Student Course Reflection

US/101

University Of Phoenix

Student Course Reflection

I believe my academic program will get me started learning the necessary skills I need to acquire an internship or entry level position within a company. It will give me hands on experience in the industry and an opportunity to use the knowledge I have gained from my academic program in a real time job environment. I will use my career plan as a motivational tool to drive me to succeed in my specific career goal of obtaining a bachelors degree. I like to think of it as a future career outline plan that is attainable. It has also helped me to choose which programs and classes will best prepare me for my chosen career. I believe planning goals for your career, while you are in college, gives you something to strive for and provides you with a summary of what your future holds for you. Knowing that if you accomplish the goals you have set while earning your degree, you gain a sense of direction for your future career path. I believe the University of Phoenix is giving me a great start in achieving my goal of becoming a Network Support Specialist. Also, there are many networking careers out there and I believe the degree I have chosen gives me a variety of options within that field.

I believe the tools and assessments I learned in this course will greatly benefit me in future classes and career plans. I learned how to participate in class discussions with my fellow classmates in a courteous and professional manner. I also learned the importance of critical thinking which taught me how to approach information with an open mind and view it from all sides. The tools I learned is this course will benefit me in my career plans as well. For example, I have a career that requires constant interaction with customers needing computer problems solved. I can implement the communication and critical thinking skills I learned in this course to be a better professional in my career, but also a better person.

This course taught me that improving my writing skills applies to every aspect of my academic life. Every class I take is going to require written communication of one form or another. Even my daily class participation, in which I have to give substantive answers to discussion questions, requires adequate writing skills. Entering the professional life requires a well written resume and cover letter. After gaining employment, there will be reports, memos, and other required written communications. Being able to express yourself in both written and verbal form enhances your desirability as an employee and increases your chances of ascending the corporate ladder and educational ladder. I believe I have made steady progress in the improvement of my academic writing skills through the use of my foundations lab, tutorials, and guides.

This course taught effective time and stress management strategies. I learned that avoiding bad habits, like procrastination, can reduce stress and improve your chances of success. It is important to manage your time effectively so you don’t get overwhelmed. I find wearing headphones to block out background noise helps me to stay focused on the task at hand. Once you set your deadlines, it is important to commit to them, stay on task and meet them. Use your spare time wisely so you can return to your work refreshed and with a renewed sense of purpose.

This course introduced me to setting goals using smart criteria. My academic goal, that I created using the smart criteria, was to complete my associate’s degree in information technology with a focus on networking. My academic goal is specific in that, the degree I am aiming for, targets a specific career and prepares me for that career. My goal is measurable because there are small steps that must be completed that show my progress. I am motivated to complete it. My goal is attainable and realistic, because I already have a pretty good working knowledge of computer networking. My goal is timely, because I can achieve it in a short amount of time and am a choosing a career in a field that is continuing to grow. It is also one of the few areas that continue to add jobs consistently.

Everything I have learned in this course will serve me well moving forward with my future academic and career paths. Also, it really helps a lot when you have the benefit of a good instructor who keeps it simple, but stresses the importance of every learning stage.