grand canyon unv103 Module 4 Journal Entry assignment september 2013

Module 4
Journal Entry Form
Journal
Background:
To reflect on what you have read or studied so far
in a course is an essential part of understanding.This journal entry form will
provide a place for you to take some time and reflect on the prompt below.

Journal
Instructions:
A GCU student learns that personal accountability is
vital to success in academics as well as in a chosen career field. Demonstrate
your understanding of personal accountability by pickingtwoof thefollowing stories and answering theapplicable questions
after each. Then, answer the wrap-up
questions.

______________________________________________________________________
Story 1: Susie
Single Mom
Susie enrolled in the online Bachelors of Science in
Marketing program at GCU in the fall of 2010. She is a single mom with two
children under the age of 10 and she works fulltime as a cashier for Target.

Susie graduated with honors from high school, but got
married and had children early so she wasnot able to attend college like all
her high school friends. After being married for 8 years, she now finds herself
as a single mom with no college degree.

Susie decided to attend GCU online because she dreams of
starting her own business one day and wants to provide a better life for
herself and her children. She enrolled in online courses because they are
convenient for her. But she is finding it hard to manage her time due to her
job hours and her children’s afterschool activities. She works nights three
days a week and days twice a week so she often does her homework late at night.
Although she enjoys chatting with classmateson the Class Wall, she lacks
support from family and friends. Using the online library is a challenge for
her as well because she has trouble navigating in the LoudCloud classroom.

Now, after completing two courses online, Susieis
considering dropping the program because of the stress, coursework, and lack of
family support. Shereally doesnot want to quit school because she is a good
student and knows that a college degree can make a difference in her life, but
she is extremely frustrated.

Story 1 Questions:
1. What
GCU resources could Susie have used to discuss her frustrations with someone at
GCU?

2. What
tools/resources could Susie have used to help her manage her time better? How
could she have prepared for unforeseen problems?

3. How
could people at GCU, including her instructor, have assisted Susie throughout
her time at GCU?

_________________________________________________________________________
Story 2: Mark,
the Married Dad
Mark, married with two teenagers, works full time as a
computer tech and although he enjoys his job, he wants to become a Physician
Assistant and earn more money to send his kids to college. Mark started working
right out of high school, so he never tookany college courses, but he recently
read that individuals with college degrees earn more money. So, even though he
has family commitments and plays basketball in a city league on the weekends,
he decided to enroll at GCU online.

Even though Mark was comfortable with computers, he still
contacted his academic counselor (AC) before his course started to go through
the online classroom in LoudCloud because he had never taken an online course.
After “walking” through his class, Mark decided to e-mail his instructor to ask
about the course. Mark felt better after communicating with his instructor
because his instructorprovided some study tips for Mark as well as instructions
on how to submit assignments in the LoudCloud classroom. Mark then bought extra
printer supplies-paper and ink cartridges- so he would be prepared. He also
downloaded all course materials ahead of time.

After taking two courses online, Mark felt so at ease
navigating through LoudCloud and the GCU Web site, that he was able to assist
his fellow classmates with LoudCloudon the Class Wall.He also posted on the Class
Wall some tips he learned about time management and resources he gathered from
the GCU Web site. Mark found a “technology buddy” in the Discussion Forum who
could contact the instructor for him in case he experienced computer problems. Most
importantly, he was able to network about career opportunities with his
classmates in the Discussion Forum. After completing his first two courses
online, Mark had confidence to complete the degree program and graduated with
honors from GCU with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

Story 2 Questions:
1. What
did Mark do to ensure success at GCU?

2. What
resources did Mark take advantage of to assist him in completing his course?

3. Why
is it important to be prepared before class starts?

4. How
can you prepare beforehand to succeed in your courses at GCU?

_________________________________________________________________________
Story 3: Harry,
the High School Graduate
Harry flew through high school with little effort and low
grades. He was satisfied with average and below average grades as long as he
could spend his free time playing video games. Harry approaches college with a
similar view, not seriously considering the worth of college in terms of his
future. Pressure from his single mom, who has a high school diploma and works
two jobs, compels him to try college. But high school was easy, so why would
college be any more difficult?

He registered for two courses at GCU online and
immediately had problems with turning in assignments on time, classmate
responses to his posts in the discussion forum, and his grades. The feedback
from the instructor seemed brutal. Harry’s spelling, grammar, and writing style
were the major targets of the instructor’s comments. Taking notes online proved
to be a challenge for Harry as was using the GCU library because the online
classroom was so different than the campus setting he was used to.

Harry considered dropping out of college, because the college
route “wasn’t for him.” But he decided to e-mail his instructor to ask
questions about the feedback on his assignments. His instructor encouraged him
to stay in school and use GCU resources to change his bad habits and improve
his skills. Harry listened to his instructor’s advice and visited the Student
Success Center where he made an appointment with a GCU tutor.

The tutor provided some writing tips, study strategies,
and note-taking advice for the online classroom. The tutor also connected Harry
to the librarian, who explained how the GCU library can help students.Harry began
to feel better about completing his degree program. With his new strategies in
place, Harry completed his courses and looked forward to the next ones.

Story 3 Questions:
1. What
must Harry do to be more successful at GCU?

2. What
resources can Harry use to get him back on track?

3. What
resources can Harry use to improve the quality of his assignments?

4. What
mustHarry do to master skills while completing the degree?

5. How
could he have prepared for unforeseen problems?

__________________________________________________________________________
Story 4: Frank
the Fulltime Yuppie
Frank excelled in high school and planned ahead for years
to attend college. He earned scholarships to GCU and graduated with a Bachelor
of Science in Business Administration. After working for two years for a large corporation,
Frank decided it was time to move up in his career because he wanted to earn
more money.

As a young entry-level professional, he decided to head
back to GCU and earn a Master of Business Administration in Leadership degree
online. Frank jumped right into his first two courses with his usual
enthusiasm, but began to struggle with how to manage his time. His work hours
kept him at work until late, so he had to find time to study during breaks. The
online environment was new to him and confused him at times. The course work
was harder than he anticipated, so he struggled with tests and some homework
assignments, as well as with using the GCU library.

Frustrated, Frank quickly contacted his academic
counselor(AC) and explained his issues. His AC referred him to the Student
Success Center in the LoudCloud classroom where Frank was able to view some tutorials
about the library, learn writing tips, and gather tools for success at GCU. She
also showed Frank how to utilize the GCU Web site resources, chat with
classmates about what time management strategies they use, and call his
instructor with questions about assignments.

As a result, Frank stayed in his degree program and
learned how to problem solve using GCU resources as a tool. Frank will graduate
in 2012 with his master’s degree and pursue that manager position he has always
dreamed about.

Story 4 Questions:
1. What
could Frank have done better to prepare for the GCU online environment?

2. What
important first step did Frank take to find solutions to his problems?

3. In
what ways did GCU assist Frank in staying in his degree program?

4. Explain
how Frank took personal responsibility for finding solutions to his problems.

_______________________________________________________________________
Wrap-up Questions

After
reading the stories and answering the questions, completethis journal entry form
by answering the following questions:

1.
Of the people you read about, were their
expectations realistic or not? Explain.

2.
How do you relate to the people in the stories
you read?

3.
What can you do to meet the expectations that
you face as a GCU student?