Balancing The Penn Foster College Classroom

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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

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