Beijing, China

What is your University System of Georgia home institution, and where did you receive your degrees?
I have served as a lecturer in the chemistry department at the University of West Georgia now for eight years.  I was initially offered this position upon completion of my Ph.D. at the University of Georgia.  The opportunity to come home to teach at the institution where I also received my undergraduate degree in chemistry was just too good to pass up. 

How long have you taught eCore classes?
This is my second year teaching eCore chemistry, and I have found it to be both challenging and rewarding, and it has also allowed me the opportunity to get to know the great team of people who work for eCore.




Why did you become a college instructor, and what drew you to the field of Chemistry?
I was first drawn into both science and teaching by my high school chemistry teacher, Coach Powell.  He is a legend at Bowdon High School, which is located in a small town just down the road from UWG.  The combination of my education and experiences has allowed me to teach chemistry to my students effectively, while relating to them as people, since the majority of the UWG student body is derived from the West Georgia area. 

What do you enjoy about teaching online?
I love teaching both at the college level and with eCore, due to the freedom and flexibility that exists both in and out of the classroom.


Romo, the first unofficial eCore "spokesdog"
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time – outside of the “classroom”?

This is the more challenging part…talking about the “non-teacher” version of me.   In my spare time, I enjoy relaxing to a movie or TV show (Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Gladiator, How I Met Your Mother are my favorites) or reading a book (anything by Mitch Albom or Paulo Coelho).  My favorite mid-semester activity is a relaxing camping trip to the mountains.

I'm also a proud member of the Carrollton Evening Sertoma Club, where I was honored to recently be elected as President.

Of course, my faithful dog, Romo, is never far away after I step through the back door following work.  He is a six year old mountain cur who is super friendly and is semi-employed by eCore as the unofficial mascot and “spokesdog”.  


What is something interesting about you that your students would be surprised to know?
I love to travel and have been lucky enough to go to faraway places like India, China, Vietnam, and Cambodia. 

Lastly, what advice do you have for students taking online classes for the first time?

The best advice that I could give to a student taking an eCore class for the first time is to develop a concrete schedule of times that you devote to your courses. The flexibility offered by online learning is an amazing benefit, but also relies heavily on self-motivation and dedication.



Cambodia

1:20 PM


Ace Your Online Class
with these 5 Tips for Success!


There are numerous benefits to taking an online college class – they’re flexible, convenient, and meet you where youare. Whether that means scheduling a study break during your vacation, staying on top of assignments while your child naps, or posting to the discussion board during your lunch break, online education appeals to many types of students. However, an online course does not equal an “Easy A.” Just as in a traditional learning environment, online learning offers its own challenges. However, students can be just as successful (or more-so!) in their online courses by staying on top of their game! Try these five success tips to help you “go for the A” in your online class.


  1.   Log in daily. Students who log in every day have a greater chance of success in online courses. Online courses take discipline and drive, and logging in daily will ensure that you don’t miss important assignments and activities. Create a schedule and do not – I repeat, do not – procrastinate. Stay on top of your assignments or you can fall behind quickly!
  2. Communicate with your professor. Chances are, your professor wants you to succeed in the class just as much as you do. They can be both your ally and  your advocate during this time. Remember – they are the expert. They expect (and welcome) questions and discussions.
  3. Build your online community. Meet your classmates! Your peers can be a great source of assistance and comradery during your course. You’re in the same boat, so reach out and connect. Use tools like the discussion board to get to know your classmates early in the class.
  4.  Find – and utilize – your resources. Does your online program offer tutoring? Does your course have a list of library resources for student use? If you don’t know, find out. Students can benefit extensively from academic resources which are available to them – if they are aware that they exist. Poke around, find, and then employ all the resources available to you.
  5.  Familiarize yourself with the technology.Don’t waste the time you should be using on your coursework to decipher the technology or navigation in your online course. Do this ahead of time, before your course starts. Ask questions and participate in tutorials. Also – don’t forget your books! Order books ahead of time so you can review and get acquainted with the material before class starts.

Visit the links below to learn more about student success services available to eCore students.
Library Services
Tutoring Services
Writing Resources

Do you have your own success tips for online learning? We’d love to hear them! Shoot us an email at ecoresuccess@westga.edu or post them in the comments below.



Best of luck to you!
Brett Miles, USG eCore Student Success Manager
6:21 AM
Whether it's work, relationships, or school, we often spend too much time trying to change our weaknesses rather than focusing on our strengths. By focusing on our strengths and making them stronger, we can be authentic and extraordinary. By worrying mainly about improving on our weaknesses, we become frustrated and low-performing.

Identify Your Strengths
Remember when you brought home your report card with all As except for the C in math? Maybe instead of talking about the 5 perfect grades, your parents said, "we really need to work on that math grade." Or perhaps, now you are in a work environment, and you've been "promoted" to a position where you are managing the work of others. Yet, you notice that while you excelled at writing press releases or answering technical questions on the telephone, you are consistently fail to get good results from those who report to you. Think of the work that you do best, the personal characteristics that make you stand out in a positive way, and the types of things you do that bring you the most joy. 

Give Your Weaknesses Just a Little Break
So, maybe one of your strengths is that you are very deliberative, detailed and careful, always wanting to turn in your best work. On the flip side, a weakness if that it takes you longer to complete a project than it does your friend or colleague. While completely disregarding your weakness to the point that you miss a deadline is self-destruction, consider ways to restructure your work  - or find a job or a major - that requires steadiness over speed. Then practice thinking less about your weaknesses, letting go of some of the guilt that accompanies it and turns into a vicious cycle of underperformance.

Feed Your Strengths
So you realize, perhaps, that you are great writer and a great cook, but not so good at public speaking or gardening. Instead of taking a personal development class on speaking or growing organic vegetables, invest more of your time in becoming an even better writer or a better cook. In other words, take your natural talents and forge an authentic path to greatness.

Building Greatness in Others
One of the great, classic problems in relationships is the tendency for one person to want to change another. Instead of finding the flaws in your parents, spouse, or other loved ones, actively point out their strengths and think of the person in terms of acceptance. Identify the gifts of your children and proactively nurture these. With employees, recognize the positive and explore whether or not low performance is actually a function of poor job fit. Sometimes, this change in perspective and direction will yield very welcome results.


5:48 PM
Some students feel invisible in their online courses, and don't do as well as they could. But there are ways to get noticed, making sure the professor knows exactly who you are. Here are our top five:
  1. Get personal. Many courses have an introductory week when students share information about themselves. Reveal a bit more than your major and why you're taking the course. Tell about your job, your kids, your hobbies, and a couple of interesting things about yourself. Reveal a bit more throughout the course.
  2. Post first or very early each week. The first responses to a discussion posting will typically get noticed more than the ones that approach the deadline. It will usually impress the instructor that you're early and on top of your game.
  3. Raise your hand. Pose questions to the instructor. Don't be obnoxious, but ask the instructor a question every week or so related to the content. It's even okay (and intelligent) to question or disagree with the content that's presented.
  4. Address people by name. When you're responding to a classmate or an instructor, something very magical happens when you use their name. For example, say, "Dr. Smith, I found your analysis of the Clinton years very interesting," or "Sally, that must have been a difficult experience for you."
  5. Provide your instructor with useful feedback some time during the course. If there is something negative to be said, sandwich it with something positive. For example, you might say, "Dr. Smith, I so appreciate the depth of feedback you have given me on my written work. It has really improved my writing. I would like to express my concerns about the amount of group work that we have in this class. While I appreciate the engagement with other students, I believe that I would be more successful if one of the three group projects were independent. This is a great class, and I have enjoyed your anecdotes." You might be surprised, but most instructors will really welcome this.
6:12 PM
Whether you're hoping to be an accountant, an elementary teacher or a public relations specialist, you may find it hard to get a job related to your future career while you're still in college. No need to fret - the experiences you get now in a part-time job really do matter, even if they're not related. Here's a list of worthy part-time gigs for college students, and how they really provide you with more than a little food and gas money. Note that it's often the less-glamorous jobs that give you the strongest experiences.

  1. Waiter/Waitress. Many employers love to hire folks with waiting experience because they have learned to work hard and fast, and have exceptional customer service skills. Learning how to deal effectively with angry or impatient customers in the local burger joint actually translates well to dealing with upset parents (for teachers) or patients (medical services). 
  2. Market Researcher. Okay, so maybe you hate getting those phone calls during dinner when people want to ask you just a few questions. But actually working on the dialing end for a few months is superb preparation for sales or leadership down the road. How? You've practiced constant verbal communication, being perpetually outgoing, and not taking rejection personally. That's exactly what college presidents and CEOs do everyday.
  3. Babysitter. This is a job with serious responsibility - so don't do this if you don't genuinely love kids. But strong experience in this area can demonstrate reliability, nurturing, and patience. These skills easily translate to careers in teaching and nursing, but also to other social science areas, such as counseling. Up those credentials even more with CPR certification.
  4. Marketing Intern. If you are interested in public relations, marketing, or related areas, your best bet is to get into a part-time position where you can demonstrate your talent. This area is very competitive, and may require you to possibly take on an unpaid internship initially. Volunteer to write press releases or handle social media work. It's tough to find people with strong creativity, and if you do this job well, you will have a very strong advantage in the job market upon graduating.
  5. Tech Help-Desk. Many colleges employ students to work on various help desks. This work will quickly ramp up your technology skills as well as customer service skills. This job will enhance your preparation for a career in information systems or instructional design.
Another benefit of these lower-wage positions is that you're less likely to get derailed from college and graduation. In other words, some college students take jobs that actually pay too well and are too time consuming, and end up prioritizing an unintended career without passion over education.
8:08 PM
Dr. Anne Gaquere-Parker is Associate Professor Organic Chemistry Laboratory Coordinator at the University of West Georgia. 

What she dreamed she'd be when she was growing up: A science teacher.

Least favorite word: Y'all

Last movie that made her cry: "Chorus," a French film

Favorite driving song: "Midnight Train to Georgia," Gladys Knight & Pips

Most challenging part of being an eCore instructor: Wondering why students suddenly drop off the face of the earth (or so it seems) without any explanation.

How she spends a typical Sunday: Checking eCore class because quizzes are often due on Sunday.

What she would tell her 10-year-old self: Don’t worry about being hard-headed, it will serve you well in the end and do your homework, always!

What she loved to do as a 6--year-child: Lock herself  up in the bathroom with household chemicals to see what would happen when they were mixed together. 

Biggest accomplishment before college: Winning high school mathematics competition.

Definition of success: Getting to the point where you are comfortable enough so as not to care what people think.

The most interesting online student she ever had: "I think he is in my class right now. He has a great sense of humor and shares it on the discussion board, especially when something goes wrong with the experimental part. He cracks me up."
3:23 PM

      Dr. Joe Milford is an associate professor of English at Georgia Military College in Fairburn Georgia, as well as a department chair. He is also the host of The Joe Milford Poetry Show—where he interviews published poets on a regular basis and archive them doing readings of their works and discussing theories concerning writing (http://www.thejoemilfordpoetryshow.com/).

Why did you chose English? 
Actually, I initially wanted to be veterinarian; however, as I took my core classes in college, I fell in love with literature, and the rest is English Major history…

Why did you choose teaching?
Actually, I never intended on being a full-time teacher or professor—I worked odd jobs as a writer for years, and at one point in my life, I fell on hard times and picked up an adjunct job teaching literature classes—I fell in love with it—and here I am, eleven years later. 

If you could do one thing over in your life, what would it be?
I would rethink going into my first marriage.

If you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
Tom Waits—so I could jam with him just once.

If you won the lottery, what would you do with it?
Although I think this question is unfair, I guess the first thing I would do is clean up all of the debt of myself and anyone who I love. After that, with the five dollars I would have left, I would get a really awesome milkshake.

What’s a secret ambition of yours?
To be a famous poet—wait that’s not a secret….

What do you think is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your life?
To be moderate, tolerant, and patient.

How would you like to be remembered?
As a man who found a way not to compromise his ideals while also maturing in ways that made them useful to others.

What was your first job?
I was a bagger of groceries, sir.

What’s one big question you’d like answered?
I guess this is controversial, but I would like to know why so much suffering exists (genocide, holocaust, disease, pestilence, etc.) if there is a just God?

What is it that you absolutely couldn’t live without?
My daughter and my significant other.

What do you still want to accomplish?
I would like to do more radio shows and write more books—my daily workload constantly keeps me from my creative  life—and I find this terribly frustrating and unfulfilling.

If your life were a movie, what would the title be?
Moonrise Kingdom

What would you place in a time capsule that would tell people 100 years from now who you were?
A compass, an ammonite, a coin of the year I was born, a red-tail hawk feather, a fortune cookie, and a pocketknife.

How do you think education changes lives?
There would be no significant changes in our lives without education to temper us as beings.

How do you feel about your online courses?
I personally enjoy them a lot—I guess the only complaint I have is that I am not the superman students expect me to be in terms of immediate response!

What differences have you noticed between online education and face-to-face classes?
This question has many obvious answers, but one thing is tone in emails and responses to assignments—when you are face-to-face with someone, you know how to read their verbal and written text—when you must do this online, you have to be more careful about how you interpret communication.

How will students use what they learn in your online classes?
Through studying literature, in an online class or not, students develop a burgeoning global understanding, especially in terms of how all cultures have certain shared paradigms which remain the same—and a certain ethos which can be shared between all of us in the humanities—this study makes us more open-minded and brings us, hopefully, closer together as a species.
8:34 AM
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