and contact your team about working on your Team Portfolio Assignment."
This floods my mind with uncertainty and questions that I dont have answers to.
How will I be notified of the team?
Will I get an email or phone call?
Am I supose to find my own team?
Where are these students at?
How will I communicate with them?
What if they are assholes and dont do their part?
How the hell is an assignment a case study?
....So while the content for into to business seems more difficult, the format is easy breezy....I feel quite the opposite about human relations.
I feel it might take a lil'while for me to get used to how online schooling works. There seems to be very little instruction, im fine with that, so long as they are fine with me doing things my way. Im having flash backs of highschool assignments and me getting docked points for putting my name in the top left corner instead of the top right corner. With so little instruction to go on, this is what worries me. I have no problem just doing things how I think they should be done, but if they have this hidden book of rules that I dont know about, then im nervous. This has immediatly reminded me how important real classes are.
I forget that im what people call a "conversational learner". I was the asshole in class that wouldnt shut up, I had a bazillion and one questions and prevented the teacher from moving on. Atleast thats how other people viewed me. Thats just how I learn though, as info is being brought to me, I immediatly digest it and spit out all the gray areas for the teacher to elaborate on and its forever etched in my mind. I never really had to "study" because I made sure I understood the material right there and then, and it just sticks better that way for me. I used to ask questions about things I even understood, just for her to have to explain it in another way. I totally get how that would be annoying for others, but thats how I learn the easiest.
I can tell that conversational kind of learning is completly absent from online schooling. Thats ok though, I can learn anything, I just have to do it differently. What I will prolly do is play teacher myself. Ill read the material and sit Phil down and rape his ear by talking about everything in the chapter, lol. Sounds like fun really.
Well I really do hope it goes well and you find over time that you like it. Do you have ways of contacting the instructor? Just because you may not be able to speak face to face, perhaps you can swap emails and ask all the questions you need to.