did we get a board? I am going to post here I guess.

I cannot believe how badly school is stressing me out! I really didn't think it would at all. I never used to get stressed like this. I am taking 4 online courses and I quickly realized that they were going to take a lot of time! I completely paranoid about not having time to get all the work done, and a lot of the times I am reading, studying, etc, I have distractions so I feel like I am not even retaining anything! I was chugging away so well on a class yesterday and noticed an email on blackboard from a professor (sociology) that I had missed the assignment #1 due date!!! I couldn't believe it and I looked thru everything and realized that yep, I had misread the due date! Then I was stressed about doing it, and I don't even think I will get credit since it was late and he said in capitalized, bolded, underlined words "late assingments are not accepted". But I did it, and felt like my work was junk, and turned it in. This was a SMALL assignment, 5 out 450 points for the course, but I felt totally defeated by it all, and even today, have been avoiding logging into blackboard.... bleh. What happened to me???

I am only taking 2 online classes as with the kids and other things it is what I thought I could handle. I can see why you would be stressed being full time. I printed out both my instructors due date assignment schedules then I went into my google calender program and put all the dates in so they would all be in one place. This made it easier for me to see daily what assignments are coming up so I can have them done in time. At least you only missed a small assignment but still frustrating I know.

Awww, hugs mama. I quickly discovered that full time was an impossibility. It's all I can do to manage 6 credit hours. I also had to adopt the "a B is good enough" attitude. While I COULD apply myself and get A's in everything, what's the point? I usually end up with A's anyway, but I find that allowing myself that little wiggle room is helpful.

Also, do you have a planner? I found it harder to navigate online courses than f2f courses because it's WAY easier to miss stuff. At the beginning of the semester I write each assignment in my planner. It's easier to change things if they get switched around than it is to try to remember it all. Each Sunday I look 2 weeks ahead and try to get an idea that something is due into my head, lol. I look at my planner constantly throughout the week, but I set aside time on Sunday without fail.

Also, don't forget to communicate with instructors. Even some really rigid instructors will be accommodating and understanding if you communicate with them.

Well he emailed back saying no problem and he would accept it late.

The thing that frustrated me so much is I DID make a planner and put in all the due dates. I have 4 classes and 3 of the profs are utilizing blackboard really well. My sociology prof though isn't. He just keeps putting up stuff and making us download it. It makes it feel like I am taking a regular classs and just missing the lecture each week! Anyhow, I just misunderstood when it was due, so I had the wrong due date written.

It doesn't really MATTER if I pull all Cs. BUT, I killed my gpa going to school while running my business, and I really need to get close to all As to pull my gpa back up over 3.0. They counted all 12 credits of failing calculus. Sigh, wondering if I can appeal the school over that. I am not sure why they counted them, it said that they drop failing grades over 4 years old, and I am pretty sure it was over 4 years ago. I need to double check with them. My friend keeps telling me, "it doesn't matter, you only NEED a 2.5 to get into grad school and you know you can do awesome on your gmat." LOL I KNOW, but I have a thing, I am not used to not doing well in school.

do you think you need to reevaluate taking 4 classes? maybe you would be happier with 1/2 that?

I'm sorry. I'm teaching an online course (a sociology course, in fact, lol) right now, and I admire you for taking 4 at once, that is a pretty heavy load.

I killed my gpa going to school while running my business,

Aside--my reading comprehension today is apparently very low. I abbreviate "Grandpa" as "gpa" sometimes, and I'm reading this going, "what, how did she kill her grandpa running a business." Durrrrr.... LOL Now I get it. GPA. Ha.

That sounds like a huge courseload. In some ways I think online courses require more time for reading and doing assignments than a similar classroom based course would. I think most people have a class that they had issues with.

I think that online classes are more difficult. Well for me anyhow because I feel like there is more busy work given and I'm really not a good self motivator. I like blackboard though, it's a neat program when profs utilize it properly. I've had classes with a new syllabus, but the calendar was old..stuff like that can make it frustrating. 4 classes...so are you taking 12 credit hours? Some profs make it so that each class should take you 12 hours of work plus the same amount in study. Which I think is fair and usual but combined with spending time clicking around in blackboard and if you're forced to like I was, communicating with fellow students on the message board can be a time suck.

I also made a merged, color coded calendar in excel. I could print it off and have it handy. I found that if I left my assignments and computers online I would get distracted or feel like I had to run to it in order to catch up.

I'm taking classes on campus this quarter but after will take mostly online again. So I'd love to hear other ideas on online class management.

Oh and Jo said she'd give us a student forum. Maybe she'll see this and remember. I know she's been super busy lately.:heart smirk:

I'm taking 4 online this semester too. I find myself checking each class a lot to see if the teacher has changed anything or added something, etc. I keep a notebook and write down at the beginning of each week what I need to read and do in each class, and I check them off as I go, but I am always worried I'll forget something! It's the worst when instructors aren't really organized. I hope it smooths out for you soon!

Well, this isn't the first time I have done it! LOL So I knew what I was in for. They aren't hard, just very time consuming (online classes) which I knew. But, I have no childcare and the campus is an hour away and online tutition is a FRACTION of the cost of taking classes on campus. Honestly, when I think of taking on campus classes, dropping kids of at childcare, driving there, traffic, parking, walking to class.... That is also time consuming. So, it is a bit of a tradeoff.

Julie... I can't drop anything at this point. I really want to graduate in May and the only way to do that is to take 4 classes this fall and 4 in the spring. I can definitely do it lol just whining :) I used to take 15-18 credits at a time so I just need to get back into the groove. I haven't been in school for FOUR years, didn't realize it had been so long. Well, 3 1/2.

I just needed a reminder :)

It's set, I can move this post to be the first one if you'd like Emily.

~jo

Sure! Thanks so much Jo!!!! :hug:

Oh Mama, it sounds like you need a break! Is there anything you can do for you, calming, peaceful, rejuvenating kind of activity?

I know that I ALWAYS found it so disappointing in college when even though I'd done my best to be organized, I went and screwed up which assignment was do when.

Your an inspiration! I've been searching for distance ed classes without due dates, yk, where the entire course has to be finished by a certain date, but the inbetweens are whenever you turn them in, just because the thought of having to keep to a tight schedule scares me!

Wishing you a wonderful day :)
Rhea

Yep, this is the class with BY FAR the tightest schedule. Most of my other courses have due dates that weeks long (meaning turn it in sometime between here and then). Just need to get ahead.

why don't you just send truman to work with nate for a day or two a week...i bet you could get a lot accomplished that way :lol:

OMG Julie, that is the best idea ever!!!

LOL I love it!!!

No, actually, I already tried (but good thinking). LOL Nate's coworker brought her dog in all day and I was like, um, if she can bring her dog can you bring Truman? He was like, um, if Truman would behave as well as her dog does I am sure I could. ;) He did take the kids in ONCE (on a weekend or an evening) and it DID not go well.

Have you considered swapping with another mama? I am fortunate to have a friend who is also a student and we share childcare if necessary.

I forget if you're at a brick and mortar school or not, but if you are you might call the TANF office on campus and see if a single mom might need to swap. Even if it's sporadic or changes week to week it might still be worth it.

I am attending online... the campus is about an hour from here. I do have friends I switch with occasionally, I just really don't like watching other people's kids! LOL A good friend of mine is taking my kids tomorrow actually, God bless her!