Where has the time gone - the end of week 4 already

Well hello there,

Oh my goodness I am so sorry that I have not been around - life in Smithville has been keeping me busy and out of mischief. You see my Mum arrived last Wednesday for a four week visit and I have been trying very hard to make sure she doesn't feel neglected hehe. I have been dividing my time between study, housework and spending time with her and my three (1big and 2 little) boys.

So here we are in week 4 of term two and I have been busy with my studies. Maths is certainly stretching the old thinking skills however I am enjoying it and I seem to be getting most of it. This week I have spent doing the first half of Algebra which believe it or not has actually been fun. Then I have spent a whole day just doing revision, which was also great to do. I went back over all of the PowerPoint videos that have made up the modules and I was really happy with how much has and had sunk in. I will continue to do this to reinforce what I learn. I got 95% for my first end of module test - silly me wrote one problem down with a 4 instead of 14 and I got my positives and negatives mixed up on another - both learning experiences though.

Then biology is also fun. I have not studied Biology before and I really enjoy what it all about. I purchased myself a couple of text books, one basic Biology and one (rather flash) Anatomy and Physiology book, not because I had to but because I wanted to. I am finding it all very fascinating. At the moment we are looking at tissue. Having already looked at Organisms, ecology and now the A and P of organisms. We have covered Organ systems, organs and then next week we are delving deeper into cells. All absolutely fascinating.

It really makes it so much easier to study when you are doing something that you enjoy. I am not finding any of this hard work or a chore because I am looking forward to it (at the moment) I do hope it stays that way and nothing changes. I must say that sometimes I am enjoying my studies so much that I forget that I have to my other Mum and Wife duties (opps). I am trying to make sure I still focus on them but once I get absorbed it is hard to put the books down and walk away. Last term I was having trouble with procrastination - but not this term. But I have to get a balance happening. 

  I have started my Biology essay that is due in week 8 and I am thinking how lucky I was to do Essay writing last term as I am just following my final assessment steps for EWU to write this essay. I have already Analysed my topic, done a cluster map, written a Thesis statement and written down my main ideas. It is not daunting at all (at this stage). I have chosen The biological concept of Homeostasis as my topic. I liked both choices but this one seemed a little more interesting to me.

So that has pretty much got me up to date with all of my study stuff. I have my eldest sons birthday on Monday, he is turning 14 - OMG already I wish he was still little!!!!!!! He is definitely experiencing teenagehood (is there such a word hehehe well if not I just made it up)and it is keeping us busy. We are trialling a little project for him and his Dad to undertake. They have brought a small second hand car to play with and do up. Frankie loves working on cars so it will be great for both of them - however poor Frankie is time poor already with working a stressful '24hr a day 8 days on at a time' job (paramedic) and renovating our old Queenslander house and now doing up a car.

Ashley is having a couple of friends over for  a movie night to celebrate his birthday - so I am really looking forward to that hehehehe last time he had friends over they insisted on watching a scary movie and I ended up having to sit with them as they all got soooo scared and there was so much screaming happening. I actually hate scary movies myself but sat through it commenting on how good the special effects were and talking about how the directors  may of made it look so real. I guess I was I party pooper but at least it stopped the screaming. And I had them all commenting on how it could of been made.

Ok well I had better go and shut the house up for the night as the temperature is dropping (hahaha now if that was the human body that the temperature was dropping in good old Homeostasis would kick in  and get the body to warm itself up again - I think I have become a study geek hehehe)

Ok well I will talk again soon

I will have to pop over to my other life -  being a card maker sometime over the weekend as I have not posted anything on my other blog for soooo long.

but until next time

take care

x joy

Term Two Week Two

Hello and a hearty, happy Monday to you (actually I think I must be only writing this for my benefit as I'm not sure anyone is still reading hehehe anyway I don't mind - I often ramble on to myself  so it is no different to that and besides I get the benefit of some positive thinking and reflecting ) - but if you are still reading pop me a comment and say hi so I can come by your blogs and say hi to you.

Anyway here I am week two, term two. I am all up to date and half way through the maths module for this week and my poor little old brain in doing crazy, whirly things cause there is soooooo much info, it isn't funny hehehehe

I am getting all of the concepts ok but I am sooooo worried that I won't remember them all. I will try and do lots of revision and see how I go.

And then we get to Biology hehehe I answered last weeks - How am I progressing questions and my lecturer got back to me today and said I was on the right track but I had to expand on my answers for practice on tests etc. hehehehe oh boy oh boy, If I hadn't done my last term, I would probably be thinking that this is all too much for me but I do know that this is to be expected and it will all settle down as I get further into the term hehehehe ( I hope anyway) otherwise you will be seeing a lot more of that little whirly brain fellow here.

Ok well it is freezing cold here today and I think I will go and have a nice hot shower and get into my nice comfy flannie jammies early. And then I have three hungry boys to feed.

Have a great whatever you may be doing.

talk soon

x joy 

Ps a special thinking of you to my lovely card blogging pal - Wilma who is very sick at the moment. I am thinking of you Wilma and hoping everything goes well for you x x x x x x x x x 

Term 2 Begins

Wow can you believe it term 2 already! Today is Wednesday and it has really been my first day of study. I have not been very well after my surgery so while trying to take it easy I have been trying to get back into study at the same time. Easier said than done as I am sooooo tired and sore but anyway enough of the whinging and feeling sorry for myself - I am doing Maths and Biology this term and oooohhhhhh boy have I hit the ground running hehehe (well my brain has anyway - my body is not up to running yet hehehe)

I have downloaded both of the course profiles and this weeks module for biology and have had a brief read of it (while sitting basking in the sun shine) and today I got into my first week of maths. Wow is it getting the brain ticking over - this week it is The study of Mathematics and goes over all of the basic stuff like whole, natural, rational, irrational, decimal, real and prime numbers then onto prime factors, highest common factors, lowest common multiples and fractions. Consequently I got a head ache today with all this extra work that my brain hasn't done in sooooo long hehehe. But believe it or not I am actually having fun hehehe only I bet my hubby doesn't think I am, as he got the sad face today when I got over whelmed with it all. Anyway I feel like I have accomplished something today and tomorrow I plan to finish off this module of Maths and get into Biology - so wish me luck.

We have some lovely friends in town at the moment who used to live here in Blackall so we are off out to dinner tonight. I don't think it will be a late one as I am not up to it, but it will be enjoyable.

Ok well have a great day

talk soon

x joy

ps I forgot to tell you that I got three High Distinctions for last terms courses - what a happy happy girl I am

Ahhhhh holidays

Hello - long time no talk, I hope you are all well - I am thoroughly enjoying my break from studies although I am finding I have been a little lost - feeling like I should be doing something hehehe but it is nice to have a break to clear the head before getting back into it again. I got all of my maths stuff in the post the other day so I will be back into it before I know it. I must say the maths does not look easy - but I am thinking positively and I am determined to do well. It will not beat me - I will take one day at a time and plod away.

I am presuming that the Biology will be a little more like Prep skills and I will get modules every week over the Internet, as nothing has arrived for it so far.

Anyway I am off this week for my third round of surgery for the year (ohhh goody - not) so I should get back at the end of June just before grade certification and term two starting. I am really excited about both - I can't wait to see what my grades are and I am looking forward to getting back into the study again - I am missing it!

So I will talk to you all soon when I am feeling heaps better and full of energy again

have a great couple of weeks

talk soon

x joy

Week 12

Hello, can you believe that it is week 12 already. Oh boy these 12 weeks have flown by!!!!!!!!And I can happily report that I have completed all tasks and duties for my three courses this term (as long as nothing else gets added next week) Wooooo Hooooo - how good does it feel. I am one happy little Vegemite. This week I had to finalise my Essay writing research essay- which I did, complete a reflective writing - which I did, complete module 5 for computing and do the final assessment - which I did and finally just contribute to the PSU forum - which I did. So I think that I have finished yippee

 This is a photo of my finalised term planner - with everything crossed off as I have finished it. All of the assessments are in red to ensure I didn't miss anything. 

And this it the sum total of information that I have learnt this term. WOW!!!! these folders and books are what I have worked my way through slowly but steadily. The file on the right is my Prep skills folder, then the 3 books in the middle are my Essay writing study guide and reference materials and the folder on the left is my computing study guide. I must say that I am very proud of myself for completing this first term. I am very satisfied that I have done my best and it feels good.

So now I have a little break - although I am going to do some investigating about possible career choices during this rest time. And then I have three weeks until I head off for my next round of surgery on the 15th June. I am going to indulge in my lovely hobby of card making in this next couple of weeks as well. And then I will get back into it with Term 2 studying maths and biology.

I am sure I will be back before then to keep you up to date on everything but if I don't - have a great couple of weeks.

talk soon

x joy  



Hahaha - I forgot to do the main reflective writing!

Hello, me again with my second post for today. Can you believe that I forgot to do the main reflective writing activity for this module. I did the learning journal activities but not the reflection. Hahaha how silly am I. Although I could say that I meant to do it that way and you would of been non the wiser - anyway I would of known. So here we go again:

Did I achieve what I set out to do:
Yes I did - most definitely. I set out to embrace the journey of discovery and learning and enjoy it all and I have. Although I still have 2 terms left in STEPS so it will be interesting to revisit these questions at the end of this year. But I can't see anything changing.

How do I know that I have achieved this:
Firstly my grades reflect my success at this point and I hope they continue to be good in these last few assessments. Secondly by the way that I feel - I know that I am doing everything possible to achieve success. I am a firm believer that there is no point in pretending or half heartedly doing anything in life as the only person that you are fooling is yourself. I feel good about what I have done because I know that I have done it (with help from my lecturers of course) but most importantly I would not feel good on the inside if I had said that I had done something when in fact I had not.

What did I do to achieve what I did:
I have worked through each and every module and component of all three courses to get to the end. I have done and submitted everything that was required. I tried to complete each module by the Friday of the week it was required and I did achieve that up until the last couple of weeks where I needed to put in some extra effort over the weekend. I also got on top of my tendency to procrastinate - and plugged along even when I had low motivation. That in itself was a big achievement for me as I previously had a tendency to let procrastination take over me.

What is the significance of these achievements:
Well really it is the fact that I am able to study. I have always had self doubt about my abilities after my high school years. But now I feel positive about my future study as I know that if I set my mind to it - I can achieve.

How can I take it further:
There is definitely always room for improvement. I think that maybe I will continue my newly learnt skill of breaking tasks down into smaller more manageable pieces and keep writing to do list. Studying and writing out a calender of course profile details will again be beneficial. I am a little apprehensive about doing maths and biology next term but I need to be positive and embrace the challenge.

Where to from here:
Ok well I really want to do a couple of things in the next weeks to work out what I am going to do from here. I really need to decide what I am going to be when I grow up. I have narrowed my selection down to three main areas and I need to continue to investigate all three options. My short term goal is to do well in my next term of study in the STEPS program, again completing each module by the Friday of the week that it is required. My medium term goal is to decide and enrol into my program of choice and my long term goal is to be in paid employment within my chosen profession in 5 years.

Steps to achieve my next goal:
I need to spend time researching careers through the websites given to us in module 5 as I have not investigated options available to me fully as yet.   This will be my term break homework. I also want to see how I go at Maths and Biology next term as these are area's that I will need to do well in for one of my choices.

What is my responsibility:
I am the only person who is responsible for my own success. No one else can do this for me, that reminds me of a saying that a lovely man that I once worked with used to say 'If it is to be - then it is up to me'. I am aware of my strengths, interests and personal attributes as well as my weaknesses and shortcomings - I just have to make a decision about what I want to do. And I will do that. Maybe I could add another short term goal into the mix and say that I will have committed to what area of study that I want to undertake by the end of next term. 

To quote a little saying that stuck with me from an email that I received from Nel:

'Take pride in how far you have come and have faith in how far you can go'

 I love it and have it sitting up on my desk in front of me because the sky is the limit - we can all achieve what we want if we only just set out to do it.

Ok this time I am off and not coming back today

so have a great afternoon

talk soon

x joy

Friday - again

Don't blink, cause you'll miss another week flying by!

OMG - are these weeks flying by as fast for everyone else cause I sure can't keep track of them. One minute it is Monday and the next second - it is Friday!!!!

I tried to get back to do my final reflections for PSU yesterday but it just didn't happen. I was a very uncomfortable girl yesterday evening and needed to get into bed with feet up to relieve this annoying swelling! Anyway it is much better today and as long as I have a midday break it will all be ok - but roll on the surgery ( I never thought that I would ever look forward to surgery - but that time has come cause I know I will get better afterwards!!!!)

Ok well here we go - this week our modules included Applying to University (how exciting - even though I have two terms of STEPS left to do - it will be great to know what I have to do when I do it) and Looking back, looking forward. I still have a bit to do as far as the applying to university as I am still not 100% certain on exactly what I want to do yet. However I have a very firm plan to work that out. I am going to spend my time in this term break (while recuperating) spending heaps of time working out what I want - then I will get cracking as far as organising what I have to do. I would also like to see how well I do in maths and biology next term cause it would be no good even trying to get into one of my chosen courses if I am no good at  either of them.

Then once again I have loved the looking back, looking forward module (although I don't think there has been one aspect of this 1st term that I haven't enjoyed). It was really good to see all of the benefits of learning in the article The wider benefits of learning. They included:

• decreased depression
• increased good health 
• more positive attitude
• reduced crime levels
• increased social skills
• increased communication skills
• increased self-efficacy

Really I think education is very beneficial and I believe that it has such wide and varied positive results because you learn about the bigger picture. You get to see the world from not just your own eyes - you begin to see the world view. This is not just in Essay writing either - I have started to see the whole world differently. It is all very exciting. Plus the fact that you are so busy thinking of your studies and assessments that you don't have time to be indulgent in meaningless self pity.

However I can then totally understand that there are also some negative outcomes of learning. I'm sure we have all had bad experiences in learning - I know that I can certainly name a few from my high school days, therefore it is very important to ensure that what you are studying matches your personality and skill level. And ensure that study and other lifestyle choices are balanced. It would be no good spending 16 hours a day studying and try to juggle family commitments - it just wouldn't work.

I am still very excited about the prospect of university study and lifelong learning, but I realise that I have to include a balanced approach to that and enjoying my family life. We always have the capacity to learn and I love the stories that you here in the media about the 90+ year old people graduating from Uni. We all are learning everyday and some of us don't even know it - when was the last time you found out a little snippet of information that you didn't know or found out how to do something new on the computer or even tried out a new recipe. Most of the time we do not even think of that as learning - but we are. I guess it is just what we do with the newly learned information that counts.

Then again in most jobs that we undertake there is always new improved ways of doing things, and sometimes if you don't keep up with these new improved ways - you just get left behind. You have to embrace change and see it as a benefit to succeed in any aspect of life. Imagine if we refused to indulge in convenience food and still cooked absolutely everything from scratch. We would spend all of each and every day in the kitchen and not much else would get done. But most of us embraced the change  and buy convenience food therefore, making life easier.  

Ok well that is about it today (for now anyway) this afternoon is going to be spent fine tuning my planning activities for Essay writing and getting them all together ready for submission next week (you know I hate to run late on submissions). Then I am going to have a weekend off study and make a couple of very special cards for some very special people.

Have a wonderful day - and always remember that if it's not a wonderful day - make it one!!!!!

talk soon

x joy