Kendra Hollern - eMajor Political Science instructor with fun side.

Kendra A. Hollern is a Lecturer in Political Science at Valdosta State University and teaches eMajor classes.

I teach in our Legal Assistant Studies program which is housed in VSU's Political Science Department. We have been moving our program from strictly face to face to online. I enjoy the flexibility and challenge of being able to teach online. I have taken online courses myself when I completed my LL.M. in Elder Law. It is great to be able to conduct classes from home or on vacation!

Outside of the eMajor delivery system, I try not to do anything differently. I encourage open discussions in my face to face courses and have translated that into my onine dicussion boards. I am very interactive with the students in my online courses so that they get the same feedback as my face to face students. I am very active on my discussion boards so the students can get feedback. But in the online environment you do need to be more careful in your communications as emails/postings can be interpreted in more than one way.

In the past to change things up I have taken away exams and use alternative assessments. I give real world based projects that students can expect to get in a law office.   Our clients have been Kermitt Frogg and Under Dog.

An interesting event that happened on a trip was at the Special Needs and Trusts Conference in St. Pete Beach in October.   This is conference that is hosted by Stetson College of Law where I got my LL.M. in Elder Law. I ran into my Ethics professor and she asked me to help critique her Moot Court students who were about to go to competition. Moot Court is appellate brief writing and oral arguments. It was fun to watch and reminded me of my law school days...and how I sometimes miss the courtroom.

Funny job story (aka things we do for money): When I was in high school I worked at a grocery store called Hy-Vee. The Nabisco representative couldn't come every week so he "hired" me to help him make sure his stock was full on the shelves the weeks he wasn't there. But, then one day he wanted to do a promotion that involved handing out cookies...and I had to dress in a Ernie the Keebler Elf costume...and I am a short woman...I stand about 5 foot 1.   My co-workers called me Keebler for 6 months after that. I still won't eat those darn cookies.

*eMajor students have access to great faculty like Kendra Hollern who teach great classes and as you can tell from her story is not afraid to go above and beyond for her students. Take a look at eMajor to learn more.

Comments

Spring Semester: Overcoming the January Blues

Spring semester often presents with the excitement of New Year’s Resolutions, new classes and the knowledge that spring break is just a few weeks away. However, it also brings a sense of sadness for many students as December holiday activities have concluded and the days are short. For online students, these feelings of general sadness can be even more pronounced if the student is isolated. Fewer people are outdoors during the cold days of winter and social activities have likely slowed down. Following are a few tips for feeling your best as the semester unfolds. Know that you aren’t alone. The January Blues and the February Slump are well recognized. If you have these feelings, embrace them and understand that occasional blues are normal. Get outdoors . As an online student, it’s very important that you are intentional about spending time in the sunlight. Some believe that the January blues are caused in part by the lack of sunlight (as compared to summer months). Take time for daily...

USG eCampus Helps HR Staffer Find Second Chance at College After Pandemic

Jasmin Khan recalls the unease she felt when working at a hospital as a Human Resources Assistant during COVID-19. Like so many, Khan found unexpected challenges when the pandemic brought physical and emotional hardships to most Americans. Acknowledging the “chaos in her life” caused by the pandemic, she left the job she loved to take a remote role. While remote work felt safer, she soon realized that her lack of a four-year degree limited her career opportunities. When considering pursuing a promotion, she became concerned that she had the skill set but was lacking the required level of education. No matter how impressive her experience, career progression was difficult without a bachelor’s degree. And as a busy mother of two young children, she found flexible and affordable options for returning to school very limited. The Search for Flexibility and Quality Then she discovered Georgia Southwestern University’s online programs through USG eCampus. “It felt like a breath of ...

Online Students Giving Back: Volunteer Opportunities in Georgia During the Holidays

As we move into the final weeks of class and into the holidays, many online students look for opportunities to reconnect in person and make a community impact. The holiday break is an excellent time to engage in volunteer opportunities that can boost resumes and provide personal fulfilment. If you are working through the holidays or struggling to balance it all, consider starting small. Even a donation or a call to an elderly visit or friend is a powerful start. And as an online student, you have likely developed unique skills that can make you effective in both virtual and in-person community endeavors. Following are a few ideas for holiday volunteer work in Georgia: Ring the Bell. You can become a holiday Salvation Bell Ringer and help raise funds for disaster relief, homeless shelters, and anti-human trafficking efforts. You can sign up for as little as a two-hour shift in your local area. Share the Feast. The Big Gobble (Columbus, LaGrange, and Albany) is one of many organiz...

Planet eCampus

Search This Blog