Madison McIntosh is a student majoring in Dental Assisting at Grayson College. She plans to continue her education at Texas A&M Commerce to become a Dental Hygienist. Some of her favorite assignments in her Learning Frameworks class included a service learning project at an assisted living facility and self-assessment assignments that helped identify her strengths and weaknesses. This class taught her about deep learning strategies and her preferred learning style. Madison saw significant improvements in her self-assessment scores from the beginning to the end of the semester. She learned how to study efficiently and believes these skills will help her succeed in future classes and career.

1. My Portfolio
Madison McIntosh

2. About Me!
• My name is Madison McIntosh
• I am a very strong-willed, dedicated, family oriented, secure woman.
• I am majoring in Dental Assisting. After I graduate as a Dental assistant at
Grayson College, I will continue my education at Texas A&M Commerce to
become a Dental Hygienist.

3. My Favorite Assignments
• My favorite assignment for this class was the Service Learning Project. I volunteered at an assisted living facility.
The people there were amazing and I was so intrigued by the many different backgrounds and their unique stories
about how they ended up there. With this assignment I learned the importance of community service and how
much something so little to me helps someone in need.
• Another assignment that I loved was the Self-Assessments that we did. Even though we should be aware of our
strengths and weaknesses, sometimes we just aren't, and those assignments showed us the things we need to work
on personally, and academically in black and white. Seeing it written out for me helped a lot in knowing where I can
improve.
• The assignment that we did on our specific Preferred Learning Styles was another one of my favorites. Just like in
the self assessment assignments that we did, it showed our strengths and weaknesses. I like assignments like these
because sometimes, we need to be shown exactly what we need to be working on instead of always trying to
improve our strengths. This assignment taught me that, even though I think I am strong in a specific subject,
doesn't mean that I am, and that I have room to improve in every academic subject.

4. My Favorite Journal Entries
• My favorite journal that we did was Chapter 3 Journal 11. In that journal entry, we went into specific detail
about the moment when you have achieved your goals and dreams. I dove deep into that assignment and it
really meant a lot to me, and made me anxious for when I actually meet all my goals. Even just writing it, I
could feel the accomplishment, and I can’t wait for that to be reality.
• Another journal that I really enjoyed doing was Chapter 2 Journal 8 where we had conversations between
our inner critic and inner defender. That really opened my eyes as to why I think the way I do and why I do
some of the things I do. This assignment helped me stay motivated throughout the whole semester.
• The last journal entry that sticks out as one of my favorites is Chapter 5 Journal 17. This journal was
important to me because I am very independent and it taught me that my support system has always been
there, and it is okay to utilize the help that I have. It has always been hard for me to ask for help, but after
doing this assignment, I learned that these people are here to help me, and that I should consider that when I
am feeling overwhelmed.

5. My Favorite Module
• Module 4: Chapter 5 Employing Interdependence and Chapter 6
Gaining Self-Awareness
• This module was the most helpful to me, because I have always been very
independent and it has always been challenging for me to ask for help, even
in the slightest bit. In this module I learned that, not only is it okay to ask for
help, it is necessary. I have successfully been asking for help, even if it is just
to have a quiet work space when I need it.

6. 3 Lessons that I will use in the Future
• Deep Learning Strategies. I have always used shallow or superficial learning tactics, because that is what I
have always been taught. Because of this lesson, I have learned the most effective way that I study and I will
be able to use these tools for the rest of my life.
• Preferred Learning Styles. It is obvious that not everyone learns in the same way, and that some styles
work better for myself than for others, but in the assignment that I did on my specific preferred learning
style, I learned that I learn better by innovating, and I always thought that I learned better by doing or feeling.
It was not what I was expecting, but as I read about myself in the assessment that I did, I learned that the
information was very accurate.
• The most important lesson that I am taking away from this class is that I am able to be successful. Just
because what I was doing before wasn’t working, such as the way I was studying, the way that I thought was
best for me to learn, or the fact that I was scared to ask for help, doesn’t mean that I can’t learn how to do all
of these things in the best way for me. This whole class has helped me to be more motivated by teaching me
the most efficient ways for me to be successful in achieving my goals.

7. Self-Assessment Scores
First
Score
Second
score
SELF ASSESSMENT
67 76 1. Accepting personal responsibility.
58 80 2. Discovering self-motivation.
44 70 3. Mastering self-management
53 63 4. Employing interdependence
31 71 5. Gaining self-awareness
49 79 6. Adopting lifelong learning
50 70 7. Developing emotional intelligence.
49 74 8. Believing in myself

8. Self-Assessment Scores (cont.)
I knew that this class did a lot for me, as far as helping me stay motivated, and
getting the reassurance that I have what it takes to be successful, but I didn’t
know how much I had really changed until I did this self-assessment for the
second time. I had a lot of personal things going on when I took the first one,
and things have gotten better personally since then, but when I was adding up
my scores for the second time, I was just blown away. I have been on time with
all my assignments, I have actually been motivated to do chores around the
house after I get finished with school work, just so much has improved for me
this semester and I give a lot of credit to this class.

9. Letter to the Next Class
Dear next class,
Learning frameworks has been an eye opener for me! I have always been a procrastinator, and I never really studied. I never understood why, even when I did
study, I could study for hours on end and not learn a thing. This class has taught me the easiest and most efficient way that I learn, and that not everyone learns
the same way. Since starting this class, I have been reassured that I have what it takes to be successful, and that what I was taught all through school may not be
the most effective way of learning. I have learned that even though this is an online class, we can build relationships with the classmates as well as the professor.
Before taking this Learning Frameworks class, I would take notes while I was in class and not take another look at them until right before a quiz or exam. This
never helped me actually learn anything, I would just basically memorize everything and as soon as I put it on paper, the information was gone. I didn’t really
learn anything, because what I was doing is called superficial learning. When using superficial learning, you memorize the information, regurgitate it when
needed, and then lose pretty much all the information without learning it. The only way to retain and comprehend information is to use deep learning strategies
when studying. That means that you make the information mean something to you, you relate it to things that you already know. Asking questions about the
information that you are studying helps you learn it as well. Quizzing or testing yourself is a good way to retain that information, as it helps you answer your
own questions and find new information.
Being taught how to study efficiently has helped me now, and will definitely help me to be successful in my future classes. Knowing and having what tools I
need to learn what I need to learn to reach my goals is going to help me tremendously. It will make it much easier to get through classes when I learn the
material that I need to learn rather than repeating, reciting, and regurgitating. Being able to study and learn is what college is all about, and when you actually
learn the information, you have knowledge for a lifetime.
This class was not a hard class in the least bit. It was very informative and I think I will use the tools and tips I learned for the rest of my life. I would take this
class over again if I could, in case I missed anything. I really liked that there were videos and everything wasn’t just reading material. I think it helps that we
have class discussions, so that we can build relationships with the other students. It is nice that the professor engages with the students by participating in the
class discussions as well as leaving comments on assignments, it made me feel like he really cared about my grade and what I got out of the class.
Anyone can be successful, you’ve just got to learn how to study and LEARN. I think that everyone could get something out of this class. Just learn how to use
deep learning strategies with everything that you do, and you will reach your goal.

10. Highlights of Letter to the Next Class
• Even though this is an online class, we can build relationships with the
classmates as well as the professor.
• Being taught how to study efficiently has helped me now, and will definitely
help me to be successful in my future classes.
• When you actually learn the information, you have knowledge for a lifetime.
• Just learn how to use deep learning strategies with everything that you do,
and you will reach your goal.

11. What my future looks like!
• I will maintain a high GPA throughout college.
• I will get my Dental Assistant Degree from Grayson College.
• I will go on to get my Dental Hygienist Degree from Texas A&M Commerce
• I will be a successful Dental Hygienist.
• I will be the best mother and wife.