The Psychology of Social Media

Psychological theories are vital for the success of an online community in order to attract users and promote interactions among them. There must be a driving force that motivates people to go to the site, join, and then actively engage in it on a continual basis. Therefore, it is imperative to know and apply psychological, cognitive, and communication theories when creating an online community so you can not only attract users to your site, but keep them there by meeting their needs. Social Cognition Theory is a vital theory in an online community since users can observe the behaviors of other users, and then understand how to adequately address the topics and interact in the online environment (Kanhadilok & Watts, 2014).

However, from a personal standpoint, what causes us to want to participate is social media? Being acknowledged plays a big motivating factor for users to post on Facebook. However, what about if no one ‘likes’ your post, or acknowledges it with a comment? How does a user feel then? Do we post for our own memories’ sake, or do we post with the expectation that we will receive feedback or acknowledgements? Are we motivated by social acceptance, and if so what about when someone ‘unfriends’ you? How does that leave a user feeling?

This is where social media can cause disappointment or leave users feeling neglected or rejected by their friends. The reasons behind their rejection can be caused by a variety of reasons, including annoyance of the messages or posts, or their friend’s behavior in the offline world. The interesting aspect about these online interactions though is that those who were unfriended, suddenly find that they no longer want to associate with those friends in real life.(Gashi & Knautz, 2015). Thus, it would appear that social media is not only a reflection of our interactions in the real world, but our virtual interactions can carry over to our physical world and can impact relationships in negative ways.

On the other hand, social media can also support us in times of need where ‘friends’ come out of the wood work to donate money or provide words of encouragement during difficult times.  Facebook accounts can also be living photo albums of interactive memories with our loved ones and there can be many benefits associated with these interactions. It is not only a great way to stay in touch with others, but a good way to gain insight into those we love by the posts they make.

Social media has many benefits in this way, and it is wonderful that some of these interactions became real world interactions and support when we can need them the most. One study supported this theory by finding that people with large social networks may benefit from the support they receive by the sheer numbers of having many friends, even more so than if they had a smaller and closer network of friends (Manago, Taylor, & Greenfield, 2012). Therefore, it would appear that there is power in numbers, and when we receive an outpouring of support from friends, whether they be close or distant, it still means a lot.

However, what information are we providing to those around us by the posts that we make? Or the friends that we have? It would appear that who we are, and what we think of ourselves and others is no longer based solely in the physical world, but the virtual world which is rapidly shaping how we view ourselves, the world, and others around us.

References

Gashi, L., & Knautz, K. (2015). Somebody that I used to know - unfriending and becoming unfriended on facebook. Proceedings of the European Conference on E-Learning, , 583-590. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=108723196&site=eds-live&scope=site

Kanhadilok., P., & Watts, M. (2014). Adult play-learning: Observing informal family education at a science museum. Studies in the Education of Adults, 46(1), 23-41. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=101676059&site=eds-live&scope=site

Manago, A. M., Taylor, T., & Greenfield, P. M. (2012). Me and my 400 friends: The anatomy of college students' facebook networks, their communication patterns, and well-being. Developmental Psychology, 48(2), 369-380. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ979957&site=eds-live&scope=site; http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0026338

 

Catheryn Reardon, M. Ed.
Adjunct Professor
Georgia Military College-Online Campus

Weekly Wrap Up- February 26th

Weekly Wrap Up 2-26-16

Happy leap year to you all and happy Friday! Do you have any friends that have Leap Day birthdays? If so, be sure to tell them happy birthday on Monday; after all, it does only come around every four years!  

Reminder: THIS SUNDAY, February 28^th, is THE last day to request a withdrawal! Please be sure to send in your requests no later than midnight on Sunday!

We are heading into the final week of the winter term! Week 8 officially ends this FRIDAY! This is different from the normal end date of Sunday, so make sure all of your assignments are completed by midnight this Friday! This is necessary so that your professors can grade all of your assignments and turn in grades on time. If you have any questions, be sure to contact your professors.

Have you subscribed to the blog yet? If not, sign up today!

Good luck during finals! 

What Is Psychology?

When people find out that you are studying Psychology, they are bound to make comments like, “Don’t analyze me!” or ask questions like, “Can you tell me what I'm thinking right now?” 

What is the study of Psychology really about? What do you really learn in this degree program? Having an understanding of the field is necessary for anyone who is interested in it as a career or program of study.

First you need to know how Psychology is different from Psychiatry. Psychiatrists have a specialized medical degree, meaning that they can prescribe medications for mental disorders. Psychologists have a broader focus on mental illness and behavior, they can hold a variety of different jobs in counseling, research, and assessments.

Psychology is the study of people, the mind, and behavior. Starting out, you will learn a great deal about behaviors and mental processes, famous theories and theorists, and the background of behaviors. Students will be delving into topics related to psychological principles and concepts, the scientific method, and historical and current trends in Psychology.If you choose to study Psychology at GMC, you will take courses such as Introduction to Psychology, Human Growth and Development, Psychology of Adjustment, and Research Methods. GMC Online’s Associate degree in Psychology is great for anyone who is interested in and wants to go further into the field and move on to a bachelor’s program.

Learn more about Psychology and the program that GMC offers.

http://www.all-about-psychology.com/what-is-psychology.html 

Psychology and Technology

Psychology is a field that not only applies to human behavior, but with the development of technology and AI programs like Apple’s SIRI, artificial intelligence is rapidly emerging using psychological theories as a foundation for their programming. B.F. Skinner was influential in the area of behavior with his theory of operant conditioning by identifying the factors which caused behavior. In doing so, he was able to develop his theory of positive and negative reinforcement as a tool to teach and modify behavior through operant conditioning (Iversen, 1992). It is through this process of reinforcement learning that developers program artificial intelligence and bring psychological methods into the fields of technology and engineering.

Reinforcement learning (RL) is used to program artificial intelligence software programs like SIRI. However, reinforcement learning is not only used in programs to make adaptable software for consumer use, it is also used for the adaptions involved in the learning of robots. This occurs when reinforcement learning algorithms can be applied to the machines themselves in order to assist them in making adaptations and adjustments in their abilities as they learn. A set of behaviors are programmed into the robot, along with parameters and rules which assist the robot in perceiving the situation and then corresponding it to a specific behavior rule. The robot then learns which behaviors are needed and which strategies should be used, thus modifying its behavior to accomplish a task (Song, Li, Wang, Ma, & Ruan, 2014).

These types of reinforcement learning behaviors and modifications to artificially intelligent robots are paramount in order for them to meet their potential (Hester & Stone, 2013). To best serve mankind, robots can visit places that are far too dangerous for man to explore. For example, the MARS Rover is able to retrieve samples and data from the planet Mars in order to further scientific research on other planets. However, it is still very reliant upon communications from NASA and regular software updates to keep it running (Wright, 2013). The future of these types of missions could improve vastly if AI robots could think for themselves, and be able to tackle challenges without communications from earth. This is where the future of psychology and technology lies, and its potential is as far reaching as the galaxy itself.

References

Hester, T., todd@cs.utexas.edu, & Stone, P., pstone@cs.utexas.edu. (2013). TEXPLORE: Real-time sample-efficient reinforcement learning for robots. Machine Learning, 90(3), 385-429. doi:10.1007/s10994-012-5322-7

Iversen, I. H. (1992). Skinner's early research: From reflexology to operant conditioning. American Psychologist, 47(11), 1318-1328. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.47.11.1318

Song, Y., Li, Y., Wang, X., Ma, X., & Ruan, J. (2014). An improved reinforcement learning algorithm for cooperative behaviors of mobile robots. Journal of Control Science & Engineering, , 1-8. doi:10.1155/2014/270548

Wright, A. (2013). Revving the rover. Communications of the ACM, 56(2), 14-16. doi:10.1145/2408776.2408782

Catheryn Reardon, M. Ed.
Adjunct Professor
Georgia Military College-Online Campus

Weekly Wrap Up- February 19th

This past Monday was President’s Day, which is the celebration of President Washington’s Birthday. GMC celebrated Presidents day last Friday, with a parade at the Milledgeville campus. The ceremony also gave us time to honor Colonel Fred Van Horn, who retired after serving GMC for the past 21 years. During his time with GMC he served as Commandant of Cadets, Dean of Students, Adjunct Professor, GMC Director of Character Education, Executive Vice President, and even interim President. Thank you Colonel Van Horn for all your years of hard work for GMC! Check out our Instagram page for pictures of the event: @gmconlinecampus

The end of the term is approaching, be sure to check your grades and contact your professor if you have any questions. The last day to withdraw is the last day of week 7: Sunday, February 28^th. With the end of the term in mind, remember that all week 8 assignments are due Friday. This is different from the rest of the weeks, so be sure to be aware of this! You must complete the “Week 8 Deadline Information” section in order to have access to the week 8 assignments.

Remember, you have access to free tutoring 24/7 via tutor.com in your courses!! If you run out of time, please let your professor know! Good luck as the end of the term approaches and enjoy your weekend. 

Did you know you can subscribe to the blog for daily updates? Subscribe by entering your email address on our blog site under "Subscribe" on the right hand side of the page. 

Utilizing Your Resources

As the winter term is coming to a close, you all probably are working on end of the term research papers and essays.  It is important to understand how to utilize your resources that are integrated in each of your courses.

Below is a link to the GMC Library page to better explain how to prevent plagiarism when writing your essays.  I also included a video on how to navigate the GMC Library.

You will need to be logged into Moode to access the links below:

http://gmcga.libguides.com/copyright/plagiarism

http://gmc.mrooms3.net/mod/page/view.php?id=1253941&inpopup=1

Students Learn Differently

Technology is changing rapidly and evolving the way we teach and the way we learn daily.   How do you learn best? Would you define yourself as one of the three types of learner, auditory, visual, or kinesthetic?  If you’ve taken our PER 101 College Success course you may have a new view on your learning style. 

Often times we might meet our individual learning needs for convenience.    Do you spend a lot of time in the car and listen to audio books or recorded lectures on your way to each destination?  Or maybe you’ve sent a voice text through the Bluetooth in your car. Did you know that voice recognition or Dragon Speak has been used for decades to assist individuals with disabilities?

Here are other reasons why you might be an auditory learner; maybe you have a visual impairment that impedes the acquisition of visual materials. Or maybe you have a reading disability that impedes the way in which you process materials you see.  It’s possible that visual materials work better for you because you can follow it with more precision or you have a hearing impairment and acquire information visually.   All of these reasons are unique to the individual.

For each individual learning is a little different but there is a limitless world of resources to meet each individuals learning needs.  For whatever reason you have a need to use technology just reach out and search, a solution for your need will likely be available.  Here is a site that offers a list of technology that could change the way you attack your studies 25 Incredible Assistive Technologies.

Katie Johnson

Director of Academic Support

Weekly Wrap Up- February 12th

TGIF! Happy Friday to you all!!

Today, GMC’s prep school is having a parade in honor of President’s Day coming up on Monday, February 15^th. The parade will take place here on the Milledgeville campus of GMC, with special guest speaker Colonel Fred Van Horn, special assistant to the president of Georgia Military College. Colonel Van Horn is retiring from GMC after 21 years of service!

GMC Online will be closed on Monday, February 15^th in celebration of President’s Day. We will resume normal business hours Tuesday, February 16^th.

Don’t forget Valentine’s Day is this Sunday! You still have two days to prepare!

As we approach the last few weeks of the spring term, remember that the last day to withdraw is Sunday, February 28^th!!  Good luck as you finish out the term! 

5 Tested Tips to Battle Burnout with Better Self-Care

We all know that getting a can be extremely challenging and sometimes taking care of yourself falls off the list of priorities. The long hours doing schoolwork, working a job, taking care of a family, being involved in other activities - whatever the case may be, it's normal to get burnt out. Burnout is a different monster than just being tired or overworked for a short period of time. It’s a chronic state of distress resulting from too many constant demands. Getting over your burnout can take some work on your end. Knowing how to deal with and push through burnout is an essential professional skill in an environment that demands so much from students.

Are you experiencing burnout? Some of the common symptoms are:

• chronic physical exhaustion that does not go away with rest
• depression and/or anxiety
• cynicism
• loss of motivation or interest in your work
• forgetfulness and/or impaired concentration
• detachment from those around you
• increased irritability
• lack of productivity/poor performance

So how can you combat burnout when there are so many demands on your time? The key to managing this conflict is to be very proactive about self-care. The best way to combat burnout is to take the time to take care of yourself. These changes don’t have to disrupt your whole life, but taking the time to reassess your habits and alter your behavior to better care for yourself will have a positive impact on your work and is worth the effort.

Here are five tips:

1) Get Enough Sleep

Sometimes sleep is one of the first things to go. You may even brag or hear others discussing how little sleep they've gotten like it’s a badge of pride. While it can feel good to crank out a major assignment overnight or finally finish writing that article in the wee hours of the morning, long-term sleep deprivation is terrible for cognitive functioning. So, there are two parts to this: getting more sleep and getting better sleep. Go bed earlier or find a way to get up later. Turn off the autoplay on whatever video streaming service you use or try setting a “bedtime” alarm so you will be mindful about getting to bed at an earlier hour. Getting better sleep is just as important as getting enough. To get better sleep try setting a “no screen” time for later in the evening. The light of computer monitors, cell phones, and television screens are known to be disrupting. Aim to shut down tech for the last 30 minutes of your day so you are not exposed to the bright lights that disrupt restful sleep.

2) Exercise

Get regular exercise in your life, however you can. You don't have to go run multiple miles. Even little bits through the day will help to improve your mood and produce endorphins. Taking the time to incorporate physical activity into your routine will help combat the physical symptoms of burnout and can produce mood-stabilizing endorphins that will help you to feel better in the long run. Look at your schedule and start by adding in little activities that you enjoy. You can always add more exercise later, the important part is to just start.

3) Eat Better Food

Eat real food! Even if it’s basic, it’s better than a vending machine, which is usually filled with empty carbs or salty/fatty chips. These foods aren’t doing your brain any favors even if they are cheaper. You don't have to break the bank. Don’t worry about gluten-free, low-fat, paleo, vegan, or the fad-of-the-year diet plan. Focus on eating basic nutritious foods consistently so your brain actually has enough fuel to function. Embrace whatever works for you. Even if you absolutely love Ramen noodles (which I do, I embrace the love of ramen I developed in undergrad) at least throw some frozen vegetables in there at the end so you’re not just eating empty carbs and salt. It’s not about major changes, but making the little improvements where you can, when you can. Take some time to learn to cook. It doesn't have to be a complicated undertaking. Making a bunch of stew on a Sunday is pretty easy, and if you make enough to freeze you won’t need to cook lunch for the rest of the week (which is a HUGE time-saver as well!). Play around with a Crock-Pot. Have some fun with it! Learn to cook real food that you like and nourish your body.

4) Ask for Help

One of the major drivers of burnout is trying to cope with an overbooked schedule and too many necessary tasks. Try to take a step back and see if there is anything you can ask for help with in order to lighten your workload and give you room to recover from burnout. Do you have a spouse, significant other, family, or friends who can help ease the burden for a little bit by taking on some smaller tasks ? If you are completely overwhelmed then take a hard look at all of your professional/personal responsibilities and see if there is anything that you can step back from. This may mean having to speak with your advisor to determine what is working for you and what is not. Sometimes you might just need to be reminded that projects don’t always work and to be kinder to yourself, other times it may be time to address the project and drop aspects that are not working. JUST DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR WHAT YOU NEED!

5) Learn to say NO.

When trying to get back from burnout you have to accept that YOU CAN'T DO EVERYTHING. The temptation to add lines to your resume is always there, but it’s important to know when to say no to unnecessary activities, events, and even people. Protect your time and cut out whatever is not helping you achieve your goals or take care of yourself. Learn to say no to activities and people that are not contributing to your progress. Be ruthless! Once you have a set of self-care habits to protect against the worst of burnout, then, and only then, can you start taking on new activities. Wait until you’ve made it through the burnout and can actually handle the increased workload, otherwise you may end up right back where you started.

Final Thoughts

While other articles may suggest the power of positive thinking in combating burnout, I think this is a bad way to deal with this particular problem. Positive thinking can result in an inability to actually deal with the issues that caused your burnout in the first place. It’s better to accept the negatives for what they are and work with what you have then imagine a false alternative for yourself. Take baby steps to take care of yourself and stay consistent. Small, regular changes go a long way toward helping to break through burnout.

These tips don’t take much to implement, so try what fits for you. Always remember that you are worth taking care of.

Have you dealt with burnout during your time as a student? What helped? Share your experiences in the comments section below.

Adapted from : https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/gradhacker/5-tested-tips-battle-burnout-better-self-care?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=c4136a15ca-DNU20160210&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-c4136a15ca-198578413

Psychology: From A Professor’s Viewpoint

      

Psychology is such an interesting, useful field of study, because it can lead to so many different areas of education and a multitude of different careers: counseling, assessment, research, and even to more specific fields of study such as, social psychology, developmental psychology, and even counseling for specific populations. I became interested in Psychology during my undergraduate studies at Georgia College in Milledgeville. The one thing I loved about it was the fact that it really helped me to better understand my friends, family, strangers, and myself (I was the student who diagnosed myself and my friends with different disorders). Now, put a clinical degree on top of that and I know more about people, the brain, and personality than I ever thought possible.

My degrees have lead me to becoming a professor of Psychology with GMC’s Online Campus, beginning about two years ago. I have really enjoyed teaching, specifically the online Human Growth and Development course (PSY 203). This course is so interesting to me and it was one of my favorite courses in school. I loved learning about the different developmental theories and the ways that we are influenced by our genetics and environment throughout life. I also love teaching it, because I learn something new every term from my students. The biggest problem students experience in this course is usually learning APA style and implementing it correctly. I would say the best part about this course, is that students find it so applicable to their lives and they always have great examples to provide during discussions.

The PSY 203 course is great for anyone who is interested in the field of Psychology or Nursing. This course is usually required for nursing programs, because it covers the entire life-span. It helps nursing students to better understand their patients and gives some insight into the diagnoses they might encounter. Want to learn more about our Psychology program? Read more here. 

Discussion Forums: What Are They Really All About?

The most common assignments students find in online courses are the discussion forums.  The same is true at Georgia Military College’s Online Campus.  In most of the courses we offer, there are two discussion forum assignments per week.  The courses that carry 3 quarter hours usually include just one per week.  It is not uncommon to find students asking why there are so many of these types of assignments in our courses, as well as in courses delivered via other online programs. It is not an unfair question.

Discussion forums can be used for a number of reasons. First, it is important to realize that online courses generally only include interaction between students in chat/discussion board formats.  While technology has improved to allow for the interaction of students via web-video and with apps such as Skype, students usually only “virtually see” one another in the chat and discussion boards. So, this assignment is used to simulate the classroom interaction that one would customarily get in an on-ground or face-to-face course.  Second, the forums are designed to foster what their names imply-discussion.  Discussion and debate are centerpieces of a good course. Having students ponder and debate questions or ideas is not only healthy for a good learning environment, it inspires critical thinking and analysis.  There will always be assignments like reading check quizzes, map quizzes, and other assessments that just measure how well you have memorized and studied the information in front of you.  These forums allow for students to interact with each other to explore concepts, facts, theories and ideas. They also allow students to ask relevant questions, propose different solutions, and disagree with commonly held beliefs. One of my favorite classroom discussions in one of the online courses I took at the doctoral level was “Are students inclined to cheat if given the chance?”  The responses from various instructors in the course from around the country were surprising and varied. Interestingly, it turned in to quite a debate that went on even longer than the professor required.  Thirdly, the discussion forums can also serve as a way to teach writing and argumentative skills.  Students are served well if they are able to take a forum prompt, research the answer/find evidence, be taught how to use credible sources to find the answer/evidence, and present a logical, well-written argument in defense of their position using the evidence and answers they have found.  These are all skills that are important in the work-force and essential for college success.

So what advice might I have for students as they seek to get the most out of their discussion forum assignments? The first bit of advice would be to take the assignment seriously. Don’t cut corners or run through it too quickly. Think about the question or idea being discussed and debated. Ask questions of your fellow classmates and the instructor.  Use the librarysources to research the question/idea and provide legitimate evidence and responses. Use these forums to hone your writing and argumentation skills.  Interact as much as possible, and engage your classmates. Encourage them to get more involved in the discussion. This helps foster a better classroom encounter and gives more opportunities for everyone to learn. 

Dean Jeffery Wells

Why Study Psychology?

Psychology is a valuable degree for many working professionals across fields, because it expands one’s knowledge of how people interact with one another. It is also a degree program that promotes the use of thinking critically about human behavior, cognition and learning, and the development and pursuit of social responsibility. This can be especially insightful information when working in various fields including business, healthcare, human resources, social services, law enforcement, education, and counseling.

Psychology is not just the study of the mind, it is the study of what makes us human, and the motivations of our behaviors. Psychology majors will learn to interpret data and find ways to solve problems in difficult situations. These types of problem solving skills are beneficial across many fields, and they make the psychology major an asset in the workplace.

Check out this article to read more about the benefits of studying in this field. Here is a great article which examines the benefits of studying in this field:

Catheryn Reardon, M. Ed.
Adjunct Professor

Weekly Wrap Up- February 5th

Welcome to February 2016, where we will celebrate Groundhog's Day, Super Bowl 50, Valentine’s Day, and President’s Day (Happy Birthday George Washington!).

Today, February 5th, 2016, is the day that the new student email addresses will start going into effect. Students should now begin using “@bulldog.gmc.edu,” rather than, “@student.gmc.cc.ga.us” (easier to remember, am I right?). Nothing before the “@” symbol will change and your username will remain the same as well (use your username to log into the portal!).  Our IT department has sent out several emails regarding this change, so hopefully it won’t come as a surprise and hopefully it is a welcomed change. If you have any questions regarding this transition, please contact the student help desk at 1-855-789-7050.

Things to keep in mind:

You will not lose any existing emails!

Use your username to log into the student portal! (http://portal.gmc.edu) 

You can now take advantage of benefits associated with an “.edu” email address (i.e. Amazon Prime for students, Dropbox, Microsoft Office, Apple, etc.)!

We are almost through midterm week of the Winter term, meaning we are over halfway through the term! Be sure to take advantage of tutor.com as you study for your midterms! Good luck to you all!

Thursday Thoughts

Have you ever pondered on life and all the events which occur throughout your "life journey"? If so, you're not alone. It's human nature to contemplate your decisions, situations, next steps, etc..

For me personally it's about staying motivated, keeping my eye on the short or long term goal before me.. So how do you do this? It's easier said than done I know. Being a fan of "words," I have always enjoyed different quotes. I may pin them up in my bathroom, in my planner, at my desk- wherever it may be. Seeing them is a daily reminder of, "Hey you! You've got this..." What I often like about these quotes are the stories behind them and the people who have said them. I may ask myself "What brought them to this point? Why did they say this? What does it mean? How does it relate to me?"... So today, I leave you with these! And if you don't know who these people are, trust me- they are worth a Google.

"Adversity causes some people to break; others to break records. "— William A. Ward

"You miss 100 percent of all the shots you never take." — Wayne Gretzky

"There is only one success - to be able to spend life in your own way." - Christopher Morley

"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson

"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

What motivates you? What are some of your favorite quotes?

What is Your Learning Style?

Often, when discussing the subject of learning,  we tend to think about the level of intelligence a person possesses. While this is true, it also depends on how well we understand our learning style and how well we implement our style of learning into the classroom and our study habits. There are three different learning styles: visual, auditory, and tactile/kinesthetic; we might favor one more than the others or learn best through a combination of all three. Understanding your learning style can lead to better study habits, better note-taking, and better classroom habits. Take this quiz to find out more about your learning style.

Upon reading the results of your quiz answers, you might be wondering what the results mean. According to Chegg.com:

Auditory Learners learn best by hearing: reciting information, avoiding loud places, using word association, group study sessions, and asking a lot of questions.

Visual Learners learn best by seeing: using charts and graphs, watching video tutorials, drawing visual outlines, color coding/highlighting, using images and pictures to retain information, and using flashcards

Tactile/Kinesthetic Learners learn best by doing: taking lab classes, role playing, taking frequent breaks, chewing gum while studying, and studying in groups. Tactile learners can also use a computer to reinforce learning (through sense of touch/typing), making them a perfect candidate for online courses!

These tips can be put to use to help you improve your study skills and your learning abilities overall. Take the quiz today and find out the best way to become the best learner you can be!

Metacognition and How It Can Help You As You Tackle Your Courses

Ever so often, Georgia Military College embraces a new plan of action focused on improving the quality of education and the learning process for its students. We call these plans Quality Enhancement Plans. Our last one focused primarily on how we can improve our Learning Support Service programs (LSS Math, Reading, and English). This cycle, we are embracing a plan of action focused primarily on helping students improve their critical thinking and metacognition skills. Many students are familiar with what we mean by critical thinking, albeit there is much debate about how to properly define the term and how to help students master it.  However, most students are not as familiar with the term metacognition.

To help you understand what it means and how to use it, we have provided a video which features Dr. Sandra McGuire of Louisiana State University, who is an author and guest lecturer on metacognition and how institutions like GMC can use it to enhance student's learning opportunities.  Dr. McGuire will actually be our guest speaker at the 2017 Spring Faculty Workshops.  The interview is on Youtube. All you need to do is turn up your speakers.

In addition, here is a great web article about metacognition provided by The University of Buffalo.
http://gse.buffalo.edu/fas/shuell/cep564/metacog.htm

Take a look at both of these resources, and see if you can use them to help you hone your thinking skills and enhance your learning opportunities at GMC and elsewhere.