Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Survey Came In
Just wanted to note that through our campus email, a survey came through survey monkey regarding our marketing course. It's great to provide feedback on the things that are working, and perhaps provide insight that 4 chapters a week, 5 papers a week, 2 group projects and a solo project are hard to find time for. It's not that I'm not committed, but time is just hard to find, when much of the papers my husband who is in grad school full time accused of being busy work.
Week 5- half way through Marketing, one-third through Economics
I can't believe we are half way through our Marketing class. I feel like it was just a couple of weeks ago that I was so anxious for classes to start. And here we are, just completing our second test, and in the middle of two group projects and a personal project. I won't lie, Marketing has kept my hands full. Each week you can expect to read 3-4 chapters, do a paper on each of those chapters debating a topic introduced that week, and then another paper on a current events article on marketing or review an ad. Add into that the 2 group projects and your own company review, and there just seems to always be more to get done than there is time for.
I enjoy Professor Warren's teaching. He's very conversational, and you feel comfortable speaking out in class. Last night he seemed to have switched up the pace, and I'm not sure if it was because we had another test, or what, but we were able to take the debates from the previous week and provide our insight from around the room in conversation with the whole class. I enjoyed hearing everyone's perspective.
One thing I am having to get used to is there seems to be 4 different resources to plug into to make sure you have all the information for your class. Concordia Email, Blackboard, Campus Pack, and My Info. I watch my email carefully, but was unaware that messages were being posted to blackboard, so when Prof Warren gave us the week off from 3 of the papers, I didn't catch it, and just kept with the syllabus. I was a little frustrated to find out on Sunday when our group met for discussing our group project that those weren't required.
Marketing is full, and it's also fast paced. We are having to fit a full semester's worth of education into 10 weeks. That means that this week I need to read the Marketing and PR book that was originally slotted to take a couple of weeks to go through. It also means we are having to briefly cover everything instead of getting deeply into the details, which feels just a little more like undergrad, but a good transition back into the swing of school. I was hoping to mention that last night, because the program said we would be surveyed midway through a course to provide input before an entire semester passes by, but for one reason or another the surveys didn't come.
Economics is almost like that wild card. In Econ we have 2 tests, 1 group project, and participation that make up our grades. Dr. Estrada mentions something about the mid-term test each week, and how it's designed for practical use of managerial economics, but just the unknown of how much time we will have to complete it, what the questions will be phrased like, and if we will have notes or an open book available is making a few of us nervous. I don't have much time outside of class to dedicate to economics with how busy Marketing keeps me, but I learn when Dr. Estrada teaches. I read the chapters, and am prolly at about 85% comprehension, and then he shows practical applications, and suddenly the equations make sense and purpose is clear. We have been taking the chapters slower than the syllabus, but I appreciate that Dr. Estrada is dedicated to quality, and ensuring the concepts are grasped, and I hear the same appreciation for Dr. Estrada from my fellow students.
Kudos to Professor Warren and Dr. Estrada. They are blazing new trails with us, and I'm thankful for their efforts.
I enjoy Professor Warren's teaching. He's very conversational, and you feel comfortable speaking out in class. Last night he seemed to have switched up the pace, and I'm not sure if it was because we had another test, or what, but we were able to take the debates from the previous week and provide our insight from around the room in conversation with the whole class. I enjoyed hearing everyone's perspective.
One thing I am having to get used to is there seems to be 4 different resources to plug into to make sure you have all the information for your class. Concordia Email, Blackboard, Campus Pack, and My Info. I watch my email carefully, but was unaware that messages were being posted to blackboard, so when Prof Warren gave us the week off from 3 of the papers, I didn't catch it, and just kept with the syllabus. I was a little frustrated to find out on Sunday when our group met for discussing our group project that those weren't required.
Marketing is full, and it's also fast paced. We are having to fit a full semester's worth of education into 10 weeks. That means that this week I need to read the Marketing and PR book that was originally slotted to take a couple of weeks to go through. It also means we are having to briefly cover everything instead of getting deeply into the details, which feels just a little more like undergrad, but a good transition back into the swing of school. I was hoping to mention that last night, because the program said we would be surveyed midway through a course to provide input before an entire semester passes by, but for one reason or another the surveys didn't come.
Economics is almost like that wild card. In Econ we have 2 tests, 1 group project, and participation that make up our grades. Dr. Estrada mentions something about the mid-term test each week, and how it's designed for practical use of managerial economics, but just the unknown of how much time we will have to complete it, what the questions will be phrased like, and if we will have notes or an open book available is making a few of us nervous. I don't have much time outside of class to dedicate to economics with how busy Marketing keeps me, but I learn when Dr. Estrada teaches. I read the chapters, and am prolly at about 85% comprehension, and then he shows practical applications, and suddenly the equations make sense and purpose is clear. We have been taking the chapters slower than the syllabus, but I appreciate that Dr. Estrada is dedicated to quality, and ensuring the concepts are grasped, and I hear the same appreciation for Dr. Estrada from my fellow students.
Kudos to Professor Warren and Dr. Estrada. They are blazing new trails with us, and I'm thankful for their efforts.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Week 4- does that mean I've been doing this for a month already?
Week 4... it's hard to believe we've already been at this for a month! We are getting to know our cohorts and group members better. This weekend our group is getting together for the first time outside of class. I don't know that I have introduced my group yet- there are 4 of us... Kevin, Cathy, Michael and me. I'm learning more and more about each of our members each week. This weekend we are going to dive into our 3 group projects, and I'm looking forward to getting those fully underway.
Tonight was a bit surreal, as Terry and I got to speak as the "student pannel" to a group of hopeful MBA prospective students in an information session. It was great to feel on the other side of the line... remembering just how I felt earlier this year as they discussed the program. I gave my business card to 3 of the prospects, and hope that I can encourage them in any way I can to make this step, if they feel it's right for them. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to help them, even though I'm not that much farther down the road... more than half of it is just taking that step of committing to the aspiration of something new, something that will challenge you, and really when it comes down to it... 2 years from now, I can be who I am now, or in just 2 years, I can be someone who has pushed myself to make a greater difference and be a greater leader. That's one of the reasons why I chose to commit to the MBA program.
Tonight was a bit surreal, as Terry and I got to speak as the "student pannel" to a group of hopeful MBA prospective students in an information session. It was great to feel on the other side of the line... remembering just how I felt earlier this year as they discussed the program. I gave my business card to 3 of the prospects, and hope that I can encourage them in any way I can to make this step, if they feel it's right for them. I'm hopeful that I'll be able to help them, even though I'm not that much farther down the road... more than half of it is just taking that step of committing to the aspiration of something new, something that will challenge you, and really when it comes down to it... 2 years from now, I can be who I am now, or in just 2 years, I can be someone who has pushed myself to make a greater difference and be a greater leader. That's one of the reasons why I chose to commit to the MBA program.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Week Three- First Test
Hello and good bye week 3 of class. I was glad to be back in the mix of things, unfortunately I came back from Yellowstone and the glorious Grand Tetons to a test. The tension in the room was pretty thick... no one quite knowing what to expect from our first exam in Marketing. The test was over chapters 1-7, and we were supposed to have read chapters 5-7 for discussion in this very same class period. To make it manageable, the test was 25 questions, to be completed in 30 minutes, open book.
Needless to say we survived, and my eyes have turned to the 3 group projects we need to complete, and more importantly that Economics class that only has a midterm and final. That carries a bit more weight!
To ease my fears I emailed Professor Estrada (Economics) earlier in the week, and asked if we could spend some time after class just to casually discuss the content, and focus a bit on those equations. He obliged. Class let out ten minutes early, and I headed up to the white board where we discussed elasticities, supply, demand, and how to do some of the more simple equations. Professor reemphasized his concern more that we learn what to do with the material rather than memorize all of the equations. We proceeded to leave class, but stopped several times on the way to our cars to discuss professors who had made a difference in our lives, and their focus on the soul of the material they were covering. Before I knew it, 40 minutes had passed from when class had let out, and we were getting in our cars to leave. I really appreciated that Professor Estrada spent the extra time to cover the material, but more than that, to cover how Economics becomes a social science. I think what also made my night is that is appears to have everyone in class' name memorized, and on several occasions said something that refereed to a small detail I had mentioned before. He really pays attention to the details when it comes to his students.
I feel better each class for having chosen Concordia for my MBA.
Needless to say we survived, and my eyes have turned to the 3 group projects we need to complete, and more importantly that Economics class that only has a midterm and final. That carries a bit more weight!
To ease my fears I emailed Professor Estrada (Economics) earlier in the week, and asked if we could spend some time after class just to casually discuss the content, and focus a bit on those equations. He obliged. Class let out ten minutes early, and I headed up to the white board where we discussed elasticities, supply, demand, and how to do some of the more simple equations. Professor reemphasized his concern more that we learn what to do with the material rather than memorize all of the equations. We proceeded to leave class, but stopped several times on the way to our cars to discuss professors who had made a difference in our lives, and their focus on the soul of the material they were covering. Before I knew it, 40 minutes had passed from when class had let out, and we were getting in our cars to leave. I really appreciated that Professor Estrada spent the extra time to cover the material, but more than that, to cover how Economics becomes a social science. I think what also made my night is that is appears to have everyone in class' name memorized, and on several occasions said something that refereed to a small detail I had mentioned before. He really pays attention to the details when it comes to his students.
I feel better each class for having chosen Concordia for my MBA.
Monday, September 13, 2010
A week in Yellowstone and the Tetons
I had a few questions related to my last post- And there isn't one, because I was out on an annual family hike with my husband and his family. The trip had been booked since last Christmas, and I'm not sure the Concordia MBA was even officially in existence at that point, so I missed the second class we ever had.
Going forward I'm either hoping to reschedule the trip for during one of the one week sabbaticals we get between summer and fall, or try to get home earlier. I do not recommend missing the second class- especially when it comes to reading economics. There is just too much to digest in a Chapter.
Luckily, the Professors are wonderful, and I have been in email contact with both of them. I have scheduled time after class this week to meet one on one with the Economics professor to make sure I understand how to work the problems from each of the three chapters.
Also to look forward to- Marketing has a test over the first 7 chapters on the third day of class. I've been studying and making good notes, so hopeful I won't have to rely too much on the text for this open book test.
Look for more on Wednesday as I post about this weeks class, and how I feel I did on the test!
Going forward I'm either hoping to reschedule the trip for during one of the one week sabbaticals we get between summer and fall, or try to get home earlier. I do not recommend missing the second class- especially when it comes to reading economics. There is just too much to digest in a Chapter.
Luckily, the Professors are wonderful, and I have been in email contact with both of them. I have scheduled time after class this week to meet one on one with the Economics professor to make sure I understand how to work the problems from each of the three chapters.
Also to look forward to- Marketing has a test over the first 7 chapters on the third day of class. I've been studying and making good notes, so hopeful I won't have to rely too much on the text for this open book test.
Look for more on Wednesday as I post about this weeks class, and how I feel I did on the test!
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