So busy

I haven’t written in ages (as you’ve probably noticed).  The between semesters break from university is over and I’m back into it.  This semester I’m doing two subjects, which is part time, but it’s still pretty full on.  One of my subjects is soil science, which is interesting, and I’m sure very useful, but the work load is very large.  We have a 2 hour lecture each week, followed by a 3 hour workshop immediately afterwards, which doesn’t give me much time to read the 1-2+ chapters of the text book and write lab reports.  I also have to memorise all of the orders and suborders of soils, and you’d be surprised at how many there actually are.

 

I’m also taking resource sustainability, which is really interesting, but also time intensive since we have to take a quiz every week as well as researching a relevant topic, writing a report about it, and finally, making a six minute documentary about it.  I’m really excited about the documentary, but I’m also struggling to find time to keep up with the demands of both subjects.

So yeah, sorry about my lack of writing, but time is not on my side right now.

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Copyright 2014 Sheri Thomson

Exams

I’ve almost made it through my first year of university.  Classes are finished for the year and all that remains are the dreaded tests.  Needless to say, I’ve been busy trying to cram math formulas (formulae?) and all things food science into my brain for easy recovery at test time. There hasn’t really been extra time for blog posts.

After the 19th though, I’m free for the summer.  No more studying.  No more tests. No more papers or presentations.  I’m definitely excited for the break.  I like uni, but I also like having time for my blog, reading the book series I’ve been trying to finish for the last two years, gardening, and finally unpacking the suitcase from my trip to the U.S. in September.  It’s still sitting next to my bed, waiting.  I tried to unpack it one day, but the kids started wreaking havoc in my bedroom, so I aborted the mission.  All of my kid free time is spent doing uni work, spending time with Aaron, or ironing, so there it sits.

Consequently, I won’t be blogging much for the next couple weeks.

If you enjoyed reading this, please vote for my blog. All you have to do is click the link below. That’s it… Clicking the link brings you to the Top Mommy Blogs home page. You don’t have to do anything else. Any clicks from my site to theirs is a vote.  THANKS!

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Copyright 2013 Sheri Thomson

Tips for going back to university

Those of you who are regular readers know that I started a university course (Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security.  I can imagine the intrigued/bewildered look on your face.  It’s the same look I get every single time I tell someone what I’m studying) part time this year.  I didn’t crash and burn in the first semester, and am part way through the second semester.

Going from stay at home mom to part time uni student wasn’t a leisurely stroll through the park though, so here are my tips for going back to uni, or as in my case, going to uni for the first time, as a mature aged student.

1. If you’re planning to do a course part time, make sure the course you want to do allows for part time study.  Even if the course handbook doesn’t specify, email the advisor to find out.  My course wasn’t listed as both part time and full time, but I made the effort to ask and was pleasantly surprised.

2. If studying externally is conducive to your learning style, see if you can do some, or all classes this way.  I did one class externally the first semester and one internally, as I am this semester, and it really helped with time management.  Not having to travel to the campus more than once per week meant I had more time for actual learning and studying.  Instead of sitting in a lecture for two hours, I watched the lecture on my iPad at home whilst doing the dishes.  I watched  (mostly listened) the weeks lecture every time I did the dishes, which helped all the info sink in and made the mundane task of doing dishes more bearable. As a mom, multi tasking like this is critical or there just isn’t enough time in the week to do all of the uni work, house work, and spending time with the kids and husband.  Some campuses have many online university courses available.

3. Figure out your learning style so you can study more efficiently.  Several websites have tests like this to help you, and most give suggestions on how to study based on your style.

4. Find out if you need a parking permit to park on campus.  At my uni, a parking ticket costs the same amount as an entire semesters parking pass.  And security checks the parking lot all the time.  A parking fine is not what you need in your first couple days of uni.

5. Find out which groups your university has and join any that you are interested in.  It’s a great way to meet peers, and get you involved in university life whilst making you feel like less of an outsider.

6. Realise that you are not an outsider.  There are so many mature aged students.  There may only be 11 people doing my particular course, but I’m fairly certain that we are all mature aged.  External classes are particularly high in mature aged students.

Me ready for a debate for my scientific literacy class

7. If you have kids, talk to Centrelink about your eligibility for childcare rebates.  As a student in NSW, you are entitled to get 50% of childcare fees back if you meet certain conditions and study hours.

8. Most campuses have on site childcare with reduced fees for students, which could obviously be quite helpful.

9. Talk to your partner or friends about what you learn to help it sink in.  I’m not sure that Aaron was very interested in hearing all about the biodiversity of life on Earth, but he humoured me anyway, and it helped me retain the info better.

10. Find out where your lecture theaters, and other classrooms are before your first session so you don’t wander around lost and end up finding it late, opening the door, and having everyone look at you as you enter when the teacher is in the middle of speaking. Plus you’ll feel less nervous if you know where you’re going.

*This post was brought to you by Swinburne University

If you enjoyed reading this, please vote for my blog. All you have to do is click the link below. That’s it… Clicking the link brings you to the Top Mommy Blogs home page. You don’t have to do anything else. Any clicks from my site to theirs is a vote.  THANKS!

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Copyright 2013 Sheri Thomson