Spring Session 2 Updates

[ashkir]

I'm seriously at the verge of just canceling UMPI and dropping BIO 105. Ugh. Just because I needed a "virtual lab" they decided to make the assignment 10x harder. Oh and I have to do the FINAL BEFORE the milestone now? I'm messaging Cody/Jessica to complain about this to see if they can get this fixed.

I did find a Coursera course that can fulfill a requirement for this GEC. I asked Jessica if I can do a one time coursera course for this requirement we'll see...

Keep in mind that, other than the Google ITSP credential, Coursera courses are all non-credit (not even alt credit). You could, however, potentially use it to support a PLA portfolio. I'd also ask about using something from Study.com (I know they have Bio 101, Microbio, and 1-2 Chem courses with virtual labs) - it would end up costing ~$250, but leaving UMPI now will put you quite a ways behind the end goal - a degree.

I asked about it, they said they believe they may be able to accept 1 Coursera course for me. If they do I'll post about it! If I do it on Coursera I'd do the GIS one. 

I agree; don't leave UMPI. You are so close! I'm sure you can find something, somewhere, to take. Giving up so close to the finish line would mean even more work and expenses for you.

Yeah I'm close and this class the last one is extremely frustrating. I've been working on this one for a while now and barely am making any progress. A normal class at UMPI is do the milestone and move on. But this professor requires the milestone to be graded before you can move on and the content is not self-contained. I filed a formal complaint to Jessica/Cody for this class not following the "self-contained" nature. 

The lab kit they sent me was missing some chemicals that I'm supposed to use... so I'm gonna have to go buy some too. I already went and bought some for the last one. They don't tel lyou everything you need and this makes it worse. 

Cody suggested once I'm done to leave a Bluera review on this too (which goes to the dean etc) 

Take it on Study. It just took me 2 days. It’s not so bad trust me!

This is what I'm leading to. If Coursera doesn't get approved I'll probably just do SDC. I didn't want to subscribe but I might as well at this point. 

If it is possible, substitute the class for something else if they allow.  Such as a biology related Nutrition course or another subject in science altogether... there should be other options, don't they have other courses not as intense or demanding?  If that course is 5 courses in one, they might as well break it down into 5 or whatever.

This is why I asked. They only offer 1 class for the requirement, Bio 105. Yeah, I thin they should break it down to 5 courses. Would actually be a pretty good thing for them, to have 5 different science courses available. Just add a few more and they probably would be able to have a full biology degree available online. UMPI shoved too much Finance in one and too much Biology into one. 

the virtual lab was paired with a 45-minute "nature walk" where you have to take photos of 10 different species, including one animal. Then you have to "find" what species they are. but, you're not supposed to use fields or parks, etc, and need to find a natural environment. Luckily I have some wetlands close by so I went there at night took some photos (Muscovy ducks, swans, mallard ducks, and a bunch of grass species, rosemary, etc).

Just thinking about this earlier post. They must not have any students in Phoenix, yet. There is no easily-accessible "wilderness" area. You'd have to drive for a while to get to the desert and, then, you probably won't see a single animal! There are animals all over the place, of course, but the ones in the desert are mostly nocturnal and you don't want to be meeting with half of them.

I almost ran over a native squirrel once while traversing the ASU campus. Does that count?

Yes. That counts.

I almost went 2 hours away to the zoo with a safari because it would've been easier LOL

Phoenix... hmmm pictures of dead life and classify the dirt? lol And a human "homo sapien".