EDUC 4150 Q & A - The Power of Belief

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• What are the challenges for you as an online student?

A majority of courses I have taken have been face to face or blended learning. I am currently facing two challenges as an online student. (1) I am a procrastinator who does well with specific direction from an instructor. Without specific deadlines during a 3-month course, I find it difficult to motivate myself to complete assignments. (2) Work / sick balance combined with not wanting to negatively affect students created problems with the time I set aside to complete assignments. I became sick mid way during a 7-week course. Due to circumstances beyond my control I was the only person in the company available to teach the course. It affected my study time. I would go home and sleep instead of study.

• How are you going to deal with these challenges?

Challenge (1) has been mitigated / dealt by having a motivating conversation with my instructor. By the end of our discussion, I was given a specific deadline to complete course material. This deadline motivated me! I have studied 2 hours each night since the conversation. In the future, I will need to set specific goals at the beginning of the course to help me achieve specific deadlines. What I learned with challenge (2) is I need to contact my instructors when I encounter problems that could affect my ability to complete a course.

• What has been your most important learning to date?

I have been reluctant to utilize technology for work and in my personal life. I believed that due to being raised without electricity and computers, I was a luddite and computers, blogging, the internet and even eLearning was all beyond my abilities. I was introduced to Carol Dweck’s Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset in the Provincial Instructor Diploma Program (PIDP). Carol Dweck found

"Effort is key for students’ achievement, but it’s not the only thing. Students need to try new strategies and seek input from others when they’re stuck. They need this repertoire of approaches—not just sheer effort—to learn and improve (Dweck, 2015)" 

Based on her writing, I chose to challenge my beliefs. My most important learning to date has been about how humans have the ability to change their beliefs. For me, it was a gradual and sometimes painful experience. However, there was success in the end, by spending time learning the basics of computers, the internet and our work place LMS. In 2016 it took 20 hours to create a blog. Unlike my preconceived idea that a blog was a waste of time, this blog became a creative outlet that gave me the venue to express my passion. I no longer believe I am a luddite and now find myself wanting to explore technology!

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The Power of Belief

The way we understand our intelligence and abilities deeply impacts our success.

Works Cited

Dweck, C. (2015). Carol Dweck Revisits the "Growth Mindset" (Vol. 35). Education Week.