Balancing The Penn Foster College Classroom

760 Words2 Pages

Balancing the Penn Foster College Veterinary Technology curriculum with work and family is often challenging for me. Distance learning is so much different from a conventional classroom. There is no opportunity to exchange ideas with another classmate face-to-face, or have personal contact with a teacher to ask questions and get clarification on a given assignment. Yes, there is the student forum for posting questions, as well as e-mail and the telephone, but they are not the same. How do I make efficient use of time without going over the semester limit? For some, it can be effortless. For me, some of the courses can be tedious. I tell myself I will get my schoolwork done in a reasonable amount of time and allocate that time accordingly, …show more content…

For me, it was Biology in the first semester when I made the mistake of not opening the book for the first three months, and now English Composition in the second, but I know I will not make that same mistake again. If I spend too much time away from any given subject, I end up having to review the material from the beginning, sometimes leaving me with the feeling of figuratively wanting to throw my books out the window but always fatigued. I try to give myself enough time to study each day, even if it is only for 15 minutes to avoid feeling this …show more content…

I have used a similar method in dog training with antsy pooches trying to learn something new, by going over a previous or ending a current lesson. I sometimes go back to my high school days to recall what worked then, for instance, if I accomplish an assignment, I may reward myself by taking a break. The first Penn Foster book we received, Strategies for the Independent Learner, is my number one reference guide and it contains a wealth of information pertaining to creating and maintaining a structured learning environment, learning styles and self teaching aides like skimming just to name a few. I need at least two cups of coffee daily in order to function properly, both mentally and physically. While having it, I do happy things like read and possibly respond to some of my e-mail. After I finally wake up, on days off from work, I complete some household chores, review past course material to build my confidence, or do a simple exercise for mind stimulation like play “Hangman” on my Franklin

Open Document