The Inquisitive Journey

November 29th, 2011

Inquiry is okay. Ask questions.

When a traditionally-aged student starts a degree program at a brick-and-mortar institution, there is an accepted norm that impacts a large number of new students: they change their major. It is not uncommon to change your major. Sometimes a major change can be due to a single course, advice from an academic advisor, or from the realization that the current degree just does not seem to fit. On-campus students change their majors for a variety of reasons, but I for one think that a major change can be exceptionally beneficial for a student. However, what happens for online learners? Does the “major change is acceptable” practice translate to the web?

With online learning, as with on-campus experiences, the nuance of inquiry plays a major part in the journey of major selection and completion. Students may think that taking a course that is outside of their major does not have enough tactical importance. Fortunately, classes that are outside of our focus can oftentimes lead us to a greater sense of discovery and purpose. Treat your academics like a buffet that you are sampling. If you get to a place where you are a year or so into a degree program, have no fear. Speak with your academic advisor about alternate pathways on your academic journey. Your questions are okay. Dissonance throughout the process can be quite cathartic in that it can show you major pathways that were not visible before.

There are several factors that play into the scenario that I described above. Financial pressures, career goals, life events, and perhaps most important — Time. Time seemingly resides as a luxury for on-campus students. Online learners should adopt this concept from their on-campus peers. Taking time now to choose your path via questions and experience can greatly enhance your life as a member of the higher education community. It is okay to experiment. It is even better to experiment with a sense of inquiry. Why are you taking this course? Why are you in this major? Does your academic program resonate with your professional or personal passions? Basically, it is about discovery.

If you are concerned that asking too many questions will result in spending too much money, that is okay. Balancing the realities of your life with a sense of curiosity will benefit you in so many areas in higher education. Academic Advisors / Student Services Representatives / Financial Aid Counselors for online learners are guides along the journey. They can help you with many facets of your education. Stay connected with them from the very beginning and you will have access to many of the most important answers that you will need to make a confident decision about your academic program.

While the circumstances that surround an online learner are not identical to the on-campus learner, one thing is certain, questions will arise. How you handle inquiry, dissonance, and uncertainty will all factor into your future successes as a student and as a professional. Be curious. Be bold. Enjoy the experience!

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  • Anonymous

    A journey to affordable tuition is a good quest –and the new quest of the future -but how, you might ask? By signing this, my petition: http://wh.gov/jU8 — But will my petition actually work? For example, THIS other petition (not mine) is an ‘expired’ petition: https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/petition/promote-enforce-teaching-evolution-over-creationism/H4HkDs0B It was created Sept 24, 2011, well over a month ago, but since it reached over 150 siggy’s it is imortalised and still listed on The Whitehouse website — So, what’s the point?

    THIS other petition that did NOT get 150 signatures in 30 days was deleted: http://wh.gov/24m — it simply said that her petition was expired — Who KNOWS what it was?

    So, what’s the bottom line?

    ANSWER: If my petition, http://wh.gov/jU8 can get 150 signatures before the month elapses, then TWO things happens:

    #1 — Of course, it can become searchable in the database, so when someone puts in a key word like ‘education’ or ‘college’ or ‘economy’ or ‘budget,’ my petition pops up & getting signatures is not so much of a pain (where I beg, plead, and finagle my friends here to sign) — but here’s the main thing you need to know:

    #2 — My petition will become immortal — much like the Evolution/Creation petition above — even AFTER it ‘expires,’ it will *remain* on the Whitehouse website AND (get this!) still be eligible to receive signatures –just not ‘official’ where the Whitehouse *has* to respond –so, unless you can think of a better use of your time right now, then stop complaining, stop moaning, and stop groaning ,and SIGN MY PETETION TO OBAMA: http://wh.gov/jU8

    Conservatives such as myself, are incensed with the obscenely high tax placed on students (tuition is legally a tax, as it flows to the government, State Universities in most cases)

    Furthermore, Conservatives, such as myself, are peeved that the Government interference in the Free Market by insertion of Federally made or guaranteed student loans, which “bid up” the costs of college, since corrupt liberals in Higher Ed know that students with loans can borrow more.

    Liberals are *also* on our side, as they don’t like being stepped on by ‘The Man’

    Note: I’m conservative, so I’m not asking for 100%-total forgiveness of student debt (e.g I don’t wanna free handout) –but just basic things like standard consumer protections for student debt that even credit card users have.
    Please sign my petition on The Whitehouse website so I can get the 150 signatures in time to save it:

    http://wh.gov/jU8

    For further information, or, if you forget the link, log on to:
    http://www.GordonWatts.com
    or
    http://www.GordonWayneWatts.com

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