Information Overload!

March 27, 2012

Amanda Bell


      I am on information overload!  First, let me say that I am a classroom teacher to a room of 14 Kindergarten students.  We also have a late Spring Break this year... so, it is that time of year when everyone is tired of being around each other and really needs a break!  Plus, I am taking 2 Master's classes.  So, I picked the picture above my blog because I feel like this is what my brain would look like if you were to take a peek at it right this very moment.  It would have that kind of crazed and frazzled look about it!

     The past 2 modules that we have went over seem to also have a lot of information.  All of this information is making me very anxious for the final exam that is coming up in a few short weeks.  On the bright side, I have started the personal catalog assignment (more than half way through :), and I have been able to remember what we have learned for the most part without having to look back at the notes.  This makes me feel somewhat better about what lies ahead.  I really hope that I am not the only one that feels this way.

      I have been trying to keep up with this huge personal catalog assignment as much as possible.  I have NO intention of working on any type of school work over my Spring Break! I hope the rest of you have been keeping up with it because it is a lot of work.  I am over 70 pages in right now, and I am not even finished!

    

Rules, Rules, and More Rules

February 25, 2012
Amanda Bell



       Wow! That's the best word that I know of to describe what my life has been like since my last post. We have had some of the most confusing assignments yet.  I would complete an assignment and feel like I had followed all the rules only to find out that I had done something incorrectly. I still do not feel that I have a firm understanding of all the rules. I have found DVDs to be the most confusing to record.  However, after making a recent trip to the library and using the online card catalog, I saw the elements that we had been using in class in my searches.  The crazy thing was that I could understand it. I am not sure if I will ever be able to catalog without using a book or my notes to help guide me through the process. I hope I am not the only one that feels this way.  I know that the next part we will tackle is the MARC records.  I am sure that this will be just as challenging.  So, I am going to keep a positive attitude and enter this next part of our journey with this saying... I like a good challenge!

January- Progress

1/27/12
Amanda Bell

This is my 3rd class to take online through MTSU to get my Library Science add-on endorsement.  When a class starts, it takes me a week or two to get accustomed to the format.  I also have to remind myself of the requirements---mainly the footer---on each assignment.  So far, I feel like I am setting a pace to stay on track with the coursework.  This is very important for me because it helps me have some semblance of organization (which I HAVE to have!). 

I was very nervous taking the first quiz for two reasons:
    1.  I didn't know what to expect.
    2.  It was timed.
I have always liked to take tests, and I just admitted how much of a nerd I really am.  However, when a test is timed, it adds a little more pressure.  The second quiz was even more stressful because there were more questions but the same amount of time allowed to complete the quiz.

Overall, I feel like I have learned a lot in the short amount of time that we have taken this class.  I liked picking out all of the ISBD information and filling in the worksheets.  It made me feel like the information from the book was even more organized.