Visualize

I am extremely excited about this DS106 class. It seems like a great way for a lot of people to do really well in this class. I feel it caters to the needs of every student. You can choose what assignment you do and do that assignment how you want. Everyone has a different style of learning, may it be visual, hands on, aural, or speaking, and this course really allows you to be able to do something that works for you.

I have always been a hands on and a visual learner. It was always hard for me to be interested in the class if I couldn’t be hands on with the work. I think that’s why art and colorguard come so easily for me. In art I can get my hands in the paint, or on a paintbrush, and in guard I actually have the flag in my hand. History and English was not my top subjects because it was so hard to sit and listen to someone lecture about stuff that happened years ago, or to write a paper on something that I was not interested in. This course gives you a range of things to choose from, so you are able to do what actually interests you.

I looked through the DS106 page and I have found quite a few things I would absolutely love to do. I was planning on doing one this week with my blog post but I got caught up in a lot of other stuff.  I cannot wait to do some of these photography projects. DE familiarize is the assignment I am most excited about doing. You take ten photos of things that are familiar to you but you take them at odd angles, or edit them to make them look unfamiliar! I absolutely cannot wait to do this assignment.  Normal to Extraordinary is also another assignment I would like to do. Take normal photo of a friend, and then with the next photo make them look extraordinary! You could throw some glitter and some paint on them, or even dress them up. I am excited to be creative!

I think this is an AMAZING website. Whoever came up with this type of course is an absolute genius. There are so many assignments to choose from. You have such a wide variety of topics. It should really not be hard to find something that sounds fun but at the same time can educate you. It’s also great that you can receive feedback on your work. All in all I am extremely excited to do a few of these assignments. If we had a class here at JSU like this I would be enrolled!!!

Techknowldgy

What was it like when we didn’t have itty-bitty cell phones, or computers that we could carry around in our backpacks? How did we survive? It’s a question I often ask myself. We were a generation that grew up in the midst of a t technology revolution. We wonder how people ever lived without being plugged in at all times. Our generation is connected at al times, whether it be via Facebook, Twitter, text messaging or Internet, most of us are connected 24/7. But what if we went a day without our technology?

We are so connected to the world it seems like we forget to take the time to appreciate the things that we tend to forget about. Like how the sun shines on a beautiful day in Jacksonville, or how the grass is green. We take so many little things for granted and we don’t realize it. I grew up playing outside and eating whatever came out of the garden that week. The first time I remember using a computer was in third grade. Until then I had no idea they basically existed. And now, I can’t even go to school without my computer.

 I wonder how my dad did it when he attended Mercer? I know he used computer labs and everything, but that was such a long time ago. They didn’t have online classes and hybrid classes like we do now. He didn’t have access to email and Google+ like we do. Imagine how hard it was for him to complete his work when he had to type something and 6 other people were trying to use a computer.

Then I look at my situation. Being in an online class and having to do assignments online. Our classes are listed online, we don’t have to go and register in person for them. Click a few buttons and it’s done. Then we complain when we have every thing we need for success at our fingertips. Then I look at my brothers. Tanner who is 9 and Tate who is 7, and I cant even fathom how different their schools are going to be when they get into high school or college. My brother knew how to use a Mac by the time he was five. Can schools possibly get any more advanced than they already are? Of course they can. It seems like eventually we won’t even have to leave our homes to go to school. How easy will it be for them?

I think its crazy how things can change so rapidly in just a few years. From no one having a laptop, to almost everyone having one. How much easier can school get for us? But my real question is how much will future generations complain when they have everything at their fingertips?

Passion

A lot of people say you have to go through things that you don't enjoy to get to the things that you do enjoy. Just recently I have fell victim to this. Doing things that I do not enjoy to be able to do those things that I have a passion for. As I have stated in a previous blog post I never liked school. To this day Its not one of my favorite things. I think if I didn't need an education to be successful in life I am not entirely sure I would be here today. Although I know school is important for my future, I am also here because of another reason.

Some of you may or may not know that I am a Southerner. I don't play an instrument but I am in the guard. The things with the flags, ya know? Well thats colorguard. For the past five years I have marched fall and winter seasons. During fall its normal Marching Band, and during winter its something called Winterguard (its more about the guard and not the band!). I was captain my senior year (fall and winter seasons!). And here at JSU I am apart of the Southerners colorguard. I never found such a passion in something as I found in being in guard. It has slowly taken over my life, and slowly become something I cannot live without. This winter season I was not able to march, and its killing me. Although it was probably a good thing so I could focus on school it still kills me when I hear people talk about how good their show is, or how much fun they are having.

Until recently my grades never had an effect on if I could march or not. This upcoming marching season its different. I have to have a 2.5 GPA to be able to march on the guard. When I heard this it completely changed my outlook on school and my grades. Grades had never been more important to me. And with the news I received last night(I cant say what the news is but its freaking amazing!), grades are my top priority right now. It is so important to me to do well in classes the rest of this semester and during the May and Summer terms. Right now, school has never been more important to me. Grades have never been more of a priority.

I could lie and say that I came here to go to school, but thats not the real reason. I came for the band. I came to fulfill my passion. This is why school is so important to me, and why I try my hardest to do everything I can to do well in school. While some people are here just to be here, I am here for a reason. I am here working my butt off to be part of something that I can not live without.