This assignment was a culmination of all of unit 2. It started by completing the unit 2 review sheet, which included the sheet from unit 1, plus unit 2. As a reminder, the unit 1 review asked to list technologies that were previously feared but are not currently feared, in which I listed the written word, chess, the phonograph, novels, newspapers, pencil erasers, bicycles, umbrellas, and pocket calculators.
The unit 2 portion of the review sheet was centered around the article written by professor Gernsbacher from unit 2 assignment 1. It asked me to list the 5 fundamental principles of learning in which internet-based higher education capitalizes. I cited the 5 from the article including how it can lead to better mastery, can optimize performance, can deepen memory, can promote critical thinking, and can enhance writing skills.
After this, we had to read through the term project instructions and write on the discussion board about some initial thoughts or ideas we had about the project. I wrote about how I thought the project was a great idea because it allows people to master the course content better and not procrastinate. I also wrote about wanting to do the whole course option, and considered maybe doing a daily journal through the medium of a blog, but I wasn’t sure at the moment.
Reflecting on this assignment, I think the review sheet is always a great idea. And since it is cumulative, not only was I able to better master some important information from this unit, but also from unit 1! This is an example of distributed learning again, and by the end of the course, I am sure I will remember a lot of the information we reviewed!
Additionally, it was valuable to take a look at the term project instructions this early in the course. Even if I didn’t have a firm idea of what I wanted to do, reading some of the expectations a well as potential ideas allowed me to start thinking along the lines of what I want to do. This is important so I won’t end up procrastinating and having my project end up lazily put together.
The combination of the review and the term project is very cool because it allows me to think simultaneously about the past in the course and the future in the course. It is interesting because I can think about what I already know, but also get excited about what I have yet to learn.
Even though this assignment didn’t include a lot of learning of new content, reviewing is just as important, and outlining future assignments is great too. I am getting used to the format of having 5 assignments where I learn and then one where I review, and I think it really sets me up to succeed and master the content!
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