Using Axia’s Educational Resources

The University Library is ‘one-stop shopping’ for all research needed throughout a college experience. The option to download lessons to a computer or portable devise will be a valuable time saver as I progress further in to the program.

Axia has made navigating the university library very easy by making everything easy to find. The most important tool is the Center for Writing Excellence (CWE). The links are there to help expand college writings; for example, WritePoint, Plagiarism Checker, and Tutorials and Guides.

Also found in the Library Resources are many resources that have accurate articles and information that I can cite as noted in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th edition). They are broken out in major and specialized articles. The major database can be used for broad searches and the specialized database can be used for specific searches.

Upholding Academic Honesty

According to www.dictionary.com (2009), plagiarism is the use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work. This includes self-plagiarism. It is school policy that all works be the student’s own original thoughts unless clearly cited. The University Library has tutorials on how to cite correctly in academic works. Plagiarism is a serious offence that carries serious consequences; for example, failure, suspension, or expulsion. To avoid plagiarism, I submit papers through the Plagiarism Checker in the CWE and adjust as-needed.

Setting and Achieving Goals

Setting goals is important as well as knowing how to identify them. The short-term goals should lead up to a long-term goal. The goals set should be attainable so one does not become overwhelmed and give up on them. Creating a contingency plan is a good idea because life happens. One of the goals I have set in to receive my Associate’s Degree to help me advance at my current I employer.

Managing Time Wisely

When the syllabus for an upcoming class is available, it includes a calendar that will help budget time so I can finish all assignments without the added stress of last-minute crunching. I import the class calendar into my Outlook calendar and synch with my Palm so I have my assignment schedule at my fingertips wherever I am. I find that doing this exercise helps me to prioritize and avoid time-wasting. I also cross-reference my schedule with my son’s high school extracurricular schedule. Importing my schedule with my son’s schedule on the same calendar helps me identify overlaps ahead of time so I can plan ahead. When I have overlapping events, I can use my lunch hour to do assignments. I also have the flexibility to work from home that frees up 90 minutes I would normally spend on my commute. I can also use that time for assignments.

Fostering Reading Comprehension and Retention

Comprehending and retaining what is read is essential when creating college papers. Using the Survey Question, Read, Recall, and Review (SQ3R worksheet Appendix G Gen 105 syllabus) reading technique is a good way to breakdown what is read to ensure there is a complete understanding the piece. I read with a highlighter handy to mark off important key points I think I may need to revisit later. At the beginning of each week, take the time to skim through and prioritize the reading assignments. By doing this simple step helps me to schedule my time so I am not rushing at the last-minute to cram all my reading in.

Applying Personality and Learning Styles

My learning style is still a work in progress. Knowing that I am an organizer/giver provides me with starting point to develop academically and personally. I deal with different personality types every day in my job as a customer service representative. I have learned to read callers voices so I know how to proceed with the issue at hand.