In that light, I'd like to give a few tips for making it through Supply Chain. For me, Supply Chain was very similar to when I took Algebra I way back in the day. I kept asking "Why? Why does X=2?", and thus I got my only C in HS. (Yes, I know now days, kids are taking Algebra 1 in 3rd grade.) When I got to Algebra II, I said, "Screw it! I'll accept what the teacher says as true, and stop questioning things." This is how I earned an A in Algebra II. It's not that it was easier; it's just that I stopped questioning things.
Mid-way through SC, I realized that I was back in Algebra I, and I had to stop asking "Why?" and just do what the course mentor had advised in the video. I tried; I really and truly tried to stop resisting what he had said. I thought that if I had my own mind, and did some critical thinking and analysis, that somehow I would pass the class. Heck, I even thought that the graders would welcome my fresh ideas, instead of the stale, recycled air that they are used to breathing when they receive the tasks for this class.
I should have remembered what my first course mentor said 6 months ago, that I ought not stray too far from the assigned reading materials because it might throw the graders off. He admitted that WGU has some fundamental problems in this way. The graders are seemingly not allowed to necessarily count work that doesn't fall within specific guidelines (aka the rubric).
I know I let my stubbornness (dammit, I actually want to learn something!) get in the way at times with this class. Finally, when I felt that I had very little choice (except to take an "incomplete" on my transcript), I gave in. This was tough for me because "giving in" also meant to me, that I was compromising my morals. Does this make sense? I guess in this case, based upon my actions, my ethics meant less to me than passing the class. Boy, reading that makes me kinda feel like shit. I strongly feel that along with having lots of opinions, I have a strong sense of right and wrong. Maybe I'm not as strong as I thought? Although, who would I have hurt most by not completing the class? The course mentor? (He doesn't give a crap about me.) My student mentor, Kelly? I don't think she cares since this class won't count against me now that I'm switching programs.
I do plan on sending a strongly-worded email to the head of the MBA department, letting her know at least some of the faults with this course and the mentor. It's funny, when I don't get along with the course mentor, I don't get a survey. Yet when I do like the mentor, I get a survey. I'm no whiz at statistics, but I'd say that's a biased sample.
I promised some tips, so here they are:
- Don't question, just do!
- Do exactly as the course mentor advises in his video. (If you contact him, he'll only repeat that anyway.)
- Really try to understand the simulation.
- Consider doing Task 3 first since the reading for that may help you with Tasks 1 & 2. It is my understanding that it does not matter in which order you do the tasks.
- Don't think too much in the simulation. If the answer seems too obvious, it's probably correct.
- "Mistakes" are actually great in the simulation because it gives you something to discuss in your tasks. "I did X, however upon further review, I should have actually done Y."
- Don't expect much help from the course mentor.
- Use those submissions! If you don't understand something but feel that you just can't do anything else with your paper, turn it in. Then, when/if you get it back, follow what the grader has said as closely as possible. They do seem to give pretty specific feedback. Also, despite what I've read elsewhere, I believe that it's the same grader for each submission.
- Don't trust that TaskStream will email you immediately. It does most times, but if you're under a deadline (like your term ending) check it yourself.
- If you're wondering if your task has been picked up by the grader, I'm pretty certain that your student mentor can check that for you.
Forward!