Your initial post must address all three discussion questions. There is no strict minimum word count, but posts of two to three substantive paragraphs typically demonstrate the depth of reflection expected. Bullet-point responses generally do not meet the quality standard.
SS1000 — Week 1 — Do
Week 1 Discussion
Do
Graded — 60 pts
Start Here
Discussion Overview
This week's discussion connects the reading on academic identity, success assessment, and PULSE to a real-world healthcare scenario. You will reflect on your own behaviors and identify one specific system you will use this term.
Read First
Discussion Scenario
Read the following scenario carefully before responding to the discussion questions.
Healthcare Scenario
Luis just started his pharmacy technician program and also works evenings at a retail pharmacy. During a busy shift, prescriptions are backing up, customers are frustrated, and the pharmacist asks Luis to help prioritize tasks. Luis hesitates. He wants to help, but he is unsure what to do first.
Later, the pharmacist tells him: "In this role, you cannot wait until things feel clear. You need systems. You need to act based on priorities, not pressure." That night, Luis logs into his course and looks at his assignments. He realizes he has the same issues there. He waits until deadlines feel urgent, studies when he has time, and avoids asking questions unless he is already behind.
He reviews his success assessment and starts to see patterns in his behavior. For the first time, he considers that success in school — like in a healthcare setting — is not about trying harder. It is about building systems, acting early, and taking responsibility for outcomes.
Respond
Discussion Questions
Address all three questions in your initial post. Your post should connect the scenario and your own experience to the concepts from this week's module.
Your Initial Post
- Based on the scenario and your own habits, how would you describe your current academic identity? What is the biggest gap between what you intend to do and what you actually do?
- Using your success assessment or your own observations, identify one of your strengths and one growth area. What specific system will you put in place to improve your growth area this term?
- In healthcare, waiting too long to ask for help can create problems for patients and colleagues. Explain how you could ask for help in this course in a professional way — and what would make it easier for you to reach out earlier.
Replying to Classmates
After submitting your initial post, reply to at least two classmates on two separate days before Sunday at 11:59 PM EST. Quality replies do at least one of the following:
- Ask a meaningful follow-up question about something they shared
- Share a related experience from your own background
- Offer a different perspective or approach they might not have considered
- Connect their reflection to a specific concept from the module
Post
How to Post Your Response
Initial Post Due
Wednesday at 11:59 PM EST
Need help posting?
- Click the Open Discussion button in D2L.
- Select Start a New Thread to write your initial post.
- Type or paste your response and select Post.
- To reply to a classmate, open their post and click Reply to Thread.
Note: Other students' posts do not appear until after you submit your own initial post. Reminder: Reply to two separate threads on two different days by Sunday at 11:59 PM EST.
Common Questions
D2L allows editing within a short window after posting. Once classmates have replied to your post, editing may not be possible. Review your response carefully before submitting. If you need to make a significant correction after the editing window closes, contact your instructor.
This is expected behavior. D2L hides other students' initial posts until after you submit your own. Once your post is submitted, you will be able to view and reply to your classmates' responses. If you have submitted your post and still cannot see others, wait a few minutes and refresh the page.
After the Discussion
Once your initial post and two replies are submitted, you have completed the Week 1 Do activities. Return to the module to complete the Week 1 Assessment if you have not done so already.