Hello everyone!

I wonder if any of you experience lack of motivation for subjects that are not interesting to you?
I can't seem to get motivated with US History II and the Social Science/History exams!! I have an interest in current events, politics, and history- but I am learning that as an adult, I really like to study what interests ME and that isn't necessarily on the exams!
I felt like US History I was "do-able" because I have taught the essence of that subject to my children year after year (I homeschool my 4 children- at least one child is in that subject every year) so I really only did a brush up for myself. Civil War and Reconstruction was pretty much torture in every way.
Don't suggest I take other exams in their place, I am going to work through it, and as my kids say "cowboy up." But I would like to hear if anyone has tricks they use to work through material that they don't like.

__________________
Jennifer
ALM, Master of Liberal Arts, Harvard University, 2099 or sometime sooner
AA & BA, Social Sciences, Thomas Edison State College, 2008
AOS, Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America, 1990

How to do your own Unofficial Evaluation http://www.degreeforum.net/general-e...ighlight=alpha

InstantCert WORKS! http://www.degreeforum.net/general-e...g-members.html

"Brick walls are there for a reason....They’re there to stop the other people.” Randy Pausch

I second the need for motivation with US History 2! US 1 was so interesting...birth of the country and such. US 2 is kind of depressing to me. I too am going to cowboy up and take it. I guess every test can't be amazing fun!

__________________
~Autumn

38 Credits-Boise State University Culinary Arts
45 CLEP-Humanities, American Gov., A&I Lit, US His. 1, Intro. Soc., SS & History, HG&Development, Intro to Ed Psych, English Comp w/ Essay, Biology
15 DSST-Human Resource Management, Introduction to Computing, Fundamentals of Counseling, Organizational Behavior, Gen. Anthropology
6 ALEKS Intermediate Algebra, Introduction to Statistics
19 FEMA-Disaster Related Classes
1 NCBRT-Preparing Communities for Agroterrorism
3 NFA-Community Safety Educators, Emergency Response to Terrorism, Fire Service Supervision
6 TECEP-Introduction to Human Services, Thanatology
6 UExcel-Political Science, Intro to Psychology
3 ECE-Cultural Diversity
3.33 CGT-EMY125 Exercise Design and Evaluation

What's left to take!:
EMY-124 Principles of Emergency Management, Advanced Practicum

Degree Goal: Bachelor of Science in Human Services in Emergency Disaster Services 111/120 Credits!

Autumn,

Glad to hear I am not the only one dragging through that material. This is really my first time using IC, and so I don't have a solid understanding of a really a good study technique. I am just browsing the flash cards at this point. I guess I could do a timeline too. Any tips??

__________________
Jennifer
ALM, Master of Liberal Arts, Harvard University, 2099 or sometime sooner
AA & BA, Social Sciences, Thomas Edison State College, 2008
AOS, Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America, 1990

How to do your own Unofficial Evaluation http://www.degreeforum.net/general-e...ighlight=alpha

InstantCert WORKS! http://www.degreeforum.net/general-e...g-members.html

"Brick walls are there for a reason....They’re there to stop the other people.” Randy Pausch

Have you tried checking your library for corresponding videos from the History Channel? We used several for US History I. It really made things come to life. They were very well done.

Oh, and BTW, my two sons decided NOT to do US History 2. Instead they substituted Psychology and Sociology.

I am going through each of the flashcards and keeping track of my scores. I also am watching the videos here Resource: A Biography of America. They are pretty interesting. I just keep getting bogged down with all the different union and labor stuff and the different presidential "deals". I am not sure why this one is dragging me down. I am going to just spend a week or so really studying so I can get this one behind me! Good luck on your studying!

__________________
~Autumn

38 Credits-Boise State University Culinary Arts
45 CLEP-Humanities, American Gov., A&I Lit, US His. 1, Intro. Soc., SS & History, HG&Development, Intro to Ed Psych, English Comp w/ Essay, Biology
15 DSST-Human Resource Management, Introduction to Computing, Fundamentals of Counseling, Organizational Behavior, Gen. Anthropology
6 ALEKS Intermediate Algebra, Introduction to Statistics
19 FEMA-Disaster Related Classes
1 NCBRT-Preparing Communities for Agroterrorism
3 NFA-Community Safety Educators, Emergency Response to Terrorism, Fire Service Supervision
6 TECEP-Introduction to Human Services, Thanatology
6 UExcel-Political Science, Intro to Psychology
3 ECE-Cultural Diversity
3.33 CGT-EMY125 Exercise Design and Evaluation

What's left to take!:
EMY-124 Principles of Emergency Management, Advanced Practicum

Degree Goal: Bachelor of Science in Human Services in Emergency Disaster Services 111/120 Credits!

My motivation for boring/annoying exams:

Schedule the test.

Excellent advice, and very true. We all have those subjects we struggle with. You just have to keep your sites on the end goal (diploma/graduation) and knock them out one at a time. Remember the old adage of “How do you eat an elephant?"…."One bite at a time". This holds true with continuing your education as well, except its one test at a time. Good Luck, you can do it!

__________________
Associates Degree, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Community College of the Air Force
Bachelors of Science, Liberal Studies Degree, Excelsior
MBA Human Resource Management, California Coast University

Since you are "cowboying up" let me say a big HOW-DEE to you, cookderosa.
My trick that works for me for motivation is to think how lucky I am to have this opportunity to get my degree. I think of what a better job I'll be able to get as opposed to what I would have qualified for otherwise. When I hit a subject that is hard to study for I think of all the really nice clothes I'll HAVE TO buy for my new job. That usually does the trick. If that doesn't quite do it I think of the new TV I'm going to buy my husband. And if I REALLY need motivation I think of the nice new washer and dryer that I'm going to get after the TV. I can already hear all you women laughing and you men rolling your eyes but it works for me, and I say if it's working, go with it!

__________________
Dawn
Taking the Road Less Traveled
The Journey of A Thousand Miles Starts with The First CLEP
BS-Psychology - Excelsior College
Enrolled in the School of Business, BS in Accounting
After MIS I'll be halfway there!
72 CLEP Credits, 21 DSST Credits, 25 ECE Credits (Including Inf Lit), 6 TESC Credits, 2 FEMA Credits = 126 Total
Withholding 6 Credits for Accounting = 120 for Psychology
12 credits completed toward my accounting degree

Very wise!

The pressure of an actual test date gives me two things: (1) A reason to study hard and make the most of my time and (2) a much needed light at the end of a long tunnel.

__________________
Southron Boy

CLEP: English Comp w/ essay, English Comp w/o essay, American Gov't, U.S. History I, A & I Lit, Humanities, Intro Sociology, Intro to Psyc, Human Growth & Development, Intro to Ed Psyc, Prin of Management, Prin of Marketing, Business Law

DSST: Technical Writing

This is a great thread, Please give us all the advise and motivation we can get.

Just thinking, of Math, accounting and Statistics give me sleepless nights and just the thought has a way of destroying my day. Especially that I tried to schedule for Principles of accounting but backed off after about two weeks of studying, I was left confused.

I am sorry this is not motivating, but I write this to say Yes Please we need all the motivation we can get, some of use just need much motivation on those hard subject than others

Thanks all
Mapalo