Going back to school as a non-traditional student can be a daunting experience. The last time I set foot in a classroom was ten years ago. Now, being enrolled in an online classroom, it is even more intimidating because not only do I have to get back into the groove of academia, but I also have to learn new technologies. This blog will reflect on my first four weeks back in school in regard to the new things I have learned and how I have personally developed from the Psychology of Motivation course.
New Things I Have Learned
During this first module at Independence University, I have learned a lot, both through the course material and experience as an online student. The most interesting and useful piece of information I have learned in the Psychology Motivation is the concepts associated with learning styles and personality types. Psychologists have developed ways to identify people through various personality categories, one being Myers -Briggs Type Indicator personality test (Ferret, 2012). This concept really resonated with me because knowing your personality type can be the first step in understanding who you are, or who you are perceived to be. With this information, one can take steps to change their behavior, thus changing their personality, or one can use it guide their decisions to complement their personality types (like finding jobs that complement certain personalities).
Another thing I learned from the first four weeks, was that education is important in life and the way it is consumed has changed. Education is important because it encourages critical thinking and prepares for life on the job (Ferret, 2012). Education is no longer consumed by students in a classroom while instructors give one-sided lectures. Education is now consumed through digital text, videos, and interactive components such as the daily check points. Education has broken the boundaries of space and time as one can learn from anywhere at any moment.
My Development
Throughout this four weeks, I have developed both personally and professionally. The chapter on time management has helped me developed personally as never thought I would have time to go to the gym. Up until recently, I have been placing going to the gym under discretionary time, the time that I considered free time. Now, I’ve made going to the gym a priority by placing it under my maintenance time, the time I spend maintaining myself (Ferret,2012).
The chapter on supportive and diverse relationships has helped me developed professionally because it has taught me the importance of effective communication and rapport. In this chapter, I learned to be an assertive communicator. Assertive communicators speak clear and concise, they express their feelings and use assertive body language (Ferret, 2012). Using these tips, I have noticed that I am more effective in the way I communicated with my team at work.
Conclusion
My first four weeks back in school has been an amazing experience. I have learned new ideas such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality test and how the landscape of education has changed. During these four weeks, I have also developed personally and professionally. I have learned to manage my personal time wisely by learning to differentiate between discretionary activities and maintenance activities. I have also developed professionally by being more assertive at work. Overall I believe that this course is a great start to my academic journey and personal development.
References
Ferret, S. K. (2012). Peak performance: Success in college and beyond (8th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Dru's Desk 