Reflection
What did I learn in this course?
This course taught me a wide variety of things, some related directly to the material, some more applicable to life. In terms of the latter, I learned that just because a course is not related to my major or the specific career I aspire to, it doesn't mean it won't be full of valuable and interesting information that can broaden my horizons and introduce me to things I had not seen before. Horticulture is not a class required for my degree but rather an elective, so I came in with little expectations or prior knowledge. However, coming out of the course, I have a new interest--herbal supplements and the ways they work in our lives. As far as the material itself, I learned about commonly used spices, herbs, and botanicals from all around the world as well as their uses, both culinary and therapeutic. I learned about the chemical makeup of plants, how they grow and reproduce, and the reactions that occur to produce specific components and effects. I learned about alkaloids and terpenes. I learned about different approaches to medicine, from Traditional Chinese Medicine to Ayurveda. And I learned that the conventional medicine approach we are so accustomed to in the Western world is not at all the only approach, and perhaps not even the best.
What was my favorite activity in this course?
My favorite activity in this course was actually the first written assignment comparing Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, and Native American healing. This was so interesting to me because it compared practices from all around the globe. Also, I came into the course feeling very skeptical about herbal remedies and whether or not they were actually effective. However, watching the video about Ayurveda in particular, my attention was drawn to the physician who healed a man's eyes using herbs, and I realized that herbs and plants are working wonders worldwide, and I have turned a blind eye to it for years. This activity was a fantastic way to begin the course and truly prepare the mind for the material to come.
What do I know now that I did not?
I now know that conventional medicine is not the only option. I know that for my depression and anxiety I can try herbs like St. John's Wort. I know that Kava may be able to help with my sleep apnea. I know that mint calms the stomach. In all, my main takeaway from this course is that there is an entire world of more natural, healthier, and safer remedies for ailments that we face on a day-to-day basis. I am much more open-minded about trying new things.
How will I live differently with herbs after this course?
In broader terms, I will incorporate herbs into my life in both diet and supplement, and due to the knowledge I have acquired throughout the course, be able to identify and understand exactly what they are and what they are doing. Specifically, I do plan on adding a supplement of St. John's Wort to my diet and monitoring my moods and stress levels to see if it truly does alleviate depression--I am very excited to test this. I also plan on helping out more in my family's garden. Right now, we actually are growing mint and cilantro, something I never took interest in before; now that I know the properties these plants carry, however, and how beneficial herbs can be, I have a legitimate desire to help grow and care for the plants.
What are my suggestions for this course in the future?
In complete and total honesty, I do not have any suggestions for the course, and here is why: the lecture videos were all-encompassing, easy to follow, and informative. They gave all of the information needed and were very simple to comprehend and take notes on. The quizzes were based on the notes, and it was very feasible to not only pass but earn a decent grade as long as you completed all the steps in each module. I really liked the way each quiz gave you two attempts, which gave me the chance to reflect on the questions I missed, research further, and correct my mistakes; overall, I would say this was the biggest factor in helping me to actually learn and retain the material. The videos and articles provided for the learning activities were all interesting as well, and I found myself enjoying writing the essays and answering the questions, because the topics were genuinely interesting to learn about. This course really did make learning fun. I even liked the digital portfolio, which gave the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning, which is definitely something I did not expect from an online class. Overall, my online course experience with HORT3440 was an incredibly positive one, and I would not change a thing.
This course taught me a wide variety of things, some related directly to the material, some more applicable to life. In terms of the latter, I learned that just because a course is not related to my major or the specific career I aspire to, it doesn't mean it won't be full of valuable and interesting information that can broaden my horizons and introduce me to things I had not seen before. Horticulture is not a class required for my degree but rather an elective, so I came in with little expectations or prior knowledge. However, coming out of the course, I have a new interest--herbal supplements and the ways they work in our lives. As far as the material itself, I learned about commonly used spices, herbs, and botanicals from all around the world as well as their uses, both culinary and therapeutic. I learned about the chemical makeup of plants, how they grow and reproduce, and the reactions that occur to produce specific components and effects. I learned about alkaloids and terpenes. I learned about different approaches to medicine, from Traditional Chinese Medicine to Ayurveda. And I learned that the conventional medicine approach we are so accustomed to in the Western world is not at all the only approach, and perhaps not even the best.
What was my favorite activity in this course?
My favorite activity in this course was actually the first written assignment comparing Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, and Native American healing. This was so interesting to me because it compared practices from all around the globe. Also, I came into the course feeling very skeptical about herbal remedies and whether or not they were actually effective. However, watching the video about Ayurveda in particular, my attention was drawn to the physician who healed a man's eyes using herbs, and I realized that herbs and plants are working wonders worldwide, and I have turned a blind eye to it for years. This activity was a fantastic way to begin the course and truly prepare the mind for the material to come.
What do I know now that I did not?
I now know that conventional medicine is not the only option. I know that for my depression and anxiety I can try herbs like St. John's Wort. I know that Kava may be able to help with my sleep apnea. I know that mint calms the stomach. In all, my main takeaway from this course is that there is an entire world of more natural, healthier, and safer remedies for ailments that we face on a day-to-day basis. I am much more open-minded about trying new things.
How will I live differently with herbs after this course?
In broader terms, I will incorporate herbs into my life in both diet and supplement, and due to the knowledge I have acquired throughout the course, be able to identify and understand exactly what they are and what they are doing. Specifically, I do plan on adding a supplement of St. John's Wort to my diet and monitoring my moods and stress levels to see if it truly does alleviate depression--I am very excited to test this. I also plan on helping out more in my family's garden. Right now, we actually are growing mint and cilantro, something I never took interest in before; now that I know the properties these plants carry, however, and how beneficial herbs can be, I have a legitimate desire to help grow and care for the plants.
What are my suggestions for this course in the future?
In complete and total honesty, I do not have any suggestions for the course, and here is why: the lecture videos were all-encompassing, easy to follow, and informative. They gave all of the information needed and were very simple to comprehend and take notes on. The quizzes were based on the notes, and it was very feasible to not only pass but earn a decent grade as long as you completed all the steps in each module. I really liked the way each quiz gave you two attempts, which gave me the chance to reflect on the questions I missed, research further, and correct my mistakes; overall, I would say this was the biggest factor in helping me to actually learn and retain the material. The videos and articles provided for the learning activities were all interesting as well, and I found myself enjoying writing the essays and answering the questions, because the topics were genuinely interesting to learn about. This course really did make learning fun. I even liked the digital portfolio, which gave the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning, which is definitely something I did not expect from an online class. Overall, my online course experience with HORT3440 was an incredibly positive one, and I would not change a thing.
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