Learning Style
Megan McInerney
Introduction to the Health Professions
Professor: Bethany Truax Armstrong
October 19, 2017
Mid-Semester Reflection
Learning Style
My learning style aligns with the “Intuitive Thinker”, which means that I think logically and use patterns to help process information. After discovering my learning style, I became more aware of study habits that are more effective for the way that I process information. I now study individually before group study, and review the abstract sections and chapter summaries of new material before reading the specified information. I also study before class so that I already have a mental framework of the information so that class discussions fill in details. This does work more than my previous study methods because, while I do not enjoy studying alone in my room, I feel most productive when working individually. I feel as though using individualized study habits, understanding chapter summaries and abstract sections, and studying in advance have allowed me to come to a more thorough understanding of class material. For example, in “Interpreting the American Past”, I earned a strong score on the midterm because I reviewed Revel videos, chapter summaries, and the writing prompts before discussing study methods with my peers.
Study Habits
I have become most comfortable when studying in the Perry Library or my dorm room. While my dorm room contains the risk for me to slack off some, I am also promised a quiet environment that separates me from other students who have loud or distracting agendas. The Perry Library, while I run the risk of being surrounded by louder people and have to vie for a comfortable seating area in which to work, offers a calm, public study area where I am forced to focus on my goals. Study and homework times are most effective for me when located later in the day. That way, I know that all of the learning community events, study sessions, and classes on my daily agenda have been attended and I can focus the rest of my time on individual work. This allows me to focus more and dedicated more consecutive time to work. While I may feel stressed or slightly tired during this time of day, it is most definitely the only time of day that I can devote myself entirely to keeping up with my assignments and course material. My studying has been very effective so far, however, I could focus my study habits more clearly on what my professors want me to know for exams by reviewing class powerpoints and coming in to see my professors during office hours when I have a question.
Transition to college
College is not even remotely how I had expected it to be. While I anticipated the intensity of my classes, the assignments seem much more straight-forward and I feel more supported and focused on my studies now than I ever had in high school. Beyond this, I feel much more involved because I have found a sport that I enjoy. This has made me feel like part of the campus and part of a community. Socially, college is much more stressful than high school, but with the passage of time even this is becoming a very positive area of my life. The toughest challenge with moving away to college is not being able to see my cat or fish at the end of the day. It took a long time for me to be able to cope with not having my pets in my life every day and for me to not be able to be in their lives. The easiest transition has definitely been the added independence associated with being away from parents. I have been largely self-sufficient for years now, so not being able to go home to my parents has not caused me great distress beyond missing my family.
Connecting to Campus
While adjusting to my program, I was confused about the Bachelors of Science in Nursing to Masters programs. The Health Sciences Advising Office and the director of the Masters in Nursing Science programs were very helpful in explaining the programs and helping me to plan my program outline. With regard to Old Dominion resources, I would like to learn more about the student leadership office because I would like to explore campus affiliations for internship and co-op opportunities. My greatest allies in the university so far have been my peers because they help to keep me updated with project expectations, class opportunities and upcoming assignments. While attempting to become more involved with campus, I have attended multiple club interest meetings. I have attended interest meetings for HOSA and the Black Student Alliance, but I have not gotten involved with any clubs in depth because I feel too constricted on time.