Distance Dish from Tom Avery
May 12, 2008
Happy Summer Everyone!
My congratulations go out to all those who graduated on Friday evening. I also congrutalate all those who successfully completed their Spring classes.
While it may not feel like Summer this morning, today marks the beginning of the Summer semester at IU East. Both Summer I six-week classes and Summer 12 week classes begin today. Please log-in to your course today to check your classes announcements, syllabi, and assignments. This is especially important if you are enrolled in a six-week class as they move at a quickened pace. Also, please remember that I am available to answer any of your distance education questions and to assist you. My phone number is (765) 973-8312 and my email is thavery@indiana.edu.
As always, good luck in everything you do!
Tom
April 24, 2008
Hello Everyone!
Well, final exams will soon be upon us. I hope your semester has gone well and that your finals go just as well. In thinking about taking finals, I thought it might be wise to devote this update to discussing study skills. Even though I write this column with distance education students in mind, what I discuss today can be applied to any class; distance or face-to-face.
- Schedule time to study: Do not fall in to the habit of studying only when you have time to study. Actually schedule blocks of time to devote to studying and do not allow other commitments to interfere with that time.
- Slow and steady wins the race: Do not wait until the last minute to study for an exam and then pull a marathon study session. It will wear you out and make you exhausted when it actually comes time to take it. Rather, schedule smaller blocks of time over several days to study.
- Find a place to study that works best for you: Some people need complete quiet to study. Others (myself included) need background noise to force their attention on the task at hand. To me, silence is deafening. Determine what works best for you and make sure you have access to that environment to study in.
- Take study breaks: Once again, this is determined by individual style, but always be aware of when your attention to the material is waning. That may occur after one-half hour or two hours depending on the individual. When this happens, take a break. Get something to eat or drink. Come back to the material in five or ten minutes when you are refreshed. Just be sure to come back!
- Have someone else quiz you or quiz yourself: Do not just assume that since you have studied something that you know it. Have someone ask you questions about the material. Recalling information will help you to remember it and the material that you have difficulty recalling can be the emphasis for further studying. You can also make up questions to ask yourself. Try to write down the answer without looking at your notes. Then compare your answer to your notes. Writing down material helps you to remember it and also highlights the information that you may need to devote more time to.
- Ask for help: There is still a week before exams. If you do not understand something or need clarification, now is the time to meet with your instructor for assistance.
These are just a few suggestions for effective studying. Indiana University East’s Tutorial Services can assist you in developing good study habits as well. They are located in Springwood Hall room 202 and their phone number is (765) 973-8313. Also remember that I am available to answer any of your distance education questions and to assist you. My phone number is (765) 973-8312 and my email is thavery@indiana.edu.
As always, good luck in everything you do!
Tom
April 11, 2008
Hello Everyone!
The weather here in Indiana is finally feeling like Spring even though the Spring 2008 semester will soon be at an end. I hope everyone's classes are going well and please remember to contact your intstructor if you are having any difficulties.
I want to take this opportunity to remind you that Summer and Fall enrollment is now in full swing. Please remember that many online classes fill quicker than their on-campus counterparts and some Summer online classes are already beginning to fill up. In order to ensure your place in the classes of your choice, please be sure to register soon.
Please be sure to consult with your academic advisor if you have any questions as to which classes you should take for your major. As always, if you have any questions about our online offerings, or need assistance registering for them, please feel free to call me at (765) 973-8312 or e-mail me at thavery@indiana.edu.
Until next time, good luck in all that you do!
Tom
March 31, 2008
Hello All!
Registration for the Summer and Fall 2008 semesters began for continuing students this past Monday, March 24th. Open registration for all students began on Friday, March 28th. By now you should have either met with an advisor or have made plans to do so. If you are considering distance education classes, please read the rest of this update very carefully.
It is a fact that not all students are equally suited to taking distance education classes. Before considering distance education, you should ask yourself a few questions:
- Am I self motivated or do I need someone else to motivate me?
- Do I tend to get started early on assignments or do I procrastinate?
- Can I learn on my own from reading or do I need classroom discussion to help me understand concepts?
- Am I comfortable with technology?
- Do I have good time management skills?
- Can I schedule time alone each week to keep up with my classes?
- Do I have a place in my home, or elsewhere, where I can do my coursework?
If you answered no to any of those questions, distance education may not be the best option for you. There is nothing wrong with needing the outside motivation and in-class discussion of a traditional classroom based course. It just means that you may not be suited to online learning. Please see http://webdev.iue.edu/de/ for more information about distance education courses including an online Distance Education Readiness Survey. As always, if you have any questions or need assistance please feel free to call me at (765) 973-8312 or e-mail me at thavery@indiana.edu.
Until next time, good luck in all that you do!
Tom
March 20, 2008
Good Morning Everyone!
I realize that most of you are on Spring break, but I just wanted to post a reminder that priority registration for Summer and Fall semester classes begins on Monday the 24th. Please check Onestart for your priority registration time. A complete listing of all the IU East distance education courses is available here.
If you have any questions about how any of the courses will fit into your degree plan, please make an appointment to see your academic advisor as soon as possible. Online courses fill rapidly. As always, if you have any questions or need assistance please feel free to call me at (765) 973-8312 or e-mail me at thavery@indiana.edu.
Until next time, good luck in all that you do!
Tom
March 4, 2008
Hello All!
We are into the first week of March and that means that the period when most instructors require midterm exams has begun. There are many ways that exams can be administered in an online course. Some instructors will allow you take an exam online on you home computer with time limits. Some do not have time limits. Some instructors require what is called a proctored exam where someone supervises you as you take your exam. If your instructor requires a proctored exam, it is likely that they have made arrangements with the IU East testing service to have the exam administered during certain hours. You can click on the Testing Service link on this page to sign up for a time slot.
You may be asking yourself; “I signed up for an online course so I wouldn’t have to come to campus so do I need to come for an exam”? We have made provisions for you to take a proctored exam if it is impossible for you to make it to campus due to distance or time constraints. You may request a Proctor Agreement Form from me and then find a person to proctor the exam for you. This person may be a teacher or administrator at a local school or community college. They may also be a librarian, clergy member, or personnel director at your place of employment. They can not be close relatives or friends. You and your desired proctor will complete the form and return it to me. Your instructor will then make the decision to approve your proctor and then make arrangements to have your exam sent to your proctor to be given at a convenient time.
If you have any questions about test proctoring or need a Proctor Agreement Form, or other assistance with online learning, please feel free to call me at (765) 973-8312 or e-mail me at thavery@indiana.edu.
Until next time, good luck in all that you do!
Tom
February 26, 2008
Hello Everyone!
We are coming up on the midpoint of the Spring 2008 semester and I hope everything is going well in all of your classes. As always, if you are having any difficulties or have questions please contact your instructor, you advisor, or me for assistance. We all are willing and able to help you in any way that we can.
Even though you may be concentrating on your spring classes, now is also the time to begin thinking about summer and fall classes. The class schedules are currently available on the Registrar’s website for both semesters. Early registration will begin on March 24th and open registration begins on March 28th. Now is the time to begin thinking about the time you will have available for classes and the classes you will need to take to fulfill your degree requirements. Now is also the time to make an appointment with your academic advisor for assistance with building your schedule keeping in mind that Spring Break is between now and registration. Most offices will be open to assist you during Spring Break but many faculty members will be away during that time.
If you have any questions or need assistance please feel free to call me at (765) 973-8312 or e-mail me at thavery@indiana.edu.
Until next time, good luck in all that you do!
Tom
February 8, 2008
Hello Everyone!
Now that the semester is in full swing and we are settling in to our classes, I want to take the time to remind you of the benefits of being an IU East student outside of the classroom. Being a student at IU East can involve so much more than simply attending classes. Unfortunately, many distance education students have the mistaken notion that only students attending traditional on-campus classes can participate in campus and student events. This is simply not the case.
There are a wide variety of activities taking place on campus including presentations by faculty on topics of special interest, monthly celebrations of diverse cultures, weekly screenings of films, and the Lively Arts Series that brings artists such as musicians, choral groups, and comedians to campus. Also, IU East has intercollegiate athletic teams competing in Women’s Volleyball, Men’s Basketball, and Golf as part of NAIA and Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Several additional sports will be added in the very near future.
IU East also has a variety of student organizations, volunteer opportunities, and recreational activities to become involved with. Even though you may be a student taking distance classes, you are still an IU East student and are entitled to participate in any of these activities. These are fun, you get to meet new people, and they provide a break from studying. In addition, employers love to see campus involvement and volunteer work on a resume. Be sure to check with the Office of Campus Life for more details.
In addition to the various campus activities that you may participate in, there are a variety of student services available to assist you. The Campus Career Center can assist you in choosing a major and finding a job. Tutorial Services provides tutoring in math, writing, and reading. Student Support Services assists first-generation college students and Disability Services provides assistance to qualified individuals. Of course, Academic Advising is available to assist you with planning your class schedule and other academic issues. These are just a few of the services offered to IU East students. If you have any questions about these services, please contact any of the offices listed below please feel free to call me at (765) 973-8312 or e-mail me at thavery@indiana.edu.
Academic Advising: (765) 973-8235
Career Services: (765) 973-8253
Campus Life: (765) 973-8240
Student Support Services: (765) 973-8310
Tutorial Services: (765) 973-8341
Until next time; good luck in all you do!
Tom
