Advising Event

               

Going to the Youth Development advising meeting on Wednesday was definitely helpful when taking the stress away for the coming semesters before graduation. This advising meeting was to help me plan my next semester schedule so I can graduate on time from Rhode Island College. Before going into the advising session, I had so many questions after finishing my Plan of Study. I was extremely nervous about not being able to graduate in Spring 2015. While sitting and working on the Plan of Study with my advisors I was able to see all the students who were going for the same major in Youth Development as me. We were all on the same paths and mission.  Because some students like myself completed most of the courses in the program, we were able to trade information about different classes and the best professors to have in the courses. By having this plan of study, I am allowed to look at the requirements needed to graduate, the courses I have completed, and the courses I still need to complete. I am able to take control of my own education and advising. I was able to click in to what Marc Prensky (2001) was talking about in his article Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants when it comes to us as youth workers using our knowledge of the internet and technology in our work. We were sitting as a group of youth workers working on our Plan of Studies through an internet program (google docs). We would be able to take what we are learning in our advising and use it towards working with the youth in our future careers.

                When in our class on Thursday I was able to use my knowledge of putting together my plan of studies and help out my fellow students put their next semester classes together. I felt very confident in helping my classmates just because I went through the same confusion as them the other day. Looking at how I am able to help them through planning their classes on google doc, it makes it understandable and easier to work with. Students in our different school systems should use advising and their class planning in this same manner. This is the closest way to start having teachers bring technology into their students’ academic works.

**If you'd like more information on the Youth Development Program to see what it entails click here. Also if you would like to learn more about bringing technology into academic advising here is a Power Point that gives you some key points about bringing it into the classrooms.