EXP 105 Entire Course / Personal Dimensions of Education
EXP 105 Week 1 DQ 1 Preparing Your Mind for Success
http://www.homeworkmade.com/exp-105/exp-105-week-1-dq-1-preparing-your-mind-for-success/
Preparing Your Mind for Success [CLO: 4]. Due by Day 3. Prepare: As you prepare to write your first discussion for this course, take a few moments to read the Week One Instructor Guidance (located in the left navigation menu of Week 1) and watch the author’s textbook introduction above. In section 1.1 of your textbook, Johnston (2013) defines “successful students” as “those who persevere in life and persist in learning” (para. 5). You are exhibiting perseverance by enrolling at Ashford University in order to continue your education and earn a degree. The author has developed a list of six factors found in Worksheet 1.1 in Section 1.1 that will have an impact on your success as a student.
Reflect: Carefully review the questions associated with each of the six factors in Worksheet 1.1. When you have reflected on your thoughts for each, you are ready to write your response.
Write: Respond to the questions associated with each of the six factors. Your response to each factor should be at least four to five sentences in length in order to provide sufficient detail and context. Note: Do not attach Worksheet 1.1 to your discussion response.
Your initial post should contain a minimum of 250 words and be written in complete sentences.
Respond to Peers: Review your classmates’ posts and respond to at least two of your peers. Discuss how the success factors described by your classmates compare to your own. Provide tips that can help maximize their success. Each response should be a minimum of 50 words.
Think about it this way…
This discussion is asking you to do three things:
• Find Worksheet 1.1 in Chapter 1 of your textbook, Intentional Learning for College Success.
• For the six factors in Worksheet 1.1, answer the question(s) associated with each. Answers must be in complete sentences.
Respond to at least two of your classmates’ discussion posts. Use Respond to Peers to assist you with your reply. Type a heading for each section (e.g., My Motivation), and then write the information under each heading in complete sentences. This helps the reader quickly identify each section and helps you know that you have covered all of the requirements for this post.
EXP 105 Week 1 DQ 2 Confidence in Yourself as a Learner
http://www.homeworkmade.com/exp-105/exp-105-week-1-dq-2-confidence-in-yourself-as-a-learner/
Confidence in Yourself as a Learner [CLO: 2]. 1st Post Due by Day 3. Prepare: As Johnston (2013) notes in section 1.4 of your textbook, “Your thoughts, actions, and feelings play key roles in how you feel about yourself as a learner before, during, and after completing a learning task” (para. 17). These learning processes can give you a sense of confidence or fill you with dread as you consider the task that lies before you. In order to be an intentional learner, you need to recognize the powerful role your learning processes play and how to control and direct them before they control you.
Carefully read the true story of David in section 1.4 of of your textbook and watch the video Eddie Henderson: A leap toward a better future — Ashford University, about Ashford University student Eddie Henderson.
Reflect: As you begin your studies at Ashford University, what concerns do you have regarding your learning and achievement as a college student? How do your concerns relate to David’s or Eddie’s college experience? Now think of a time when you found yourself in a learning situation (e.g., a previous school experience or a new job) where you felt frustrated because you weren’t successful.
Write: Keeping in mind the learning situation you reflected on, address the following in your response:
• Share how your concerns relate to David and/or Eddie’s experience.
• Describe the learning situation and identify the possible reasons why you weren’t successful.
• What could you have done differently to reduce your frustration and increase your chances of success?
• What did you learn from the experience that can help you be successful if you face a similar situation again? Your initial post should contain a minimum of 250 words and be written in complete sentences. Respond to Peers: Review your classmates’ posts and respond to at least two of your peers. Reflect on the situations described by your classmates. How might have you handled the situations? Provide additional suggestions that could have helped them reduce frustration and increase their chances of success. Each response should be a minimum of 50 words.
1 Think about it this way… This discussion is asking you to do five things:
▪ Watch the Eddie Henderson video and read David’s story in section 1.4 of your text.
▪ Describe your concerns related to David and/or Eddie.
▪ Identify a situation where you felt frustrated because you were not successful and describe the reasons why.
▪ Explain what you could have done differently and what you learned from this experience that could help you be successful if you face a similar situation again.
Respond to at least two of your classmates’ discussion posts. Use Respond to Peers to assist you with your reply.
EXP 105 Week 2 Assignment Building Your Personal Learning Profile
Building Your Personal Learning Profile [CLO: 2]. Due by Day 7. Understanding how your Learning Patterns affect your learning behavior is central to becoming an intentional learner.
In the discussion you provided specific examples of a time when you used each Learning Pattern. For this assignment you will provide a general description of how your Patterns emerge in all aspects of your life. As Dr. Johnston said in the video EXP105- Completing your personal learning profile, you want to be able to frame your description so that someone can get to know you quickly and completely. Your assignment should provide an explanation of the thoughts, feelings, and actions you have when you use each Pattern.
Directions:
• Watch the Completing your personal learning profile video by Dr. Johnston and carefully re-read section 2.4 in your textbook. Click to view a Model Personal Learning Profile. Use the model as a guide to complete your own.
• You will be filling out the Personal Learning Profile form to complete the assignment. To save it to your computer, use the following instructions:
1 Right click on this Personal Learning Profile link.
Select “Save As.”
EXP 105 Week 2 DQ Identifying Your Learning Patterns
http://www.homeworkmade.com/exp-105/exp-105-week-2-dq-identifying-your-learning-patterns/
Identifying Your Learning Patterns [CLO: 2]. 1st Post Due by Day 3. Prepare: Before attempting this discussion, please be sure you have completed the Learning Connections Inventory (LCI), then carefully read Chapter 2 and the Week Two Instructor Guidance (this is located on the left navigation menu under Week 2). In particular, pay attention to sections 2.1 and 2.2 which provide an overview of each of the four Learning Patterns: Sequence, Precision, Technical Reasoning, and Confluence.
Reflect: Your results of the LCI take the mystery out of how you learn and provide you with a set of terms to describe your learning processes accurately and thoroughly. The information gained from completing the LCI explains what you may have always known and felt about yourself as a learner, but may not have had the words to describe. As stated by your textbook author, “The knowledge of your Learning Patterns provides you with an explanation of how you learn, not an excuse for failing to put forth the effort to learn.” Take some time to think about what you learned about yourself based on your results from the LCI.
Write: Using the results of the Learning Connections Inventory (LCI), Tables 2.1 through 2.4, and the information you read in sections 2.1 and 2.2, address the following:
a. List your scores, your level of use (Use First, Use as Needed, or Avoid) for each of the four Learning Patterns, and identify whether you are a Dynamic, Bridge, or Strong-willed Learner.
• Describe a specific time when you used each Pattern to accomplish a task. Each example should demonstrate how you Use First, Use as Needed, or Avoid the Pattern being described based on your results from the LCI. Your examples may be from your academic, personal, or professional experiences. Examples should consist of at least three to five sentences in order to give a complete picture of your thoughts, feelings, and actions associated with each Learning Pattern.
• Analyze how the awareness of your Learning Patterns may help you in school, work, and/or personal relationships. How can you use this knowledge to be more intentional in these areas? In other words, what can be done to make positive changes in your life right now?
Your initial post should contain a minimum of 250 words and be written in complete sentences.
Respond to Peers: Review your classmates’ posts and respond to at least two of your peers. Compare and contrast how you use your Learning Patterns with how your peers use them. How can your classmates use their Learning Patterns to be more successful in daily life activities? Each response should be a minimum of 50 words.
Think about it this way…
This discussion is asking you to do four things:
1 Ensure you have taken the Learning Connections Inventory (LCI). List the four scores you have for each pattern and identify whether you are a Dynamic, Bridge, or Strong-Willed Learner. Scores range from 7 to 35.
2 Describe examples (minimum of three to five sentences each) of how you have used each of the four Learning Patterns. Your examples should provide a picture of the thoughts, feelings, and actions you have when using that Pattern.
3 Reflect on these three areas: school, work, and personal relationships. Write a paragraph describing how awareness of your Learning Patterns will help you in these areas. Identify changes you can make as a result of an awareness of your Learning Patterns.
Respond to at least two of your classmates’ discussion posts. Use Respond to Peers to assist you with your reply.
EXP 105 Week 3 DQ 1 Understanding the Patterns of Others
http://www.homeworkmade.com/exp-105/exp-105-week-3-dq-1-understanding-the-patterns-of-others/
Understanding the Patterns of Others [CLO: 2]. 1st Post Due by Day 3. Prepare: One of the main purposes of a college education is to challenge ourselves to use higher levels of reasoning and thinking skills. Critical thinking involves being able to solve a problem, examine information from several different perspectives, and resolve conflicts. In addition to critically reading Chapter 3 of your textbook, watch the Do You Think? video for another perspective on critical thinking. You will need to review the concepts of Pattern Conflict and Pattern Bias in the Week Three Instructor Guidance.
Reflect: Take time to reflect on those who play an important role in your life and think about how their Learning Patterns are similar to or different from yours. A heightened awareness of the similarities and differences between yourself and others around you is a critical component in the process of becoming an intentional learner.
Write: Address each part of the discussion below:
Pick one adult in your life you regularly interact with. Using your knowledge of the Learning Patterns, guess their level of use for each Pattern and support your reasoning by providing specific examples of how the person you identified uses each Learning Pattern. Note: If you prefer to give them the LCI, please download the instructions in the online classroom. This version is appropriate for individuals ages 16 and up.
List your LCI scores to remind us of your own Learning Patterns.
Provide an example that demonstrates how Learning Patterns play (or have played) a role in your interactions with the person you selected. Consider which Learning Pattern(s) help you connect and work positively with this person and conversely, which Pattern(s) have contributed to or have the potential to lead to Pattern Conflict.
Your initial post should contain a minimum of 250 words.
Respond to Peers: Review your classmates’ posts and respond to at least two of your peers. Identify other areas of potential Pattern Conflict that they may not have considered. Provide additional advice on how they could improve or maximize their relationships with the person they have identified. Each response should be a minimum of 50 words.
Think about it this way…
This discussion is asking you to do four things:
• Pick one person in your life and guess their level of use for each of the Learning Patterns (or give them the LCI). Provide specific examples to support your guesses for each Pattern.
• List your LCI scores.
• Provide an example from your experience with this person that illustrates how your Learning Patterns worked together positively and/or how they conflicted.
• Respond to at least two of your classmates’ discussion posts. Use Respond to Peers to assist you with your reply.
Type a heading for each section (e.g., Part I: My Daughter’s Learning Patterns), and then write the information under each heading in complete sentences. This helps the reader quickly identify each section and helps you know that you have covered all of the requirements for this post.
EXP 105 Week 3 DQ 2 Critical Reading, Writing, and Your Learning Patterns
Critical Reading, Writing, and Your Learning Patterns [CLO: 3]. 1st Post Due by Day 3. Prepare: Critical reading and writing are essential to being a successful student. An important part of being an intentional learner is developing reading and writing strategies that work best for you. There is no “one size fits all” recipe for academic success. The Week Three Instructor Guidance lists strategies to help you become a more intentional reader and writer based on each Learning Pattern.
Critically read Chapter 3 and view the video Intentional learning for college success — Chapter 3 (critical reading). The video shows the unique thinking and writing processes of individual learners as they approach a college-level assignment.
Reflect: Since all four Learning Patterns contribute to excellent writing, consider how the Patterns you Avoid are needed just as much as those you Use First. Practice critical thinking as you reflect on the writing challenges Makayla, John, Paul, and Raheem face in section 3.3.
Write: After considering the scenario of each learner, address the following: For each of the four learners, provide a minimum of three to four sentences of advice for how they could have used their Learning Patterns with intention in each scenario. For example, Makayla was ruled by her Sequence.
What would you recommend that she do to overcome her dependence on Sequence when approaching writing tasks?
List your Learning Patterns. Based on your own unique Learning Patterns, identify two specific strategies to enhance your critical reading skills and two specific strategies to enhance your critical writing skills. Select strategies presented in Chapter 3 and/or the Week Three Instructor Guidance and explain how you will apply each of the strategies you have identified.
Your initial post should contain a minimum of 250 words.
Respond to Peers: Review your classmates’ posts and respond to at least two, each with a minimum of 50 words. Compare and contrast the strategies for college-level reading and writing your peer identified with your own Learning Patterns. Could these strategies support your learning preferences? Why, or why not? Provide suggestions for additional reading and writing strategies to help your peers use their Learning Patterns with intention.
Think about it this way…
This discussion is asking you to do four things:
• Read the four learner stories from section 3.3 of your text. Provide advice to each learner that encourages intentional use of their Learning Patterns.
• List two critical reading strategies and two critical writing strategies from Chapter 3 and/or the Instructor Guidance that could help you approach college-level reading and writing with greater intention.
• Explain how you will take action on these strategies.
• Respond to at least two of your classmates’ discussion posts. Use the “Response to Peers” to assist you with your reply.
Type a heading for each section (e.g., My Advice for Makayla, John, Paul, and Raheem), and then write the information under each heading in complete sentences. This helps the reader quickly identify each section and helps you know that you have covered all of the requirements for this post.
EXP 105 Week 4 Assignment Personal Strategy Card
http://www.homeworkmade.com/exp-105/exp-105-week-4-assignment-personal-strategy-card/
Personal Strategy Card [CLO: 4]. Due by Day 7. As you read in Chapter 4 section 4.4, the centerpiece of the rehearsal phase of metacognition is the strategy card. After decoding tasks and strategizing how to FIT your Learning Patterns to the task, you can use your knowledge of your Learning Patterns to develop personal strategies to direct your efforts. The most efficient way to do this is to develop a personal strategy card.
Strategy cards convert general study skills into personalized strategies for learning based on each learner’s Patterns. Personal strategy cards are essential to effective rehearsal because they help you address the requirements that you have decoded from the assignment and they help you connect to the instructor’s expectations. Strategy cards help you organize your approach to achieving success on the task. They allow you to practice “smarter, not harder.”
You are more effective when you develop a strategy card for each major task or assignment. In doing so, you become more disciplined and you match your efforts to each requirement. In preparation for your reflection assignment that you will complete in Week 5, we will use the Week 5 Final Reflection assignment instructions for the decoding section of this strategy card. This way, next week, you’ll be able to approach your assignment with intention as you skillfully apply your Learning Patterns.
EXP 105 Week 4 DQ Self-Regulation
http://www.homeworkmade.com/exp-105/exp-105-week-4-dq-self-regulation/
Self-Regulation [CLO: 4]. 1st Post Due by Day 3. Prepare: As discussed in Chapter 4 and the Week 4 Instructor Guidance, intentional learning requires focus, commitment, time management, and personal skills. In addition to general study habits, developing sophisticated personal learning strategies will help you own your learning behaviors. Return to the chapter and critically read the scenarios of Dan, Cassie, and Nia in section 4.2, The Importance of Self-Regulation and Metacognition in section 4.3, and the concept of FIT: forge, intensify, and tether in section 4.4. Note how Dan, Cassie, and Nia all lack an understanding of how to be mindful, intentional learners. Their study habits are riddled with common issues, ranging from self-doubt, fear of not doing things right, to overconfidence.
Reflect: Carefully review Worksheet 4.1 in Chapter 4. Reflect on your own internal and external success factors and on your academic performance over the past three weeks. Analyze how a lack of self-regulation can hinder academic success and how, conversely, being intentional can lead to increased success and deeper learning. Your honest evaluation begins the process of developing personalized learning strategies and allows you to examine your readiness to take the next steps toward becoming an intentional learner.
Write: You will address a learner scenario in your response. Your assigned learner is indicated below based on the first initial of your last name:
• Dan–LastnameA-G • Cassie–LastnameH-L • Nia–LastnameM–Z
Consider what your assigned learner could have done to be more successful. Explain two things that the learner could have done to use his or her Learning Patterns more intentionally.
Reflect on the past three weeks.
• Choose one of your Learning Patterns and o Identify a situation where you could have used the chosen Pattern with more intention in this class and explain how you could have forged, intensified, or tethered to be successful.
1 OR o Identify a situation where you actually did use the chosen Pattern with more intention in this class and explain how you actually did forge, intensify, or tether to be successful.
2 List your Learning Patterns in your response. Your initial post should contain a minimum of 250 words. Respond to Peers: Review your classmates’ posts and respond to at least two of your peers. Suggest additional ways your classmate can self-regulate his/her Learning Patterns to achieve academic success. Each response should be a minimum of 50 words.
3 Think about it this way… This discussion is asking you to do five things:
▪ Explain two things the assigned learner could have done to FIT his or her Learning Patterns.
▪ Identify a Learning Pattern and describe how you could have or did use the Pattern intentionally in this class.
▪ Explain what you could have done or what you did do to FIT the identified Pattern to be successful.
▪ List all of your Learning Patterns.
▪ Respond to at least two of your classmates’ discussion posts. Use Respond to Peers to assist you with your reply.
Type a heading for each section (e.g., Learner Scenario — Nia), and then write the information under each heading in complete sentences. This helps the reader quickly identify each section and helps you know that you have covered all of the requirements for this post.
EXP 105 Week 5 DQ Learning From The Past
http://www.homeworkmade.com/exp-105/exp-105-week-5-dq-learning-from-the-past/
Learning from the Past [CLO: 5]. 1st Post Due by Day 3. Prepare: Many students list launching a new career or career enhancement as one of their motivations for returning to school. A successful job search involves planning and persistence. Let’s jump start that journey by exploring some resources available to assist with career planning.
Watch the videos Building your career pathway and Discover career services at Ashford University, or review the transcripts. Career development plans provide a logical and multiphase approach to achieving career goals so you yield a high return on your learning investment. Building a career pathway does not occur by chance; it occurs when you intentionally and systematically develop your options. Ashford’s Career Services department can assist you in finding resources and tools to search for jobs, plan your career, and achieve your greatest career potential.
Reflect: One of the best ways to decide about your future career path is to look at your past experiences. For this discussion, think about your work history up through your most current job or your most recent position. For the purposes of this discussion, work history can also include volunteer work or managing your home or family responsibilities full-time.
Write: Pick one position you’ve held and address the following:
List the title and briefly describe the job. For example, “I have worked as a Special Education Instructional Aide at an elementary school from 2008 to now. As a 1-on-1 Instructional Aide, I provide personalized attention to the student and help them with social and academic skill development.”
• Describe at least three tasks or responsibilities required for the job that you most enjoyed and explain why they were enjoyable. Decode the tasks or responsibilities that you listed and note which Learning Patterns were required to successfully complete them.
• Describe at least three tasks and responsibilities required for the job that you least enjoyed and explain why they were the least enjoyable. Decode the tasks or responsibilities that you listed and note which Learning Patterns were required to successfully complete them.
• Knowing what you know now about your Learning Patterns, was (or is) this job a good match for your Patterns? Why or why not? Please list your Learning Patterns to provide context for your analysis.
Your initial post should contain a minimum of 250 words.
Respond to Peers: Review your classmates’ posts and respond to at least two of your peers. Did anything surprise you about your classmate’s description? Assess the responsibilities your peer listed and the Learning Patterns associated. Do you agree with their assessment? Would you be a good match for this job? Each response should be a minimum of 50 words.
Think about it this way…
This discussion is asking you to do six things:
1 Choose a job you have held and provide a brief description.
2 Describe three tasks that were required for this job that you most enjoyed, explain why you enjoyed it, and list the Learning Pattern(s) required for the tasks.
3 Describe three tasks that were required of this job that you least enjoyed.
4 Explain why you didn’t enjoy these tasks and list the Learning Pattern(s) required for the task.
5 Explain how this job aligned with your Learning Patterns. List your Learning Patterns.
Respond to at least two of your classmates’ discussion posts. Use Respond to Peers to assist with your reply.
EXP 105 Week 5 Final Assignment Final Reflection
http://www.homeworkmade.com/exp-105/exp-105-week-5-final-assignment-final-reflection/
Final Reflection [CLOs: 1, 2, 4]. Due by Day 7. The primary goal of your last assignment is to reflect on what you have learned about yourself as a learner as a result of this class and how you will use this knowledge to succeed in future courses. Reflecting on your thoughts, actions, and feelings and making appropriate connections will help you plan for your future success.
Review the video EXP105 — Author’s final thoughts and the “Model Final Assignment” document in the online classroom. Use the sample as a guide to complete your own. Then, in a five-paragraph essay that is two to three pages in length, please address the following:
• Paragraph 1: How would you explain learning to someone who has not taken this class? Review the explanations given in the textbook to help you formulate your response. How have your views of learning changed as a result of this class? You may wish to look back at your introduction from Week One, in which you were asked to define the term learning and compare that definition to what you know now.
• Paragraph 2: Describe yourself as a learner in terms of how you typically use your team of Learning Patterns. Identify your Learning Pattern scores and describe the ways in which you use each Pattern. Also, explain how all four Patterns interact together as you take in the world around you and make sense of it.
• Paragraph 3: Analyze the benefits of your unique combination of Learning Patterns by identifying strategies specific to each Learning Pattern that you used to complete readings, discussions, assignments, and quizzes in this course. Describe how you took advantage of your learning strengths to become a more intentional learner.
1 Paragraph 4: Analyze the challenges of your unique combination of Learning Patterns. Describe how you used or should have used the concept of FITing your Learning Patterns to ensure your success as a student in this class. Identify the strategies and resources you will use to better FIT your Patterns to become a more intentional learner in future courses.
Paragraph 5: Reflect on the past five weeks and describe what you enjoyed most about this class and what you would change about the class. Also, share what your expectations of online learning were when you began this course. Were your expectations met? Why, or why not? Consider the course content, online learning platform, and interactions with your peers and instructor when reflecting on your expectations.
EXP 105 Week 5 Journal Reflecting on Your Mindset
http://www.homeworkmade.com/exp-105/exp-105-week-5-journal-reflecting-on-your-mindset/
Reflecting on Your Mindset [CLO: 4]. Due by Day 3. This week we will be enhancing our understanding of self by exploring the powerful concept of mindset. You will engage in a journal activity to guide your exploration and processing of this concept of mindset. You will be asked to step outside of your comfort zone, dig deep, and be honest with yourself. Keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers. Therefore you will not be graded on specific content in your journal, just that you took this opportunity to inspire personal thought and ideas.
Prepare: Your mindset is the view you adopt of yourself and whether your abilities, talents, and characteristics can change, or whether they are defined at birth. Critically read the Mindset Summary article. The graphic included in the article provides an illustration of the two types of mindsets — growth and fixed. Watch the interview with psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck, The Growth Mindset, as she introduces the concept of mindset.
Reflect: Using journals fosters learning in many ways. Journal reflections focus on what’s going on inside you. It’s about your own unique emotional journey. Writing a journal entry can be a place to expand your mind by going inside and discovering more about yourself, or in this case forming a deeper personal connection with the course learning content.
Write: Select one prompt below that you most strongly connect with and write your honest reflection in response. Prior to writing your own, click to view the Model Journal Entry.
• Prompt 1: When do you feel smart? Is it when you’re doing something flawlessly or when you’re learning something new? How can you transform striving, stretching, and struggling into something that makes you feel smart?
• Prompt 2: Do you use feeling bad as a reason for doing nothing? When you feel disappointed, frustrated, cheated, or depressed, do you use this as a reason to stop trying? What steps could you take to help growth mindset thinking overcome your fixed mindset? What could you say to yourself to change your internal talk so that it supports a growth mindset?
1 Prompt 3: Think of something about yourself you’ve been wanting to change. What is it? Has a fixed mindset prevented you from doing this? Think about it from a growth mindset and explain how you would make this change.
2 Prompt 4: Think of a time you faced an important opportunity or challenge with a fixed mindset. What were your thoughts and worries about your abilities, other people’s judgments, and the possibility of failure? Describe them vividly.
Prompt 5: What did your parents do that fostered a fixed or growth mindset in you? Do you praise your children’s intelligence, creativity, or other characteristics to make them feel talented or smart? Think of the last time you did this. How could you have given growth oriented praise instead?
