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Showing posts from August, 2020

Week 2 Reading Overview

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Choose from CLASSICAL and/or BIBLICAL units for Weeks 3 and 4. Week 3: ___ Iliad__ ____ Week 4: _____ Odyssey ____ Choose from MIDDLE EASTERN and/or INDIAN units for Weeks 5 and 6. Week 5: ____ Ancient Egyptian Stories _____ Week 6: _________ 22 Goblins Choose from ASIAN and/or AFRICAN units for Weeks 7 and 9. [Week 8 is review week.] Week 7: _________ China Week 9: _________ Jamaica Choose from NATIVE AMERICAN units for Weeks 10 and 11. Week 10: _________ Alaska Week 11: _________ Hero tales Choose from BRITISH and/or CELTIC units for Weeks 12 and 13. Week 12: _________ Robin Hood Week 13: _________ Alice Choose from EUROPEAN units for Weeks 14 and 15. Week 14: _________ Czech Week 15: _________ Russian I was surprised that I was able to pick out all of my reading options! I don't remember having so many choices last semester :) but I love that I'm able to pick out the readings, and also have a general idea of what I can look forward to for the semester.  Each week ther

Time Strategies

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 The first article I chose to write about is called " How to build a realistic study plan that you'll actually stick to."   I'm sure it's probably self-evident as to why I've chosen this one : ) although I always plan on getting ahead for studying for exams, that rarely if ever happens.  One of the most important parts of the introduction to this article, at least for me, was the ability to keep yourself accountable through the creation of a study plan.  It's easy to say that I'll finish assignments whenever I have the time, especially for my online classes, but that's definitely and idealistic way to approach getting coursework done.  This article was helpful in that it didn't encourage specific time intervals for studying--it instead details how everyone studies differently.  This made me realize that perhaps I haven't found that time frame in which I can sit down and work on school and I will be the most productive.  I may need to try so

technology tools

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 This semester I'm going to reflect on the technology tools that I used from lat semester.  I am also going to share my thoughts about taking this class again! I remember many of the tools on blogger were new to me last semester.  Despite this, the tech tools were easy to learn and super beneficial in the long run.  For instance, learning to make bookmarked folders (even though this isn't on blogger, I still learned about this feature last semester in the class!) made the class very efficient when I would set out to work on readings or assignments.  I love being able to go directly to the folder to search for images or really work on anything at all related to the class.  This tech tool is something that will continue to be useful even in other classes or out of school!  I love the labels feature on blogger-it really ensures the organization of all of my posts! Prior to this class I wasn't ever accustomed to inserting links and finding pictures that I'd be allowed to us

Assignments

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 Since I wrote about the overview of the assignments last semester, this time around I'm going to reflect on how I felt about particular assignments and maybe some extra credit options.  Last year I said I was most intrigued by the storybooks.  After browsing through the storybooks again this semester, I can see why that was the case.  I love how each project is completely unique in design and theme depending on the student.  Thinking back on last semester's class, though I found storybook assignments to sometimes be time-consuming, I also found them to be the most fulfilling.  I absolutely loved writing some of my stories; it's fun to be goofy and let loose! And I love that there are no rules or laws of physics in my storybook :) I'm looking forward to working on the project again this semester.  I liked the blog comments/feedback portion of the class because it let me feel like I was getting to know students better even though everything is virtual.  It was also const

Growth Mindset

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Since I did the growth mindset orientation last semester in the Indian Epics class, this time around I decided to instead write about two new videos that I found on the Growth Mindset Playlist.  The first video I am writing about is called "Which mental 'deficits' are really hidden strengths?" The title of the video was really intriguing to me when I was first skimming through the playlist.  I enjoyed what Heather Heying had to say pretty much from the start--she points out the diversity of humans.  I liked how she did this in terms of our brains all having different connections, strengths and weaknesses.  It made me think about how important our brains really are for our outward physical reactions/interactions.  The word she uses to discuss all of this is neurodiversity.  I quite like that word! It's a new one, but it has a nice ring to it.  She then begins to discuss different cases of being the "non-dominant phenotype."  Some of these cases include th

Introduction ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ : )

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  Hello! My name is Christian.  My major is biology and I transferred into OU from a small school in Memphis.  Originally my major was Civil Engineering, but it took me about a month to realize I really didn't enjoy those classes and I did not want to think about concrete the rest of my life.  I picked biology for the simple reason that it was the subject that interested me the most; I really had no idea what I would want to do with a degree in biology.  It's still been hard for me to truly decide what I'd like to do after college, seeing as I always knew I wouldn't want to do medical school or some other long, arduous program.  Just recently I have become more fascinated with the growing field of biotechnology.  I'm looking to move in that direction after I graduate. This summer I got a job doing research at OMRF.  Although I love the work I get to do there, I'm not sure if I want to commit to working in a lab in the long-term just yet.        Growing up, I lov

My Storybook Favorites

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 The first storybook that caught my eye is called El Salvador Legends .  The home page of this storybook is striking from the start--the background picture is a tumble of stormy, dark clouds.  This immediately set a powerful and ominous tone.  And I became instantly intrigued! :) This topic isn't entirely new. I remember finding this storybook last semester and I was entranced immediately.  The title is brilliant; I think it's concise and appropriate for what lies ahead if you dare to venture further into the realm of Salvadorian folklore. What I remember the most about this storybook from last year is its introduction.  The setting and dialogue of the introduction last semester--as well as today--made me feel as though I too was sitting in the living room listening to Abuelito Tomas' childhood tales.  The dialogue in particular, a combination of Spanish and and English, gave this storybook a feeling of authenticity for me.  This kind of authenticity is something that I wou

My Favorite Place: Cairns, Australia

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 Ten years ago I traveled to Australia with my brother, father, and grandfather.  Several years before this trip, my grandfather had saved up his money to support my sick grandmother if she needed to have extended stays in a hospital or nursing home.  Sadly, her health deteriorated quickly and she passed away before she ever needed assisted living in a nursing home. My grandfather, having saved a fair sum of money, decided he wanted to take his grandchildren traveling around the world.  This trip to Australia would be the first of several travels outside of the United States.  Though we traveled to several cities within Australia, including Sydney, I remember the city of Cairns as my favorite stop on the trip.  In fact, I now remember it as my favorite place.  It was a beach town, with beautiful white sand beaches and delicious sea food.  I was able to snorkel around the Great Barrier Reef with my brother and father, and we even spotted a small shark.  To this day, I know for a fact th

My First Post

 Welcome to my first post!  Enjoy right now, today.