Getting started with straighterline, staying focused, and help!

[jamesuniverse]

I found this forum via a google search and I figured it would be a good help. I currently am a pretty slow reader, but I am doing the straighterline courses. However I need some advice:

Any tips? I am on Chapter 4 of US History 1 and having bad test anxiety (Even for the open note ones) doesn't help.

Also I see some of y'all (Yes. I am in Texas so ignore the slang) passing this course in 8 hours? How do you do it? I can't imagine reading the book through and taking all the tests and comprehending it all in that little bit of time! (Even if it is over a couple days)

Also being a freshman, I really want to stick to online college. However, staying focused can be a struggle. Sometimes even mind wandering rather than physical distractions. And sitting and reading for 4 hours straight is well. Kinda impossible at the moment for me. Any tips?

Thanks!
~JU

[SuZQ2]

I found this forum via a google search and I figured it would be a good help. I currently am a pretty slow reader, but I am doing the straighterline courses. However I need some advice:

Any tips? I am on Chapter 4 of US History 1 and having bad test anxiety (Even for the open note ones) doesn't help.

Also I see some of y'all (Yes. I am in Texas so ignore the slang) passing this course in 8 hours? How do you do it? I can't imagine reading the book through and taking all the tests and comprehending it all in that little bit of time! (Even if it is over a couple days)

Also being a freshman, I really want to stick to online college. However, staying focused can be a struggle. Sometimes even mind wandering rather than physical distractions. And sitting and reading for 4 hours straight is well. Kinda impossible at the moment for me. Any tips?

Thanks!
~JU

Hi James,

I can't comment specifically on SL's History course, but can comment on your "speed" issues. When I began my degree journey here, I too was very intimidated by those who seemed to be able to study and take exams/complete coursework, etc. in amazingly short periods of time...because it was and still is impossible for me...

It took me 4 months to study for and successfully complete my first CLEP exam - Yup...FOUR months...I compensate for my own extreme test anxiety by over-preparing and literally using every study aid I can get my hands on. It took me almost a year to complete SL's English Comp I and II - some here said it took them a few weeks.

If you are able to group like-subjects together - you will be able to move faster...Take all your history courses, then all your English courses, etc. There is always some overlap, which in turn will enable you to move along faster...

Another piece of advice is to create a schedule where you set achievable daily goals - plan everything out... Monday - read 15 pages of text/Tuesday - complete Ch 1/Wednesday - review terms and take notes - you get where I'm going... Don't feel you have to do all your day's work at one time - take breaks, etc., just try to slowly and steadily keep moving forward... When you feel prepared, take your first quiz, then move on to your next goal...

Rest assured, not everyone is a calm, cool, speed demon...so don't give up hope. Run your OWN race...Because as one of my signature statements says...By perseverance the snail reached the ark!

[JohnnyHeck]

I'll chime in and second what SuZQ2 has said. Additionally, when you get going on your math requirements, if you have any kind of math phobia, just do ALEKS. It may be a bit tedious, but you cannot fail. And, if you are going on to later courses, you actually will be better off knowing the subject and will save time in the long run. I remember an occasion when one of our posters who usually finished an ALEKS course in 24 hours or less was complaining that they had already spent 40 hours in ALEKS statistics and saw no light yet at the end of the tunnel. 40 hours is nothing if you don't know the subject already. Remember a 3 hr. in-seat course in math is designed around a 140 hr. effort on average. One of my ADD students spent 240 hrs. for College Algebra. But they are so happy they did it because his math phobia is gone for good! Always remember: "Don't worry about the time is takes to master true knowledge because time will go by all by itself without any help from you. But true knowledge lasts lifetime." Don't know who said this, but I found it on this forum a long time ago and the idea has sure helped a lot of my students. Best of luck to you!