Technology

In this class I have had a chance to use technology. I use the same technology daily for my job and it has not been a challenge, but fun.

Online learning is the only way I have been able to continue my education and I'm thankful for it. I plan to start taking some classes in person when I transfer to NAU, but for now this is it for me and I love it.

I think having an online English class is great. I find the feedback to be very specific about my work and I think that's a good thing. When we are asked to read other student's work and make comments, being able to type the comments out makes them more meaningful because we have to really think about what we are saying and how to say it.

I think having a blog to say what I thought or felt about the assignments was the most beneficial in class. This was where I could say what I thought about a reading or an assignment and it was my space to say it.

I also liked using Glogster and will use that again. I thought it was a good way to show creativity and not just write something. It gave work more meaning and allowed me to show my creativity and say more with pictures, color, and art, not just words.

I think the use of technology was great in this class and I'm thankful for it!

Final Presentation

Final presentation here:

Final Presentation

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Reflection On the Course

As I write this and have the chance to reflect on the course I think about the challenges I faced, what I enjoyed the most, and what I look forward to using.

First, I felt the course gave me an opportunity to write in a different perspective. Instead of doing research and proving a case or argument, I had to use my own thoughts, feelings, and insights to reach a conclusion. I learned that some literature is not for me and I also got to read a classic, Frankenstein, that I probably would have never taken the time to read. I found that piece to be challenging but I did enjoy it, just not in the romantic way that I think most of my classmates did.

The learning outcomes I think fit my results the best are; using an organizational strategy, identifying and evaluating multiple meanings and perspective, interpreting and analyzing text. I was able to do this in the poetry reading and really dissecting what I read and what forms of language were used. For Frankenstein, I was able to organize and create a strategy to tackle the assignment, and the final assignment that I chose on Zombies, I was able to tie it all in together.

My biggest challenges in the class were the writing assignments and not filling them up with too much summary. Also, I found it difficult when after working hard on an assignment I had a fellow classmate tell me I was basically wrong in my interpretation. It was hard to let go, especially after reading their work, but I overcame and decided they were having a hard enough go of it and not to respond.

This class has helped me to take more time and reflect on my reading and ask myself more questions when I am sitting down to analyze and then write.

Overall, I enjoyed the class and getting to keep up a blog. The extra credit was an excellent addition as well and when I watched a modern adaptation of Frankenstein it gave a whole new perspective on it that I enjoyed much more than just reading the book.

Thanks for a great semester!