Category: Uncategorized

It’s Been One Week…..

Well almost!  It’s almost been one week since the official start of my new very mature student learning experience.  What’s it been like so far for everyone?

I suspect for some members of our course, especially those staying on campus and/or studying full time,  the previous week has been hanging out, getting free stuff, meeting people, a few parties and wondering what’s going to happen when the course really gets going.

For me and my fellow distance learners with families, careers, and a host of conflicting demands I imagine it’s been business as usual with the added bonus of self reflection in  “what the hell have I done?” and “what the hell am I going to do about it?”

What I’ve been doing is some serious planning about how I’m going to fit my two units (ACCT11059 and LAWS11030) around work and life in general.  Success in these units seems to be, if not guaranteed, very likely if you can fit in 12.5 hours of study time per week for every unit.  Where do you find the hours?

I’ve had to make a few sacrifices, I’ve cut my running schedule way down to maintenance program of 20 -25k per week and locked that time in.  As for entertainment, that’s going to be a rare coin in future.  No more Netflix binges for me.

My day now looks like this.  It starts not with a run, but with hitting the books, PeerWise etc.  Lunchtime is at my desk (I hate eating at my desk!) on Moodle, reading and thinking about KCQ’s.  Evening is normal domestic stuff and then back to the books.

Lather, rinse and repeat.  This routine I feel is essential,  as without discipline and sacrifice nothing worthwhile is achieved.  I also know what I did the last time.  Hint, it wasn’t what I just described.

Tertiary study is hard.  It’s hard if you’re straight out of school and it’s hard if you’re coming back into it again or for the first time from the workplace.  Thing is, it’s supposed to be hard.  If it was easy everyone would do it.  But they don’t and we are.

We’re all here for many different reasons, but we all want the same outcome, we all want the degree qualification along with the learning and personal growth experiences that come with it

As the course progresses we will all have great moments of clarity and positive results.  We will also experience some not so great moments.  Those times when we can’t quite grasp the subject or an assignment doesn’t quite work out the way we want.  At these times we’ll wonder why are we doing this?  This is perfectly normal.

All being well (through planning, hard work etc.) the great moments will be far more plentiful than the not great moments and we will learn, overcome and succeed in our goals.

Unfortunately sometimes those not great moments can be a significant challenge, especially when taken into context of our busy lives.

We have over 300 students on our unit so one very important thing to remember is that wherever you are and whatever stage you are at on the course or in the unit you are definitely not alone.

So my advice is this;  if you need support, whatever the circumstances, don’t be shy in reaching out.  Chances are someone has the same question, the same worry and once that’s been shared you’ll be one step closer to sorting it out.  As Martin makes it quite clear, the lone ranger approach is not cool.

The last words; communicate, interact, share and together we will be successful.  Enjoy the studying everyone.

support and guidance

 

What’s it like being a student?

I remember now! Lots and lots of reading, note taking and rereading to check understanding. And too much drinking.

Today has been a bit of an odd one. Last Saturday my eldest daughter drove herself to Rockhampton (I was taking the other three to a swim meet in Nosa) and my wife was sick, to spend a week training as an Assistant Resident Associate on campus. Very proud of her as she starts her Bachelor of Oral Health Therapy shortly.

Today we went up from Bundy, with a few things she’d forgotten, to make sure she was settled in, take the car back, say cheerio and wish her good luck. When she got her place at CQU I hadn’t intended on studying myself. Funny how things work out! Now we have two students at different parts of CQU doing very different courses in very different ways.

What was excellent today is that we were fortunate to be addressed by the new Vice Chancellor of CQU Nick Klomp. In this short address I was very impressed with both the university and the VC and very pleased my daughter and I have decided to be with CQU. I don’t recall ever meeting the VC of my uni 28 years ago, so it was very refreshing. I have to say was extremely impressed with the campus, the facilities and the staff I met today.

While I was driving up I was able to reflect on my previous learning style. To be honest it wasn’t good. I had a great time at uni, got my degree (and a wife) but on balance not enough planning went in to my studies.

Now with a very busy full time job (breweries don’t design themselves you know), three competitive swimmers who train in Hervey Bay, a need to stay fit and healthy, and doing two units this term, time is of a premium. These days I’m probably the worst Brewer in the world as I now drink very little, so I’m not going to replicate my misspent student youth. Which is definitely a bonus.

A plan is going to be essential. Chris has shared a link to a Gannt Chart programme that I will definitely be taking full advantage of. Without a plan, failure is a likely outcome.

It also looks like it will be appropriate to grab whatever extra time I can to reread chapters, check notes, write questions and keep striving for badges on Peer Wise.

Fortunately the subject matter in this unit and in the Business Law unit I’m doing is very interesting so I don’t see this as a chore. My worry is I enjoy it too much and forget to go for a run. Hence a plan and the need for balance.

In terms of progress so far this week I’ve knocked over the introduction, up to section 1.3 of Chapter 1 of the study guide, answered a few on Peer Wise and put a couple up as well. Of all of that I think creating questions has been the trickiest so far, but that’ll get better with practice.

I realise it’s very early days and we’ve not properly started yet, so far I’m enjoying what I’m seeing, looking forward to more, knowing a plan is required and getting excited about creating that plan and taking it through to a successful outcome.

Happy Studies.