Reading Evaluation

* What readings did you like best?

I appreciated the more structured reading style at the beginning of the semester where we had assignments. I also really enjoyed the 7 Secrets of Hindu Calendar Art videos. I think they should be a requirement for everyone taking this class because I learned so much about them! I also was very thankful for Dr. Laura Gibbs' reading recommendations based on our own interests - it was nice to have a class tailored to individuals. 

* What reading diary strategies were most effective for you?

Just utilizing the reading diary in general was extremely helpful for me! By writing out my thoughts, I was able to see connections between different stories and really analyze them as well as find patterns in things that stick out to me and that I found interesting! Had I just been merely reading, I know that I would not have gotten so much out of this literature. 

* What did you think of the overall balance between reading - writing - commenting in the class assignments?

There was a LOT of writing in this class, and although it was time consuming, I believe that I have grown as a writer thanks to the course Epics of India. 

* As you look back from the end of the semester, what advice about the reading do you have for students who will be getting started next semester? 

Advice I would give students next semester is to just enjoy the readings. Sometimes it is hard to really grasp them, but before you know it, you have learned so much about a really complex culture!

Week 15 Reflections

To wrap up this semester, I wanted to say just how rewarding this class has been! It has been a lot of work at times but I always felt so proud after pushing myself to use my creative writing skills. It is crazy just how rusty these skills have become after not using them often enough over the past few years. Furthermore, I have learned just how important storytelling can be to cultures, specifically the Indian culture, but they are so powerful to all people!

Storytelling. Source: Green Book Blog. 

Week 14 Review

This video from the current week's announcements really cracked me up! I am actually what some would call a "grammar nazi" haha not really - but it is something that I just have a knack for. I have been told more than once that I should be an English teacher for that reason but I just don't see that as my calling. I do really enjoy proof reading papers though so if you are ever on the hunt for someone to do that, feel free to hit me up!

Learning by H.E.A.R.T.: Time Management

For this week's Learning by H.E.A.R.T. post I chose to share some time management inspiration. With finals coming up, time is of the essence and there is no room for procrastination. I am definitely guilty of procrastination but I am making a vow to myself this year not to wait until midnight to start studying... I am that person!

Source: Learning by HEART.

Growth Mindset: Good Stress vs. Bad Stress

For this week's Growth Mindset post, I decided to learn more about growth mindset by reading an article called How Harnessing the Positive Side of Stress Can Change Student Mindsets by Katrina Schwartz. I thought this article was especially relevant with finals and therefore so much stress just around the corner! This article mentions how much easier it is to cope with stress, or anything for that matter, after realizing just how malleable the mind is. Once you realize that you are in control of your mind, everything else comes much easier. I have discussed this idea a lot this semester. I think it is a revolutionary idea that can change anyone's life from the inside out. And indeed, it is important to recognize that there is a difference between good stress and bad stress. Stress has such a negative connotation but if it didn't exist, the world wouldn't go round. It is as simple as the stress to feed your dog - that needs to be there or else who knows if we would even feel that that was a priority. Stress can be motivation - we just need to learn how to turn it into good fuel.

Good Stress vs. Bad Stress. Source: SlideShare.

Week 15 Tech Tip: Google Timer

I have chosen to write about Google Timer for this week's tech tip because it is a feature that I have been utilizing a lot recently. I have been studying for the GMAT so timing is of utmost importance - you are actually penalized for not finishing on time! This has been a great help in pacing myself. Additionally, I devoted one of my learning challenge blog posts to the Pomodoro technique. Essentially, you use a timer set to 25 minute intervals in order to make the most of your studying. This is a feature of Google that I definitely recommend!

Week 14 Tech Tip: Embed Tweet

Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It's what makes America great.

— President Obama (@POTUS) September 16, 2015

You may or may not recognize what this tweet is all about but the context behind it is that Ahmed, a young Muslim, was detained after creating his own working clock that his high school believed to be a bomb. I just think it is so cool that President Obama recognized this young man, or even that in this day and age presidents are utilizing Twitter to interact with a younger generation. That is why I chose to use this week's Tech Tip to embed a tweet from Twitter.