Starting the Term Off Right

Northeast Center Office of Academic Support Spring 2011 Workshop Series

NECAcademicSupport.pbworks.com/workshops

Agenda

• HABITS FOR SUCCESS– Understanding How You Learn – Self-Directed Learning– Asking Questions/Finding the Right Answers

• SKILLS & STRATEGIES– Organization– Reading Learning Contracts/Course Syllabi– Time Management– Breaking Down Assignments

HABITS FOR SUCCESS• Motivation & Self-Directed Learning• Understanding How You Learn • Asking Questions• Finding the Right Answers

What motivates you to succeed this term?(Fill in the blank space below)

Source: http://studygs.net/adulted.htm

How Do Adult Learners Learn?

What assumptions do you have for your success this term?

(Fill in the blank space below)

Source: http://studygs.net/adulted.htm

How Can I Improve My Learning?

• Most people have developed a preference for how they learn.

• One learning style is not better than another and all can be improved.

• Effective learners know how their minds work and adapt their studying strategies to any situation.

What Are Learning Preferences?

ACTIVITY

How do you learn?• Understanding how you learn best can help you to maximize your studying strategies to match your strengths. • Making connections between what you are learning and your life experiences can help you better understand and retain information.

Here’s a riddle we would like to share with you.

“The day before two days after the day before tomorrow is Monday.”

PLEASE ANSWER THIS QUESTION -- What day is it today?”

SOURCE: Visual Brainstorms

What was your process? Think about how did you try to answer the question? What was your problem solving process?

• Did you talk it out?• Draw it out? • Write it out?• Move your finger around on a calendar?• A combination of the above or another way?

Thinking about how you tried to get the answer to this question can give you a clue as to how you prefer to learn.

SUNDay before tomorrow

is today

MON

Is tomorrow

&Day before

2 days after the

day before tomorrow

TUES

2 days after today

WED THURS FRI SAT

Here is an example of one way how to solve for the answer. Separate phrases in the sentence into the parts you know:

The day before two days after = 1 day afterThe day before tomorrow = today Tomorrow is Monday

If tomorrow is Monday then surely today is Sunday

The Answer

Answer : Today is Sunday

“The day before two days after the day before tomorrow is Monday.”

“The day before two days after the day before tomorrow is Monday.”

Identify Your Learning Preference• Take a Learning Styles Inventory:

VARK Learning Styles Self-Assessment Questionnairehttp://bit.ly/VARKLearningStyles

Your VARK preferences can be used to help you develop additional, effective strategies for learning related to how you:

take in information; study information for effective learning; and

study for performing well on an examination.

Visual Study Strategies (V)Aural/Auditory Study Strategies (A)

Read/write Study Strategies (R)Kinesthetic Study Strategies (K)

Multimodal Study Strategies (MM)

• Attend the Learning Styles Workshop:Workshop Schedule and Resources

www.necacademicsupport.pbworks.com/workshops

• Meet with a Learning Coach Learning Coach Schedules and Contact Information

www.necacademicsupport.pbworks.com/Learning-Coaches

Asking Questions – DO IT!“The strong individual is the one who asks

for help when he needs it.” - Rona Barrett

Ask questions when needed and do not let problems go unresolved!

Be a self-directed and

self-motivated learner.

Finding the Right AnswersAcademic Coursework

Your Mentor:Contact your mentor for help with:

• Academic records • Degree planning • Choosing studies for the next term,

including cross-registration • Problem solving related to studies and

academic skills

Your InstructorContact your instructor for help with:

• Course content• Assignments• Grades

MyESC – Academics Tab: Use this tab to:

• Access your online courses• Engage in degree planning with your mentor• Choose studies for the next term, including

cross-registration

Finding the Right AnswersOffice of Academic Support: Contact the Director Academic Support and/or Learning Coaches for help with:

* Writing, reading, mathematics, and statistics * Online and local tutoring services * Study skills (critical thinking, time management, and more)

www.NECAcademicSupport.pbworks.com

Finding the Right Answers

STUDENT SERVICES

Office of Student Services :Contact the Coordinator of Student Services for help with:

• Disability services (list of contacts) • Filing an academic appeal or student grievance • Minority services • Questions about administrative procedures, incompletes • Problems that you have not been able to resolve with your mentor or an

administrative office. • Occasionally a student encounters a problem that s/he is not able to

resolve with his or her mentor or an administrative office. The Office of Student Services investigates and facilitates the resolution of student complaints. The role is not one of an advocate for either party, but rather as a neutral investigator of the complaint.

• For more information on college policies, see http://bit.ly/ESCPolicies

Northeast Center:Joan JohnsenCoordinator of Student Services 21 British American Blvd.Latham, NY 12110Phone: 518 783-6203 E-mail: Joan.Johnsen@esc.edu

Finding the Right AnswersStudent Information Center:Monday-Thursday 8:30am-6pm Fridays 8:30am-5pm CALL -- 1-800-847-3000 ext.2285

For:• Admissions• Financial Aid• Billing• Registration• Records • Any Administration Services

Technology Help Desk:Sunday 1-9pm Monday -Thursday 9am-9pm Friday 9am- 5pm Closed SaturdayCALL -- 1-800-847-3000 ext 2420 OR GO TO -- www.esc.edu/helpdesk

For:• Issues with Logins• Computer Access/Compatibility• ANGEL Support

Finding the Right Answers

MyESC - your free one-stop guide to the many resources available to you across the college. www.esc.edu/myesc

Content Area Tutoring - free online tutoring provided by the college through Smarthinking

www.esc.edu/smarthinking

Talk One2One - a free confidential 24/7 phone in support for students provided by the college

http://www.studenttalkone2one.com/

Finding the Right AnswersKnow “who to” &“how to” contact them

• ONLINE http://bit.ly/NEChandbook

SKILLS &

STRATEGIES

• Organization• Reading Learning Contracts/Course Syllabi• Time Management• Breaking Down Assignments

Tips for getting organizedKeep an organized workspace – everything has a place

Physically organize your assignments, course materials and papers/ assignments: Have a binder or notebook for each class

Include notes from your reading and/or class meetingsHave a section in the binder/ folder in the notebook for all of your work

from your instructor

Electronically organize your assignments, course materials and papers/assignments:Make folders on your computer/flash drive for specific

classes/instructors to more easily access your coursework.When saving your files, be sure to clearly label and date your

papers/assignments.

Make folders in your e-mail for specific classes/instructors to more easily track assignments, correspondence, etc.

Organizing Yourself:Using Your Learning Contracts to Help

You Organize Your Time & Focus

A few minutes now will save you many more in the future!

Review Learning Contract

= Key Concepts

= Critical Thinking Skills

= Benefit to You

Organizational Behavior Learning Contract4 Credit Study

Review Learning Contract

= Key Concepts

= Critical Thinking Skills

= Expectations & Requirements

= Key Materials

= Due Date

= Requirements

Review Learning ContractDUE BY – End of 5th Week of Term

DUE BY – End of 10th Week of Term

Planning for Your 1st Set of Assignments

ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIORDUE BY – End of 5th Week of Term

Week Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

SEPTEMBER

1

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Term BeginsORG BEHAVIOR

Read Chaps 1 & 16

2

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

ORG BEHAVIORRead Chaps 17 & 18 & 19

18

3

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

ORG BEHAVIORRead & Take

Notes Activity 12.5 & Start

Write-up Case 4 (4-6 pages)

OCTOBER

4

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

ORG BEHAVIORFinal Draft of

Write up Case 4 (4-6 pages)

5

8 9 10 11 All Work Due 12 13 14

Columbus Day

ORG BEHAVIORReadings &

Case 4 Due

ECONOMICS

Planning for Your 1st Set of Assignments

Week Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

SEPTEMBER

1

Term Begins 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

ECONOMICSRead Chap 1

Do QFT - 2 & 5 Do P&E - 1, 5 &10

ECONOMICSRead Chap 2

Do QFT – 3, 11, 16 Do P&E – 3 & 4

ORG BEHAVIORRead Chaps

1 & 16

Spend time with the family

2

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

ECONOMICSRead Chap 3

Do QFT – 8 & 15 Do P&E – 4 & 5

ECONOMICSRead Chap 4

Do QFT – 3,8,14,15

Do P&E – 2 & 3

ORG BEHAVIORRead Chaps 17 & 18 & 19

Spend time with the family

3

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

ECONOMICSRead Chap 6

Do QFT – 1, 9, 13 Do P&E – 8, 14,

17

ECONOMICSRead Chap 8

Do QFT – 1 & 2 Do P&E - 1, 7 & 9

ORG BEHAVIORRead & Take

Notes Activity 12.5 & Start Write-up

Case 4 (4-6 pages)

Spend time with the family

OCTOBER

4

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

ECONOMICSRead Chap 9

Do QFT – 1 & 5 Do P&E - 1,3,5a,5b

ORG BEHAVIORFinal Draft of

Write up Case 4 (4-6 pages)

Spend time with the family

5

8 9 10 11 All Work Due 13 14

Columbus Day

ECON PROBS & ORG BEHAVIOR

Readings & Case 4 Due

Spend time with the family

Breaking Down an Assignment• First, you have to understand the problem. • After understanding, then make a plan. • Carry out the plan. • Look back & ask – How could the plan be improved?

- Source: George Pólya (1945) How to Solve It

Assignment: Your goal is to write a 3-4 paged paper that is an in-depth analysis of yourself in personal, professional and academic contexts.

(Enhancing the Academic Eye, Fall 2010)

FIRST -- UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM (Assignment)

Understand/Analyze the Problem

• First – analyze the question– What kind of a paper is it? (i.e. reaction, persuasive,

research, journal, literature review)– What are the action words in the assignment? (analyze,

apply, argue, compare/contrast, describe, discuss, define, evaluate, critique, interpret, react, summarize, synthesize)

– What are the rules of the paper? (length, line spacing, topic, deadline)

 

Assignment: Your goal is to write a 3-4 paged paper that is an in-depth analysis of yourself in personal, professional and academic contexts.

(Enhancing the Academic Eye, Fall 2010)

Make Your Plan: Outlining

INTRODUCTION – Ask yourself, why am I writing this? State your purpose by restating the key parts of the question - this helps the reader (instructor) know you understood what was being asked of you and you are aiding the reader (instructor) in understanding what you are going to talk about.

 BODY – Can take different forms.

Could be strengths as the focus in each of the three areas (academic, personal and professional) and then the limits in those areas as separate paragraphs

OREach area (academic, personal and professional) as a separate paragraph with strengths and limitations both discussed under that particular area

 CONCLUSION - make a plan for success including a connection to the strengths, limitations, and your learning style.

Assignment: Your goal is to write a 3-4 paged paper that is an in-depth analysis of yourself in personal, professional and academic contexts.

(Enhancing the Academic Eye Fall 2010)

Make Your Plan: Mind MapAssignment: Your goal is to write a 3-4 paged paper that is an in-depth analysis of yourself in personal, professional and academic contexts.

(Enhancing the Academic Eye Fall 2010)

Carry Out Your PlanREVIEW WHAT YOU KNOW• You know how long it has to be – 3-4 pages• You know what the topic is• You have started organizing your ideas

WORK ON WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW/DO• Gather information• Brainstorm• Ask questions if unsure• Write a rough draft• Get Feedback

– Your instructor, Smarthinking.com, or set up an appt. with a learning coach

• Revise your draft – EDIT using feedback• Review again - read out loud, look over, resubmit to Smarthinking• When you feel like you have your Final Draft -- Submit