Student_Survival_Guide

Lisa L. Andrus July 25, 2010 GEN 105 Student Survival Guide When we think of survival guides, we think or characterize it as a manual to aid one in succeeding in a particular area. A survival guide contains tips, tricks, examples and how-to instructions in handling various obstacles. In this essay, I will be preparing my personal survival guide and action plans for distance learning relating to Axia’s resources, academic honesty, setting and achieving goals, time management, reading comprehension and retention and applying learning styles. The University of Phoenix has so much to offer a distance learning student. First, one has on-line access to view, present, previous and upcoming classes. Students can also monitor financial id balances and account summaries. There’s the Center for Writing Excellence (CWE) which offers grammar and writing tutorial guides and APA formatting instructions. The University Library contains multiple databases that are extremely helpful in research. The CWE and University Library will help me to become a more effective writer. I will use the library to research particular topics and obtain credible sources. I will use the CWE to assist with formatting ad grammar mechanics to submit presentable academic papers. I will also use write point and the plagiarism checker to ensure my paper is grammatically correct and original. Originality is very important when it comes to academic writing. This is why the plagiarism checker was established; to ensure academic honesty. Plagiarism takes place quite often whether by passing off someone else’s work as your own or simply forgetting to properly site a source. I will definitely avoid academic dishonesty by properly citing sources and utilizing proper APA styles and formats and taking advantage of the plagiarism checker. I will also seek feedback from my instructors and other students. To become a well-rounded, on track student, one must set and evaluate all academic goals. It is good for one to set short and long term goals to stay on track and ahead. I have one main career goal and it is to open a chain of daycare centers. This goal is a long term goal. In order to achieve this goal, I must pace myself and set short term educational and career goals. The first short term goal is to line up all my classes related to this goal. I will evaluate my schedule regularly to ensure I am enrolling in the right courses. The degree I will need as a stepping stone to my career goal is a degree in Childhood Education. Upon graduation and obtaining my degree, I will then set some short term career goals leading to my main career goal. I will pursue employment in my chosen field working under someone for observation and training purposes. Once I feel I am ready to move forward, I start putting together a business proposal to obtain a small business loan. I will then build and invest in my business until my goal comes into fruition. None of my goals will come to pass if I am not well prepared in college. To do well in college and succeed in all my studies, I must manage my time wisely. I am a full time mother and student, so I must balance both home and educational responsibilities. Flexibility plays an important role in time management. I have always believed in creating some sort of visual schedule to stay on track in whatever tasks I am performing. Schedules are excellent because one can evaluate and asses priorities in order of importance. In order to succeed, I must manage my time well. To do this, I must treat school as if it were a full-time job. I will have to evaluate my workloads daily to stay on track with my academic responsibilities. I can achieve this by first finding the appropriate time of day; preferably when the children a re napping. This must be a time when I am well rested and less fatigued. If I am tired, I will never complete my studies. If I am well rested, I am able to get a lot done beginning with the harder or more boring subjects, that way, if fatigue kicks in the harder subjects are out the way and what remains is the likable more interesting subjects. Once I’ve identified the time of day to study, I must locate the appropriate location. This place should be a quit place with minimum traffic; this is why I have created an office for myself in my home. Time management is equally important in educational, personal and career purposes. This is why it is important to be flexible if one has such a hectic schedule. Although Time management is important if one is fatigued, his or her comprehension and retention levels will be extremely low. College is definitely on a higher level than grade or high school and reading material is far more extensive. Many people argue that information or knowledge is better retained if the individual has prior knowledge of the topic. I plan to enhance my reading comprehension by continuing to actively read on a regular basis. I must also ask myself questions throughout reading the text. If I just read through the words, it will not accomplish anything. Seeking answers is the key to fully comprehending reading material. If I never answer the questions I am seeking, there is a possibility that my comprehension and retention will decrease. To perfect my reading and retention, I must know and understand my learning styles. I am the type of person who thinks things through exploring all possible options and asking questions like who, what, when, where, why, and how. These types of questions will strengthen my comprehension and retention of the text. I must become familiar with my learning strengths as well as weaknesses not only to create good study habits but to assist in my everyday endeavors.