I love online now!

Ok, getting started was the hard part I guess with online homework, but it's actually much more pleasant to do homework this way. You can sit in one position for hours. There is never any reason to get up. You really don't need your book or notes or anything that could possible be inconvenient to retrieve!

I love it. It's harder to get distracted and it's even a little addicting this way. You'd think you would have issues on the comp because you could go surf the internet pretty easily right there, but the addiction to your studies keeps you from doing that.

With math, if you don't understand a problem, there is the option called 'Help me solve this'. It's brilliant. I almost feel guilty...muahahaha ;)

I know there are downsides to this such as having to worry about your comp working in the first place, but overall, I think online homework is truly wonderful.

Internet reliance

It's amazing how unorganized UM faculty can be! My math book is only available at the college of technology. I've already taken the shuttle there twice and they have been out of my book both times!

I need to do my homework. Without the course number(which comes with the book), I can't do my online assignments.

Math homework is only online. I guess it saves paper, but it also drives me crazy! I hate having to rely completely on a piece of machinery. We can recycle paper, you know!

French has stuff online too, with which I am also having some minor issues.

I may as well get used to this. It will only get worse, especially with the declining economy and rising concern for the environment.

I guess I am living in an age where people like me will have to make a bunch of phone calls just to start a stupid homework assignment.

Capitalism in the classroom

Something struck me as a little odd this session.

My history professor provides types up lecture notes for every upcoming exam with test questions at the end.  They're really great.  They make it much easier to study and of course it feels good to know you're studying as little as possible, but it's just as effective, if not more.

But there's one little thing....He charges $5.

I don't mind doing it, but I just wonder:  Where should professors draw the line when it comes to money?

Ok, the whole ending with a question thing would work if this was a blog that people commented on, so I'll try to answer it myself.

I think a professor should be allowed to charge for lecture notes as long as all of the study material is also in the text book.  

So, in that case, he's not selling the answers, but simply easiness.

But the test questions at the end are a bit much.  Providing the test questions makes it too easy, so it can feel like I am half cheating.

Also, there's the chance that some people can't afford it, but most likely, kids who can pay for college but don't have an extra $5 when they need it usually have some kind of expensive drug habit.

There are always exceptions, but from what I've seen, that seems to always be the case.

I'm not implying I'm against this by writing about it.  I'm only pondering for now.

Persevere

I picked much harder classes this session.  Well, that's life I guess.  There are going to be some classes you don't enjoy and getting through them is what makes you a real student, sadly.

History is better than english though.  At least, it's more simple.  It's like telling a story in chronological order and you have to remember some of it.

English is more abstract and it just takes more effort to pay attention.

Most people don't do well in English.  Isn't that funny?  You'd think we'd all love english class, since it's out native language....but no!!

It's not about improving our language skills necessarily.  It seems to be more about making sure we know about all of the famous authors and the hidden meanings in their works and I suppose that stresses me out and I shut off.  Is that what most people do?  I'm afraid so.

Knowing people are going through the same thing is comforting.  You never want to feel alone when things get stressful.  You just have to remind yourself of this:

"Everyone has to go through things like this sometimes and working through it just makes them appreciate everything else even more."

And that feels good.

1st session

I see how quickly time goes by the older I get.  I'm already nearing the end of my first session of summer school.  Just as we're all finally starting to talk to each other...

I was very lucky this session.  I'm afraid to speak too soon, because I haven't actually seen my grades, but my classes are very easy this session and honestly, I  really don't try that hard and I doubt intelligence has anything to do with it.

One thing I've definitely noticed about Montana is how the people have kids really young.  Half the students in my classes have at least one kid!  Granted most of them are older than me, but not much.  

I actually really like the idea of a family having a ton of kids and everyone being really comfortable around each other.  Montana is inspiring some new story ideas.  I don't want to say montanans are trailer trash, but those are the ideas they're inspiring in me.

Home Body

Summer School doesn't start until May 24, so for now, I'm just being lazy around the house. There was a snow storm a few days ago, so my dad and I are literally stuck in this house up in the mountains. It really is nice though, having all this time to read, write, think, and take photos of my gorgeous dogs and Montana nature.
More importantly though, I want to share with you the six extraordinary things I have discovered these past few days.

1.I can flip through a Jcpenny home catalog thirty times and enjoy it no less each time.
2.I can stay amused for hours sitting and staring at nothing of interest!
3.Giving my muscles a break is really fun and I won't gain weight from sitting around because I'm losing muscle :)
4.Living a sedentary life and eating nothing but sugar and carbs really softens my body contours. I wouldn't want to get too angular, would I?
5.When I'm not busy, I tend to over analyze everything going on around me and that's something like intelligence, right?
6.Last, but not least; if you see it on television, it's the truth.
Also, infomercials are incredibly addicting, but I think we all know that. ;)