Weekly Wrap Up- January 29th

Did you know that Christmas was just over a month ago? To me, for some reason, it feels like so much longer. I think after the excitement of the holidays, time has slowed down. However, we still have a few things to look forward to...

Super Bowl Sunday is just around the corner, taking place on February 7th! Then, we have Valentine ’s Day; be sure to get your valentines ready and don’t forget some chocolates for your sweetie! Finally, what would 2016 be without Leap Day? It is almost that time again folks, February 29th (that’s in ONE month!)!

Speaking of what’s coming up, next week is midterm of the winter term. Somehow, we are already getting to the halfway point. Be sure to check your grades and contact your professor if you have any concerns or if you need to withdrawal. The last day to withdraw is February 28th, 2016. Good luck on your midterms! Study, study, study!

Technology Thursday: Why You Should Be Using StudyBlue for Ready-Made Study Material

In college you learn quickly that time is of the essence, and the more tools you have in your corner to help you, the better right? Especially being an online student. There are so many resources out there that can help you through your journey as an online learner.

So what is StudyBlue? It is a massive online database of study material, from notes to flashcards. Having things like this already available to you keeps you from having to make them yourself and you can get right down to studying! What’s even better is that you can personalize your StudyBlue experience: you can read notes from other students, even students at your school taking the same class as you. So how does it work? Here you go!

 Sign up as a student HERE and select either class or interest.

There may even be students in your class who have already signed up and started sharing. Then you can just click to view the study materials others have posted and start studying.

StudyBlue is still pretty new so that may not be the case. If so, share the site with your classmates and let them know that studying and creating flashcards can be a group effort that saves everyone some time if they just sign up. You are all in this together!

If your class isn’t set up in the system yet, you can always add the subject as an interest instead of a class. Then you’ll be able to pull study materials, flash cards, and quizzes from the entire system of students and learners.

It may not be the exact information required to pass the exams in your class, so you may want to only use the “Interest” option for genuine interests.

Once you get your classes and interests setup you just start studying!

StudyBlue is available on the web, iOS and Android platforms so you can easily study on the go or wherever you are.

Why should I go back to school?

Are you considering returning to college? Perhaps you started a college degree many years ago, but (as it so often does) life got in the way? Or maybe you are considering starting college for the first time, but you work full time or just don't have time to attend a college campus?

GMC Online is a great place to start your journey to higher education. We offer over twenty associate degree programs that can be completed fully online and at a significantly lesser cost than a four year college.

So, what are some of the top reasons to go back to school and earn an associate’s degree? Let’s take a look:

1. Finish what you started- Show yourself, your friends, and family what you are capable of.
2. Grow your income and become more qualified at your current workplace- By earning a degree, you are more likely to increase your earning potential and give yourself a better chance at upward mobility in the work place.
3. Give yourself a better opportunity to change the field you work in- Earn a degree in a new field and open even more doors
4. Save your time and money- By attending GMC (a community college) you are guaranteed to save cost on tuition and fees. Not to mention, our online program grants you the freedom you need to work at your own pace.
5. At GMC, you will be able to take advantage of our many transfer agreements. Georgia Military College has transfer agreements with over forty institutions, with guaranteed admissions to their four year programs.

These are five of many reasons I can think of as motivation to return to school and attend GMC Online. Have questions? Want to find out more? Contact us to today! Visit our site to learn more about our programs, cost, and what we have to offer. Let us help you earn your associate’s or bachelor’s degree and work toward a better future, today!

(Information provided by www.gmc.edu and www.collegetransfer.net)

Kennesaw State and GMC sign an articulation agreement

Lieutenant General William B. Caldwell, IV, President of Georgia Military College (GMC) and Kennesaw State University President Dr. Daniel S. Papp signed an articulation agreement on December 10, 2015 to allow GMC graduates with associate of arts or associate of science degrees, guaranteed admission to Kennesaw State upon meeting minimum admissions requirements. These requirements include:

• Earned 30 transferable semester hours or 50 quarter transferable hours
• Earned a minimum GPA of 2.0 out of a 4.0 scale for all college course work attempted
• Submitted all required materials within the appropriate deadlines
• Submitted an online application to KSU with the required application fee.

This agreement allows associate degree credits earned at GMC to transfer toward completion of baccalaureate degrees at Kennesaw State. Specifically, a student who transfers from Georgia Military College with an accredited Associate of Arts or Science degree will transfer into KSU with Areas A-E of the Core complete.
This agreement provides GMC students another opportunity for a seamless transition in order to continue their education. Additionally, this articulation agreement is consistent with Gov. Nathan Deal’s Complete College Georgia initiative designed to provide an improved educational pipeline from high school through college graduation. Read more about our transfer agreements here.

 

Online Learning Myths

Are you hesitant about taking an online course or enrolling in a completely online program? Many students suffer from the same fears that ultimately make them second guess their decisions. Perhaps you work a full-time job, are stationed overseas, or have other priorities preventing you from making your education #1. Online education is making strides to increase your ability to enroll and graduate with a degree.
According to the article “7 Myths About Online Education” from www.USNews.com, your most current fears about online education have been busted.

1. Online education is easy.
2. The quality is lower.
3. Online credits will not transfer to another school.
4. Online courses are not accredited.
5. Cheating is more common in online courses.
6. Online students can’t meet with their instructors.
7. Employers don’t like online degrees.

To read more about these myths, visit. http://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/articles/2015/03/09/7-myths-about-online-education


Visit our website to learn more about our online program, tuition, admissions, and curriculum!




Williams, Terri. "7 Myths about Online Education." US News. 9 March 2015. Web. 28 September 2015.

Weekly Wrap Up-December 4th

Wow, is it December already? This year has really flown by! I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving holiday and were stuffed with delicious pie (I know I was!!).
The winter term is set to begin January 9^th, meaning the start is only a little over one month away! Our office will be closed starting December 18^th, so we would like to encourage you to register ASAP to avoid any problems!! Beat the Christmas rush and contact your admissions counselor or advisor today!
Our Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree has been implemented and with that comes the question of transferring. We currently have BAS transfer agreements in the works with Albany Technical College and Gwinnett Technical College! Once these are set in stone, it will make it easy for students to transfer courses.
It is with happiness and a little heartache that I announce the retirement of the office manager for Information Technology and the Online Campus.  Mrs. Diane has been a huge part of the success of the Online Campus; she has been there to keep us in line, while at the same time making sure we all have a little fun. I know I will miss stopping by her office for a mint and a quick chat about life. The office will feel very different come Monday morning, but we wish Mrs. Diane all the best in her retirement and hope that she enjoys every minute! Congratulations and we can't wait to celebrate this evening!

Tips For Improving Your GPA!

Grade Point Average (GPA)- something that we all think about and an constant indicator of our academic standing and progress. GPA is important for many reasons and, for me, maintaining a certain GPA was always important because I knew I wanted to attend college and graduate school and there is always a minimum GPA associated with admissions.
Of course, you probably already knew that- that your GPA is an indicator of your academic standing and that you need typically need to maintain a minimum for admissions purposes. However, did you know that there is also a minimum GPA associated with financial aid status? This is something a lot of students (unfortunately!) learn the hard way. You can read more about Satisfactory Academic Progress in GMC’s most recent catalog and I urge you to learn more about it!
So, we know that GPA is important, but what are some easy ways to maintain or improve your GPA? Well for one, it is important that you know how to find and calculate your GPA. You can find this information in your student portal under web advisor! You can view your GPA on the first page of your program evaluation and your GPA by term can be found under academic profile! There is also a GPA calculator located under web advisor.
What are some easy ways to help boost your GPA and overall student success??
Chegg.com provides some great ideas, but let’s relate them directly to Moodle and GMC Online:

1. Know your syllabus- be sure that you know all the important dates and use it to stay on top of your schedule for the term! The syllabus can be found at the top of each course!
2. If you take notes be sure to date them, so that you know which section the material is from! This way, when an exam is approaching, you know just how far back in your notes to go.
3. Review your past homework assignments, quizzes, and tests! You can always view the material as soon as the new week opens.
4. Take advantage of the Question and Answer forum in Moodle (This can also be found at the top of each course page)! This is a way to talk with classmates about assignments and to get some great input! Having trouble finding a research topic? Can’t remember the Galileo password? Ask your fellow students!
5. Live chat- Every student has the opportunity to set up a chat with his/her professor! Just email or send a Moodle message to your professor to set up an appointment time! This is a great resource!!
6. Free tutoring- Every student receives TEN HOURS of FREE tutoring in EACH course! Need I say more?

What are some ways that you maintain your GPA? Have you found some useful tips and tricks that you can share with other GMC Online students?
Kayla Brownlow
GMC Online Academic Advisor
Psychology Professor




References:
http://blog.chegg.com/2015/02/02/simple-tricks-that-can-save-your-gpa/

Staff Member of 15 Summer Term Awarded to Kayla Brownlow

We are thrilled to announce that the staff member of the 2015 Summer Term has been awarded to Kayla Brownlow, an advisor here at OLC!
Kayla is a true example of a dedicated employee.  Each day she exhibits amazing work ethic and a superior attitude that positively contributes to the overall operations of the OLC.  Kayla is seen as a leader among her peers for her extensive knowledge, and she is always willing to lend a helping hand.  Anyone that watches Kayla work can quickly see that she is dedicated to her students and dedicated to the mission of the OLC.
Congratulations to Kayla! We love having you as a part of our team. Keep up the excellent work!

Communication is key!

Online courses can present certain challenges that face to face courses do not. Chief among them is that students and instructors usually only communicate electronically.  While there are some instances where online courses do provide video chat options, many do not, which means that the communication between professors and class members is left up to the keyboard in front of them.  This brings about the problem of how to effectively communicate with your classmates and instructors.  Here are a few tips to help students do just that.

1. Introduce yourself to your instructor by telling him or her a little about you.  Share this with the rest of the class if at all possible.  At GMC-Online, students and instructors can do just that through the Introductions Forum.  Participate in this.  Don’t shortcut your post. Genuinely introduce yourself by talking about things that you like, things that do in your professional and personal life, and your future plans.  It might also be wise to talk about anything that makes you nervous about the course you are about to take.
2. Show an interest in your instructor.  Ask her or him about his/her professional career, where s/he went to college, and what s/he likes about the teaching profession.  Instructors love to talk about their experiences in education, and when students ask, it opens a line of communication that can be beneficial to both parties.
3. Remember that electronic communication can be a challenging way to communicate. When you are typing an email or sending an electronic message, read it and reread it before hitting send.  Ask yourself if the person to whom you are sending the message will understand you, especially your tone and main point.  Remember that one cannot read emotion in an electronic message, so words and the way they are used are very important.
4. Be professional and polite.  There is never a situation that calls for unprofessional, rude and offensive communication. If you have a genuine concern, it would be best to ask the professor if s/he could talk via phone or video chat.
5. Remember that sometimes, certain words and phrases have charged meanings.  For example, “furthermore, for your information, and excuse me” all have earned the reputation of being words that are used when someone is in a heated exchange or when they are trying to come across as terse.  Again, read your emails and messages to make sure that the reader on the other side won’t misinterpret what you are saying.

There is no perfect course, and there are no perfect emails, but taking these points in to consideration before communicating might eliminate unnecessary problems and lead to a better course and more productive learning environment!

-Dean Jeffery Wells

Gwinnett Technical College and GMC sign an articulation agreement

Georgia Military College and Gwinnett Technical College signed an articulation agreement to assist with graduates transferring into our Bachelor of Applied Science degrees.  We currently have two BAS degrees: Business Management and Supervision and Management.

Gwinnett Technical College opened its doors in 1984 in Lawrenceville, GA.  It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).  It offers several programs of study in business, health/life sciences, computer sciences, criminal justice, art & design, automotive, construction, & trades, and education.

We will be attending the 2016 Transfer Fair at Gwinnett Technical College Monday, February 29th from 10:30AM-1:00PM.  We are looking forward to meeting potential students and informing them about our new Bachelor of Applied Science programs.

Weekly Wrap Up-January 22nd

This weekend we will be wrapping up week 2 of the winter term, which means we are already 1/4 of the way done! Be sure to stay on top of your assignments and due dates!Remember, if you no longer wish to be enrolled you will need to contact your professor and request a withdrawal.  You can withdraw until the last day of week 7 (2/28/16).
If you are in the path of Jonas, watch out! (We are talking about the snowstorm here, not the brothers!) Weather.com is calling Jonas a, “Potentially historic Winter Storm,” that is really hitting the ground running today. As of this morning, there were about 20 states with some kind of winter weather warning! Be careful out there and if you are in the storm’s path, be sure to stock up on some supplies (maybe something other than milk, bread, and eggs?). Be sure to keep an eye on your internet connection and if you are having any issues, try and let your professor know or try and get your assignments done before you lose your connection!
Did you make any resolutions this year? Hopefully, if you did, you are sticking to them! Here at the OLC we all submitted a one word resolution for 2016. I really enjoyed hearing the words my coworkers chose and I found some of them inspiring! Check them out here and I hope you find one of them inspiring as well. Get inspired to make the most out of 2016!