Student Experiences at Western Governors University (WGU)

gshoemaker

I just wanted to stop back in as I have not posted since becoming an actual student. Things are going well with the exception of some assessment scheduling difficulties. I have taken the last 3 utilizing the webcam and I must say it is very convenient. Once I finish my current courses I am contemplating taking CSV1. Does anyone have any study advice/suggestions for this course?

Thanks in advance!

NOLAJ

Hey guys,

For those of you who have done INT1, what did you do for task 3, the actual experiment? I'm somewhat at a brain lock. Any help would be awesomely appreciated.

Lemonade727

NOLAJ wrote: »

Hey guys,

For those of you who have done INT1, what did you do for task 3, the actual experiment? I'm somewhat at a brain lock. Any help would be awesomely appreciated.

I saw a recommendation on paper airplanes, so I did mine on whether the amount of folds on the paper would increase flight distance. I wanted to make sure it was something that could be done quickly, without relying on something to "grow", etc.

NOLAJ

Lemonade727 wrote: »

I saw a recommendation on paper airplanes, so I did mine on whether the amount of folds on the paper would increase flight distance. I wanted to make sure it was something that could be done quickly, without relying on something to "grow", etc.

How did you show a constant as far as force applied to throwing the airplane?

TLeTourneau

I did a review of competing brands batteries by measuring the light output over time. Now if I could only finish task one.

NOLAJ

TLeTourneau wrote: »

I did a review of competing brands batteries by measuring the light output over time. Now if I could only finish task one.

For Task 1 I did evolution and some findings that supported it. This of course changed the scientific understanding of what once was thought of as how we came to be.

Lemonade727

NOLAJ wrote: »

How did you show a constant as far as force applied to throwing the airplane?

Replied to your PM before noticing this. I created my own paper airplane launcher and although it's not "exact" with the launch speed, it's a lot more consistent than simply throwing them by hand and the course mentors agreed.

I can't seem to find the video I first saw which showed the design of it, but basically take a long, rectangular piece of cardboard and fold it in half so there's a groove to fit the bottom of the plane in. Then staple or tape a cut rubber band that's put in place at the rear of the piece of cardboard so you pull the paper airplane back with the rubber band using the groove as a guide, then launch it. I just mentioned what size rubber band I used and measured the distance pulled back so the launches would be similar.

NOLAJ

Lemonade727 wrote: »

Replied to your PM before noticing this. I created my own paper airplane launcher and although it's not "exact" with the launch speed, it's a lot more consistent than simply throwing them by hand and the course mentors agreed.

I can't seem to find the video I first saw which showed the design of it, but basically take a long, rectangular piece of cardboard and fold it in half so there's a groove to fit the bottom of the plane in. Then staple or tape a cut rubber band that's put in place at the rear of the piece of cardboard so you pull the paper airplane back with the rubber band using the groove as a guide, then launch it. I just mentioned what size rubber band I used and measured the distance pulled back so the launches would be similar.

Thanks! I replied with some Rep.

Lemonade727

NOLAJ wrote: »

Thanks! I replied with some Rep.

No problem, good luck with the task.

phaneuf1

Does anyone else here have Jacqueline Jezek for mentor? How do you find her?

Nobylspoon

NOLAJ wrote: »

Hey guys,

For those of you who have done INT1, what did you do for task 3, the actual experiment? I'm somewhat at a brain lock. Any help would be awesomely appreciated.

Honestly, any grade school science project will be fine. I ordered some petri dishes from Amazon and measured bacterial growth from varying water sources (tap, filtered tap, bottled, boiled).

TLeTourneau

phaneuf1 wrote: »

Does anyone else here have Jacqueline Jezek for mentor? How do you find her?

I do, she's always responded promptly to my emails.

NOLAJ

Thanks for the responses!!

TLeTourneau

NOLAJ wrote: »

For Task 1 I did evolution and some findings that supported it. This of course changed the scientific understanding of what once was thought of as how we came to be.

I'm doing celestial mechanics and the discovery of x-rays. It's tough getting a decent level of detail in 8 to 10 slides. My first revision was 18 slides, I'm just trying to get it down to the recommended size and still have enough detail to satisfy.

Hypntick

TLeTourneau wrote: »

I'm doing celestial mechanics and the discovery of x-rays. It's tough getting a decent level of detail in 8 to 10 slides. My first revision was 18 slides, I'm just trying to get it down to the recommended size and still have enough detail to satisfy.

Having a similar issue. Being on call this week doesn't help, having a rough time trying to focus with the phone ringing. Really need to buckle down and get to it, INT1 shouldn't take very long and i'm in the home stretch.

NOLAJ

Hypntick wrote: »

Having a similar issue. Being on call this week doesn't help, having a rough time trying to focus with the phone ringing. Really need to buckle down and get to it, INT1 shouldn't take very long and i'm in the home stretch.

I did Task 1 Saturday, Task 2 Sunday. Both came back today finished. Don't over think these tasks. Just hit the requirements and move on.

*edit* I spent maybe 3 1/2 hours combined total between the two tasks.

themagicone

I did E=MC^2 for Task 1 and how it lead to the development of the Atomic bomb. For the experiment I did the good 'ol paper towel bit.

erpadmin

INT1: Task1--Genetics and the "Black Death [Plague]"
Task2--very popular US ecosystem (there's quite a number of 'em)
Experiment--Dissolution of Sugar

INT1 is more annoying than it is hard...

swild

gshoemaker wrote: »

I just wanted to stop back in as I have not posted since becoming an actual student. Things are going well with the exception of some assessment scheduling difficulties. I have taken the last 3 utilizing the webcam and I must say it is very convenient. Once I finish my current courses I am contemplating taking CSV1. Does anyone have any study advice/suggestions for this course?

Thanks in advance!

I just saw that no one has replied to you. I see that you are taking DFV1, let me tell you, that is no joke. I highly recommend putting that one off until after you take care of all of the rest of the web design/programming courses. I would also recommend taking DJV1 prior to all of those because it is designed as an overview to all of the programming classes. DJV1 is all about key word definitions, where DFV1 they expect you to have coding experience.

Now to answer your question, 70-680 is a tough exam. I passed with a 700, which is the minimum passing score. Even with as fast as I am going, I would think this test would take at least 3 weeks to be well prepared for. You could easily spend twice as long if you have never been in an enivorment deploying Win 7. Just being a power user is not enough. Most of that stuff isn't even covered on the exam. It's all about the admin side.

I had RIT1 transferred in, BNC1 I passed the pre-assessment with enough to not worry about it, DHV1 I got requirement satisfied since I transferred in the 70-680 cert. I have given my impressions on all of the courses I have taken so far in my thread: http://www.techexams.net/forums/jobs-degrees/73130-wgu-challenge-finish-1-term.html. Maybe it will help.

NOLAJ

NOLAJ wrote: »

Hey guys,

For those of you who have done INT1, what did you do for task 3, the actual experiment? I'm somewhat at a brain lock. Any help would be awesomely appreciated.

Wow, I was REALLY over thinking Task 3. Agree with the poster above, it is more annoying than hard.

Again, thanks for the responses.

demonfurbie

it may just be me but has any one else noticed that taskstream has gotten faster at grading

phaneuf1

TLeTourneau wrote: »

I do, she's always responded promptly to my emails.

Yes she is good

NOLAJ

demonfurbie wrote: »

it may just be me but has any one else noticed that taskstream has gotten faster at grading

I would agree. As I said earlier, for INT1, I submitted Task 1 on Saturday and Task 2 on Sunday and received both back Monday. I submitted Task 3 last night so I think that one will be a true indicator.

erpadmin

NOLAJ wrote: »

I would agree. As I said earlier, for INT1, I submitted Task 1 on Saturday and Task 2 on Sunday and received both back Monday. I submitted Task 3 last night so I think that one will be a true indicator.

I've gotten tasks back as early as a few hours. In fact, I would wake up to a task complete text message after I was done turning that in.

coffeeluvr

How long does it usually take to get a Taskstream Turnitin Originality Report? I have been waiting over 24 hours...is this normal?

Psoasman

coffeeluvr wrote: »

How long does it usually take to get a Taskstream Turnitin Originality Report? I have been waiting over 24 hours...is this normal?

Both of my submissions were checked in less than 2 hours. Maybe they are backed up right now?

SteveLord

These enrollment counselors.......I am glad they are only temporary. My guy is impossible to reach over the phone and when he tries to call me, doesn't call the number I give him. Instead, calling home.....where no one will answer.

jmasterj206

SteveLord wrote: »

These enrollment counselors.......I am glad they are only temporary. My guy is impossible to reach over the phone and when he tries to call me, doesn't call the number I give him. Instead, calling home.....where no one will answer.

The Enrollment Counselors were my worst experience with WGU. Trust me it gets much better after you get done with them. You would think they would try to improve that since that is your first impression, but it doesn't sound any better then when I went through the process nearly 2 years ago.

petedude

demonfurbie wrote: »

it may just be me but has any one else noticed that taskstream has gotten faster at grading

I remember hearing that WGU was moving their grading in-house. Maybe there are more WGU employees looking at the assignments now.

Valsacar

jmasterj206 wrote: »

The Enrollment Counselors were my worst experience with WGU. Trust me it gets much better after you get done with them. You would think they would try to improve that since that is your first impression, but it doesn't sound any better then when I went through the process nearly 2 years ago.

I'm pretty pissed about that stage right now. I had started the process long before I had even finished by BS (at another school) so I could start as soon as possible. My first counselor (Dan) said he could get me in for a March start, even though my degree wasn't conferred until Feb 17th and the deadline is the 15th. As long as everything was there by the 22nd he said... then suddenly I got notified that I have a new enrollment counselor. My new woman told me, no there is nothing we can do and you have to wait until April 1st. Fine... I knew that was the likely answer. I do everything, except this stupid intake interview... she says she needs to wait for everything to get to her, including transcripts from schools I did NOT graduate from and that had been transferred to the school I did graduation from.

She get's everything and sends me an email on Feb 29th asking when to schedule the interview, I told her I was in the middle of a military exercise (I'm a contractor) so the 5th of March or after is good. And then nothing, try calling but kept missing her (being on the other side of the world doesn't help). I sent her another email, and get a response today saying "Let's schedule for next week, we've missed the deadline for April so you'll have to start in May..."

I'm really pissed off right now, I told her I wanted to start as soon as possible as I had just finished my BS and didn't want to get out of the habit of doing coursework.