A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about going back to college for the third time. I began taking an Introduction to Philosophy class at Northwestern Michigan College in early September. This was a condition for acceptance into a distance learning masters program in theology. I have taken a number of non-credit courses at NMC, but this was my first “real” college class in about 15 years.

We are at about the mid-point of the class as I write this. We have had one quiz, one exam, seven reflective writing assignments, and an incredible amount of in-class discussion as we learned about Plato, his philosophy and his influence, and a little about Socrates and Aristotle, and now we have moved onto the Existentialists (I hope I spelled that right) and I finally learned that Sartre in pronounced Sartra. The discussions have been lively and insightful.

The writing assignments have been challenging. I have developed a process of mulling it over for a day or so, then making some general notes, then doing an initial draft followed by “letting it lie” for a day or so, and then “polishing” or “tweaking” it. Every week, I swing back and forth between “did I write enough?” or “I wrote too much?” to “I think I failed to address this or that point.”

The exam was the first one I’ve taken in some years that really, really counted. I am well acquainted with #2 pencils, which I note are actually made in the U.S.A. but I hated to admit that I had never heard the term Scantron sheet.

I also had a strong urge to mark on the question page, which we had been sternly told not to mark on. I like to read questions through slowly and then underline or circle key words; identifying the nub of the question before I decide on an answer and enter it in the proper little box.

I took my time and was one of the last to finish, but I did well on what we were later told would be the easiest of the four exams. Since then I have also met with the professor to go over my reflective writings. On the whole it is going well, but I need to remember more breadth, more depth, more details. How many more weeks?

Two weeks ago I began the orientation phase for the distance learning program. This is really a new way to learn for me. It began with a conference call; another first for me. I called in a few minutes late and forgot to have my password at hand, but it went well.

This has been followed by two weeks of getting to know my fellow students through various biographical exercises. They range in age from people in their 20s and 30s to at least one other in my age group. Several of us are divorced, most are married; families range from infants to grown; and the students come not only from Michigan but from Iowa and Indiana and Illinois among other places.

Then there is the matter of getting acquainted with the technology. I did locate my computer password the day after the conference call and was able to log in. I hope that’s the right term. I was also able to view several short video clips. I was sure I was doing something wrong because one clip abruptly stopped after several minutes. Turned out it was suppose to be just a brief taste.

I figured out where to insert the CDs that apparently carry the lectures. I have practically gone steady with a Tech Angel named Travis via email. “Travis, how do I access the replies to my postings?” Followed by, “OK, I got into the replies, now how do I reply to the replies?” (Jeanne, our long suffering blog editor, has been through this with me several times, too, and can sympathize with poor Travis). Several times Travis has responded, “You must have figured it out because your reply is there.” Now, if only I could remember how I did it.

Next I am going to try to figure out how to post pictures. Wish me luck.

And so the adventure in higher education continues.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 7:00 am and is filed under Rose Street Ramblings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.