Student Success Workshops

In-classroom workshops for students

in full-time Career Programs

or English Language Programs (Benchmark Level 7-8)

at the request of faculty.

Workshop Guidelines5 things you can do to ensure a valuable Student Success Workshop

1 Book Early

• Weencourageyoutocontactuswiththedetailsofyourrequestassoonaspossible;minimumof3weeksin advance.Theearlieryoubook,thegreatertheprobabilitythatwewillbeabletoaccommodateyourrequest.

• Puttinginyourrequestiseasy!Simplycall/emailthecontactlistedbytheworkshopyouareinterestedin.

• Pleasenote:Facultyrequestsforin-classroomworkshopswillberespondedtoonafirstcome,firstservebasis. 2 Set Up

• Pleaseensureyourclassroomhasaprojectorandlaptopsetupfortheworkshoppresenters.

3 Participate

• Wevalueworkingwithfacultytoenhancethelearningyouarefacilitatingwithyourstudents.Assuch, yourpresenceintheworkshopallowsforgreatercollaboration,insightandaricherlearningexperience.

4 Customize It

• Call/emailthecontactlistedbytheworkshopyouareinterestedin,andshareinformationaboutspecifictopics thatyouwouldlikeincludedintheworkshop.Besuretoincludeclassroomsize,programname,demographics, andanyadditionaldetailsthatwillhelptoaddressyourstudents’learningneeds.

5 Tell us your thoughts

• Aftertheworkshop,pleasetakethetimetocompletetheworkshopsatisfactionsurvey.

College Knowledge workshops work best if contextualized with material from your program. To do this we encourage you to book early to allow Academic Success Centre tutors to modify the workshops to fit your program’s specific needs.

Academic Success Centre’s series of College Knowledge workshops offer interactive learning strategy activities designed to engage students and promote positive behavioural change.Please book at least 3 weeks in advance.

Time Management. You will:

• Implementastudystrategythatprioritizesand

manageslife,collegeandworkdemands.

• Createastudycalendaralignedtoprogramschedules,

duedatesandtests.

• Self-identifypersonalbarrierstotaskcompletion

andcreatecustomizedsolutions.

Academic Success Centre Contact: Dayna Graham, Adult Learning Facilitator, Academic Success Centre dagraham@rrc.ca or 204.631.3342

Notemaking. You will:

• Differentiatebetweennotemakingandnotetaking

anddescribetheinfluenceonlearning.

• Describecommonpatternsoforganizationwithin

collegelecturesandassociatedverbalandwrittencues.

• Employanotemakingstrategytoprovidethefoundation

fortestandassignmentprepactivities.

Study Smarter not Harder. You will:

• Analyzeandplantheimplementationofthe

studycycleasatoolforcomprehensionandretention.

• Identifystrategiesforcreatingeffectiveself-test

questionstouseasalearningtool.

• Planafocusedstudysessionforanupcomingtest

withastudycalendar.

Team Work Skills. You will:

• Identifythecharacteristicsandpracticesofan

effectiveteam.

• Developrolesandresponsibilitiesinagroup-basedsetting.

• Identifystrategiestomanageormitigateconflict.

College Level Reading. You will:

• Identifykeytextbookfeaturesandtherelationship

theyhavetoyourcourse.

• ExamineatextbookusingtheSQ3Rmethod:survey,

question,read,recite,review.

• Identifymainandsupportingpointsofyourtextinorder

tocreateastudyguide.

Writing in College. You will:

• Identifythetype,styleandtoneofwritingexpected

inyourprogramandfuturecareer.

• Employprocessesto:

- developwrittenideas,

- researcheffectively,

- organizepapers,and

- tightenandunifywrittenargumentsthrough

self-editingapproaches.

Enhancing Memory and Learning. You will:

• Applybrain-basedprinciplesoflearningandmemory

toprogramcontent.

• Identifytheattitudesandpersonalpracticesthat

enhancememory,learningandretrieval.

• Developapersonalstudyplanbasedonbrain-based

learningtechniquesthatisalignedwith

coursetimeframes.

Oral Presentations. You will:

• Makeanddeliverapresentationusingahook,intro,

bodyandconclusion.

• Demonstrateeffectivepresentationskills.

• Discusscommonproblemsindeliveringpresentations

andformsolutionstominimizetheseproblems.

Test Taking Skills. You will:

• Developpersonalstrategiesforavarietyoftestformats.

• Identifycommontesttakingerrorsanddescribe

reasoningskillsthatmitigatetheseerrors.

• Constructandexecuteanappropriateplanfor

test-taking.

• IdentifytestanxietystrategiesandCollegesupportsfor

testanxietymanagement.

Custom-Designed Workshops

ASCtutorsareavailabletodesignanddeliveractivity-basedlearningstrategyworkshopsthatfityourprogram’s

specificneeds.Giveusacallordropby.

Quick Tips on Student Success

A1-hourcombinationofaselectionofourworkshops

togiveyouanoverviewoflearningstrategiesand

testpreparationtips,forexample:

• Learningandmemorystrategies

• Test-takingtips

• AcademicsupportsatRRC

ESL Supports

AreyouexperiencingESLlanguagechallengesinyourclass?Letusknowwhatthosechallengesareandwecan

createworkshopstoaddressyourspecificneed.IfyouhaveESLstudentsandCanadian-raisedstudentsinyourclass,

wecancreatea“blended”workshop,introducingthesameacademicskillsasintheCollegeKnowledgeworkshopsbut

alsointegratinglanguagelearningtipsandstrategies.

We’realsohappytocollaboratewithyouonspecialprojectsdesignedtohelpwiththespecificlanguagechallengethat

youarefacing,whetherit’savoidingplagiarismorpreparingspeakingskillsforaclinicalorco-opplacement.

Contact:MichelleAmaya-Torres,ESLSpecialist,AcademicSuccessCentre.mamayatorres@rrc.caor204.631.3365.

LGBTT* Initiative Contact: Bradley Christopher West, Diversity Initiatives Coordinator,

Diversity and Intercultural Services | bcwest@rrc.ca or 204.632.2016

The LGBTT* Initiative provides educational opportunities and resources to build communication, understanding and respect for diversity throughout the College.

LGBTT* Awareness LGBTT* individuals have gained major legal rights in Canada, but still face various social and cultural barriers. Students will broaden their understanding of sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression, as well as learn how to identify discriminatory assumptions from a personal, social and cultural framework.

• LGBTT* definitions, terminology, culture and history

• Differences and intersections between sex, gender and sexual orientation

• Impacts of LGBTT* myths and stereotypes

• Homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and heterosexism

• Issues and barriers faced by LGBTT* individuals

• Tools, strategies, and recommendations for affirming change

Workshop content can be adapted to specific students’ learning needs and professional field. An honorarium for an external trainer may be applicable and is covered by the academic program.

Diversity andIntercultural ServicesIntercultural Training Program Contact: Bradley Christopher West, Diversity Initiatives Coordinator, Diversity and Intercultural Services

bcwest@rrc.ca or 204.632.2016

The Intercultural Training Program assists all students to develop cross-cultural awareness and skills to study and work effectively in today’s global environment.

Do’s and Don’ts in the Canadian ClassroomEducationalsystemsandteachingmethodsaredifferentfromonecountrytoanother.Whatisacceptableinoneculturemayormaynotbeacceptableinanotherculture.StudentswilllearnaboutthedifferencesthatmayaffectthemduringtheirstudiesatRedRiverCollege.

• Academiccultureshock

• Student/instructorandstudent/studentrelationships

• Studentparticipationinclass

• Groupworkdynamics

• Classroomvalues:leadershipandinitiative;demonstratingconfidence; conflictresolutionandnegotiation;flexibility;equality;respect; punctuality

Tocomplementthisworkshop,bookingofanAcademicSuccessCentreworkshoptoprovidestudyskillsstrategiesisstronglyencouraged.

Academic Integrity in the Canadian ClassroomEverystudentmustbehonestandaccurateintheirworkintheCanadianclassroom.Plagiarismandotherformsofacademicmisconductareseriousmatters.Studentswilllearntheformsofacademicmisconductandhowtoavoidthemwhendoinggroupwork,preparingassignmentsandwritingexams.

• Academicintegrity

• Formsofacademicmisconduct

• Plagiarism

• Effectsofacademicdishonesty

Tocomplementthisworkshop,bookingofanAcademicSuccessCentreworkshoptoprovideinformationaboutcitationguidelinesisstronglyencouraged.

Communication Skills for the Canadian WorkplaceCareersuccessisstronglylinkedtotheuseofsoftskillsandthecommunicationstylethatispreferredintheCanadianworkplace.StudentswilllearnthefourbuildingblocksoftheCanadiancommunicationstyle:clarity,conciseness,coherenceandconsensus.

• Theroleofculture

• Clarity,coherenceandconciseness,anduseofsoftenersto createconsensus

• Tipsformeetingpreparation

• Unwrittenrules:positiveattitude;bringupproblemsormistakes; ask,speakup,contributeandparticipateintheworkplace; conflictresolutionandnegotiation

Cultural Differences in the Canadian WorkplaceIdentifyingandmanagingculturaldifferencesintheCanadianworkplacecontributestocareersuccess.Studentswilllearnvariousculturalorientationsandpersonalitytypesthatwillhelpthemtounderstandsupervisors,co-workersandclients.

• Culturalintelligenceandinterculturalcommunication

• Directcommunicationandconsensuscommunication

• Personalitytypes

• Powerintheworkplace

• Unwrittenrules:findthemainstreamworkplaceculture; theorganization’sclock;suspendjudgment

Canadian Culture Workshops for Immigrant and International Students

Intercultural and Diversity AwarenessAcrosscultures,peoplehavedevelopedtheirownvaluesandbehaviourswhichallowthemtounderstandandinterprettheworldaroundthem.Studentswilllearnaboutdifferentculturalworldviewsandthevariousdimensionsofdiversityrepresentedineveryindividual.

• Perceptionsandassumptions

• Culturaliceberg

• Culturalvaluesandworldviews

• Dimensionsofdiversity

• Strategiesforworkingandcommunicatingeffectively

Communication across CulturesEveryculturefavoursdifferentcommunicationstyles.Studentswilllearnhowtobecross-culturallyawarewhencommunicatingwithclassmates,colleaguesandfriendsacrosscultures.

• Verbalandnon-verbalcommunication

• Directandindirectcommunicationstyles

• Bodylanguage:gestures,eyecontact,greetings,personalspace

• Conceptoffeedback

• Culturalcomparisonsoffeedback

Managing Cross-Cultural Differences in CanadaCulturalcompetenceisrequiredtostudy,workandliveintoday’sglobalenvironment.Studentswilllearnhowtobeawareandsensitiveofcross-culturaldifferencesandrespondeffectivelywheninteractingwithpeoplefromdifferentbackgrounds.

• Culturalcompetence

• Interculturalawareness,skillsandsensitivity

• Stereotypesandgeneralizations

• Culturalframeworks

• Intentionandperception

Working in Diverse TeamsWithongoingimmigrationtoManitobaandworkingrelationshipsacrosstheworld,teamsareusuallycomposedofmembersfromdifferentculturalbackgrounds.Studentswilllearnhowculturaldifferencesmayaffectteamworkandwhatstrategiestheycanimplementforsuccess.

• Individualismandcollectivism

• Directandindirectcommunicationstyles

• Activityfocusorpeoplefocus

• “Rational”or“Emotional”

• Strategiesforworkingwithpeoplefromdifferentcultures

• Establishinggroupworkrules

• Respondingtounexpectedculturalbehaviours

Cross-Cultural Workshops for All Students

The Intercultural Training Program also assists immigrant and international students to develop the cultural awareness and skills needed to study and work successfully in the Canadian college and workplace environment.

Library Contact: Notre Dame Library (Information Desk): 204.632.2233

Exchange District Campus Library (Information Desk): 204.949.8371

RRC Library Reference Staff will deliver Library Instruction classes to students of any program taught at or through Red River College. Library Instruction classes may include the following content; however sessions can be tailored to meet the needs of the class:

• Introduction to the Library

• Creating effective searches

• Choosing the most effective search tool

• Searching the Library’s Online Catalogue (OPAC)

• Searching Online Databases for journal articles

• Searching & evaluating suitable Internet resources

• Tour of the Library

AttheNotreDameCampus,LibraryInstructionclassesareusuallyconductedattheLibrary;staffcanalsodeliverasessioninanyclassroom

orcomputerlabthathasinternetaccess.AttheExchangeDistrictCampus,Libraryreferencestaffwillconductsessionsinanyclassroom,room,

orcomputerlabthathasinternetaccess.ThisincludesRedRiverCollegeclassesheldinTheRoblinCentre,PatersonGlobalFoodsInstitute

andtheLanguageTrainingCentre.

Thesessionsareflexibleintermsoftime.Mostare50minuteslongbuttheycanbelongerorshorterdependingontheneedsoftheinstructor.

Thesessionscanbebriefgeneralorientationsorfocusedonassignment-specificresearchtoolsandtechniques.Ifheldinthelibraryora

computerlabtherecanbeahands-oncomponent.

ForfurtherInformation,seetheLibrarywebsiteatlibrary.rrc.ca.

Also,seethevirtualtoursoftheNotreDameCampusLibraryatlibrary.rrc.ca/virtualtour/ndcandoftheJohnandBonnieBuhlerLibrary

(ExchangeDistrictCampus)atlibrary.rrc.ca/virtualtour/edc

Counselling and AccessibilityServices Contact: Jennifer Gaulin at jgaulin@rrc.ca or 204.632.3966

1 Stress Management

Stressisdefinedasaresponsetodemandsthatareplacedonanindividual.Collegestudentshavemanyreasonsthattheymay

experiencehighlevelsofstress,giventhesteadystreamofdemandsencounteredonadailybasis.Ifstudentsdonothavegoodstress

managementskillsitcouldleadtonegativeimpactsonmentalandphysicalhealth,academicprocess,andrelationships.Inthisworkshop,

studentscanlearnwhyit’simportanttomanagestressbeforestresstakescontrolanddeveloptheskillstomanageinhealthierways.

2 Managing Test Anxiety

Itisonlynaturalandnormalforallstudentstofeelanxiousbeforeatestorexam.Everyonewondersiftheywillbeabletoanswerthe

questions,iftheyhavepreparedenough,iftheywillrememberwhattheyhavestudied.Infact,acertainamountofnervoustensionhelps

usperformtothebestofourabilityandproducesahealthyrushofadrenalinethatgivesuswhatweneedtostayalertandfocused.

ButtoomuchanxietycanBLOCKthoughts,createanegativeframeofmind,leadtopanicandpotentiallypoorexamperformance.

TestAnxietyreferstoadebilitatingtypeofanxietythatimpactshowastudentdemonstratestheirknowledge.Thisworkshopwillhelp

provideinformationabouthowstudentscanlearntomanagethisdebilitatingtypeofanxiety.

3 Communication, Conflict and Challenges

Eventhoughweallcommunicateonadailybasis,itisonlypossibletocommunicateeffectivelywhenweunderstandthecommunication

processandourownpersonalstyleofcommunicating.Misunderstandingswhenweexchangeinformationcanoftenleadtoconflict,

disruptioninourinterpersonalrelationshipsandcanimpactprojectworkandacademicsuccess.Studentsareoftenrequiredtointeract

withtheirpeersincomplexandchallengingwayswhileattendingRRC.Groupprojects,variousteamsandclubs,classroomdynamicsand

socialinteractionscanallpresentchallengesattimes.Thisworkshopwillprovideinformationoncommunicationstyles,activelistening,

andstrategiestoresolveconflictandotherrelationshipchallenges.Studentswillbeencouragedtoreflectontheirownstyleandlearn

howtotakeresponsibilityfortheirpartofconflictinordertoworkthroughthesechallenges.

4 Building Resiliency

Allofushavetimesofstress,loss,failureortraumainourlives.Buthowwerespondtothesehasabigimpactonourwellbeing.

Weoftencan’tchoosewhathappenstous,butwecanchoosehowwerespondtowhathappens.Thisisoftenmucheasiersaidthandone,

butitispossibletodevelopskillsthatwillincreaseourabilitytorespondtowhatlifebrings.Infact,itisoftenthroughexperiencingadversity

thatwewilllearnwaysofcoping,engageasupportnetworkanddevelopconfidencetomanagedifficultiesinthefuture.Inthisworkshop,

studentswilllearnthatresilienceisthehumancapacitytoface,overcomeandbestrengthenedbyexperiencesofadversity.Studentswillalso

learnthattheyhavethecapacitytoenhancetheirinherentresiliencebylearningnewwaystofacetheinevitableadversitiesoflifeandto

becomeevenstrongerfromthem.Asaresult,studentswillincreasetheirpositivementalhealth.

5 Critical Incident Stress Debriefing

Whensomeoneexperiencesaneventthatislifethreatening,eithertothemselvesortosomeoneelse,theywillusuallyexperiencesymptoms

ofstressandtraumaafterwards.Someexamplesoftraumaticeventsareviolentincidents,seriousinjuries,fatalaccidents,suddendeaths,

andsuicides.Eventhoughtheeventmaybeover,itisquitecommonforindividualstoexperiencesomestrongemotional,cognitive,

behavioural,andphysicalreactions.Thesymptomsofstressmaylastafewdays,afewweeks,afewmonths,orevenlongerdepending

ontheseverityoftheevent.Withunderstandingandsupport,thestressreactionsusuallypassmorequicklyandthoseimpacted

cantypicallymoveforwardmorequicklyandconfidently.FacultycanrequestaCriticalIncidentStressDebriefingiftheylearn

ofacriticalincidentthatisimpactingstudents.Adebriefingwillfacilitatethisunderstandingandsupport,normalize

stressreactions,andencourageself-careandpeersupport.Withadebriefingstudentswillbemuchmorelikely

togetbacktofacinglife’sresponsibilitiessooner.

SUPPORTCOMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS STRENGTHRESPECTGUIDANCEWISDOM HUMILITYFAMILYSEVEN GENERATIONSSUPPORT COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS

STRENGTH RESPECT GUIDANCEWISDOM HUMILITY FAMILY SEVEN GENERATIONS

Aboriginal Student Support & Community Relations Contact: Lisa Carriere, Aboriginal Student Support & Community Relations

licarriere@rrc.ca or 204.632.3773

AboriginalStudentSupport&CommunityRelationsworkscooperatively withthecommunity,students,andstafftoensureAboriginalstudentshaveaccesstothe supportsandservicesneededtosuccessfullycompletetheirprogramatRedRiverCollege.

The College Community from a Traditional Perspective

• Getting involved • Building relationships • Support systems • Identifying your strengths

Traditional Teachings using the Medicine Wheel

Anin-depthlookatMedicineWheelphilosophyfromanAboriginalholisticcollectiveworldviewandperspectiveusingcircleconceptsandMedicineWheelteachings.Focusofthisvoluntaryinteractivepresentationwillexplorethegrowthandbalanceofintuitive,relational,experiential,andcognitivelearningabilitiesofstudentsfromanAboriginalculturalperspective.

• Meetwithanelderone-on-onetolearnmoreaboutvariousteachings,stopby tosayhelloorspendsometimesharingaboutyourprogram/experiences.

• VisitwithourWellnessCounsellortodiscussprogramming,family,school/life balanceorassistance/advocacywithyourfunding,housing,etc.

• Customizedworkshopsarealsoavailableonvariousculturalteachings suchassharingcircles,tipiteachings,namingceremonies,adjustingtocity andCollegelife,tonameafew.

• ToursoftheAboriginalSupportCentreandanoverviewofevents/programs thedepartmenthostsisavailableaswell.

Student Employment Services Contact: Michelle Johnson, Manager, Student Employment Services

mmjohnson@rrc.ca or 204.632.2128

Student Employment Services offers a variety of employment related workshops to assist students to develop the skills required to be competitive throughout the job search process.

Job Search Strategies and Resources

Aneffectivejobsearchisanimportanttoolinbuilding

asuccessfulcareer.Jobsearchgoesbeyondreadingjob

adsinthelocalnewspaper,itinvolvesaseriesofstrategic

stepstoassistajobseekerinfindingtherightposition.

Inthispresentation,studentswilllearnstrategiesand

obtainresourcesthatcanassistthemintheirjobsearch.

•Knowingyourselfandsettingrealisticobjectives

•Researchingyouroptions

•Connectingwithboththevisibleandhiddenjobmarkets

•Networking

•Informationalinterviewing

•Jobsearchmarketingtools

•Jobsearchtips

Creating Effective Resumes

Havinganoutstandingresumewillgreatlyimproveajob

seeker’schanceofgettinganinterview.Inthispresentation,

studentswillobtaininformationonhowtocreateeffective

resumes.

• Theresumeasamarketingtool

• Typesofresumesandchoosingthebeststyle

• Keycomponentsofaresume

• Layout,formattingandcontent

• References

Writing Convincing Cover Letters

Submittingaconvincingcoverlettertoaccompanya

resumeisanimportantpartoftheapplicationprocess.

Inthispresentation,studentswillobtaintheinformation

requiredtocreateaprofessionalcoverletter.

•Typesofcoverletters

•Essentialelementsofacoverletter

•Coverletterdo’sanddont’s

Interview Skills

Aninterviewisanessentialelementtosecuringajob,

andpreparationiskey.Inthispresentation,studentswill

obtaininformationonthebestinterviewpractices.

•Purposeoftheinterview

•Typesofinterviews

•Preparingfortheinterview

•Typesofinterviewquestionsandanswers

•Personalpresentation

•Aftertheinterview

Mock Interviews

Thissessionprovidesstudentswiththeopportunitytopracticetheirinterviewskillsthroughagroup-basedmockinterview.

Asaclass,studentswillbeaskedaseriesofinterviewquestionsandbeprovidedfeedbackandcoachingontheirpersonal

presentationandresponses.

Pleasenotethissessionisidealforsmallerclasssizes.