Understanding How Academics “Works” at the Northeast Center of Empire State College

Maximizing Your

Success

Presented byDr. Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein, Director of Academic Support

AGENDA• The Office of Academic Support • Mission• Pieces of Academic Success• Outcomes• Services & Resources

• Questions? (Stop me and ask throughout)

MissionThe staff of the Northeast Center Office of Academic Support operate as a collaborative team, striving to establish a friendly welcoming learning environment for all students.

We support students in becoming successful independent learners through a comprehensive array of services and resources tailored to students’ individual academic needs and goals.

We deliver these services and resources via individualized and group programming in face-to-face, telephonic and virtual formats.

We work with students, staff and faculty with the expectation that willing students can reach and exceed their academic potential with appropriate assistance.

Northeast Center Office of Academic Support

The Academic Support Team

Darlene Gaudio

Sarah Spence-StaltersKate Stockton

Lisa D’Adamo-WeinsteinMary Sanders Shartle

The Pieces of Academic Success

Time Management

Rationale Essay

Goal Setting

Learning Styles

Developing a Study Plan

ReadingEfficiency

WritingCritical Thinking

Academic Research

Stress Management

Navigating ESC Resources

Northeast Center Office of Academic Support

Student Outcomes As a result of utilizing the services and resources of the NEC Office of Academic Support, students will be able to:

• Identify and manage their learning strengths and challenges,• Incorporate traditional and technology-based resources in their

learning,• Use effective strategies in different learning engagements, • Create positive learning environments for themselves, • Increase their self-confidence while decreasing stress, and • Improve their academic performance and development as a life-long

learner.

Services & Resources

Learning Coaches, Peer Coaches, & Content Tutors• Learning Coaches conduct workshops and meet with students in one-to-one (online & onsite)

• Peer Coaches work with students one-to-one (online & onsite)

• Online Content Area Tutoring – Smarthinking - www.esc.edu/smarthinking

Curricular Support Face-to-Face & Online Support • Workshops (online & onsite) http://necacademicsupport.pbworks.com/Workshops

www.esc.edu/learningsupport

• YouTube – www.youtube.com/NECAcademicSupport

• SlideShare - http://www.slideshare.net/NECAcademicSupport 

• Enhancing the Academic Eye a self-paced or credit-bearing study - AcademicEye.pbworks.com

• Phasing out Dec 2010-- ANGEL Community Group - NEC Academic Support http://www.esc.edu/ole• Log in with your MyESC Username & Password

Academic Support @ NEC

Programs, Services & Resources

Helping You Connect the Pieces for Academic Success

NEC Academic Support Website www.necacademicsupport.pbworks.com

digitalagecourse.pbworks.com

What is a learning coach?

A learning coach is someone who provides academic support to students in one-on-one or small group settings in all areas of the writing process and related study skills strategies including time management, organization, reading efficiency, developing a study plan, goal setting, critical thinking, library research skills, note-taking, and learning styles.

Sarah Spence-Staulters is located in Latham working with Schenectady & Latham/Albany students Her hours are: Mondays 3pm- 7:30pm

Wednesdays 3pm-7:30pmFridays 9am- 4pm

Contact Sarah to make an appointment: (518) 783-6203 ext 5992 or Sarah.Spence-Staulters@esc.edu

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Kate Stockton is located in Latham working with Johnstown & Latham/Albany students Her hours are: Mondays 4pm-7:30pm

Wednesday 4pm-7:30pmThursdays 4pm-8:00pm

Contact Kate to make an appointment: (518) 783-6203 ext 5992 or Kate.Stockton@esc.edu

Mary Sanders-Shartle is located in Saratoga working with Saratoga & Queensbury students Her hours are: Mondays 12pm-2pm

Wednesdays 3pm-6pmThursdays 4pm-6pmContact Mary to make an appointment:

(518) 587-2100 ext 2827 or Mary.Sanders-Shartle@esc.edu

____________________________________________________________________

Meet the Learning Coaches

Helping You Connect the Pieces for Academic Success

A peer coach is a current undergraduate or graduate student trained to guide and encourage other students in improving their academic performance and development as a life-long learner, focusing on general study skills, specific content-areas, navigating college resources, and developing within their Areas of Study.

They work in both face-to-face and virtual environments.

Peer coaches are trained under College Reading & Learning Association (CRLA) international standards for peer tutors and are either volunteers, work-study, or practicum students.

Peers

Engaging as

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Academic

Collaborativ

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Helpers

Enhancing

Success

Academic Support @ NEC

Starting in the November 2010 Term…

peercoaches.pbworks.com

AcademicEye.pbworks.com

Some tutors/estructors are available for live tutorials 24 hours a day and others have set hours.

What is Smarthinking?

Smarthinking is an online tutorial service that is available to students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

www.esc.edu/smarthinkingwww.smarthinking.com

PAPER TIME MANAGEMENT TOOLS

ELECTRONIC TIME MANAGEMENT TOOLS

www.empirestatecollege.thezonelive.com

Academic Success Tips

General Success Strategies• Understand how you learn best and maximize your

studying to match your strengths. Take a learning styles inventory. You can access these online or come to a workshop.

• Apply your learning to your own experiences. Make connections between what you are learning and what you already know.

• Ask questions when needed and do not let problems go unresolved! Be a self-directed and self-motivated learner.

• Maximize your learning. Understand requirements, assignments, and methods of evaluation by reviewing your learning contract(s).

• Set appropriate goals to meet course time constraints, requirements, and expectations.

Understanding What is Expected of You

• Empire State College is reading and writing intensive.• Several strategies can assist you in being more efficient

and effective with your reading, writing, and critical thinking.

• Understand the purpose of your studies/courses will also help you better complete your reading & writing assignments.

What are you supposed to learn about and what outcome is expected? Activate your schema. Understand the overall concepts and organize your thoughts.

Time Management

TIME IS A VALUABLE COMMODITY

We all have the same amount of time ~◦60 seconds in a minute, ◦60 minutes in an hour, ◦24 hours in a day, ◦168 hours in a week,◦720 hours in a month,◦And 8,760 in a year.

Time cannot be saved and it does not gain interest. There are no rollover minutes!

How are you spending your time???

REALITY CHECK

Approximately 10-16 hours per week is the optimum time for successful

completion of a 4-credit study. In addition, it is important for you to have as regular a schedule as you can manage to meet the

deadlines for assignments.

• Consider what you know about your constraints and how you prefer to organize yourself.

• Pick the appropriate strategies and tool(s) to help you best organize your time.

• Remember to be consistent with how you utilize your time management strategies and tools, and that all tools are not for everyone.

Enhancing Your Personal Time Management System

SchemaA schema in general is a specific, well-documented, and consistent plan. The related word, scheme means a loosely described plan.

A schema (pl. schemata), in psychology and cognitive science, is a mental structure (prior knowledge) that represents some aspect of the world. People use schemata to organize current knowledge and provide a framework for future understanding.

Review Learning Contract

= Key Concepts

= Critical Thinking Skills

= Benefit to You

Review Learning Contract

= Key Concepts

= Critical Thinking Skills

= Expectations & Requirements

= Key Materials

= Due Date

= Requirements

Review Learning Contract

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

ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR

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

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

18

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)

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)

5

8 9 10 11 All Work Due 13 14

Columbus Day

ECON PROBS & ORG BEHAVIOR

Readings & Case 4 Due

Planning for Your 1st Set of Assignments ECONOMICS

Learning Styles

Identifying Your Learning Style

Characteristics of Visual Learners

• Easily remember information presented in pictures, charts or diagrams.

• Have strong visualization skills. They can look up and “see” the information invisibly written or drawn.

• Make “movies in their minds” of information they are reading. Their movies are often vivid and detailed.

• Have very strong visual-spatial understanding of things such as sizes, textures, angles and three-dimensional depths.

• Pay close attention to the body language of others (facial expressions, eyes, stance, etc.).

• Have a keen sense of aesthetics, visual media and art.

VISUALVisual learners tend to:

Study Tips for Visual Learners• Convert info into visual study tools

(diagrams, maps, charts)

• Visualize & make movies as you read and study.

• Add pictures to as many study tools as possible.

• Use "color coding" of new information in your textbook or notes. Using highlighter pens, highlight different kinds of information in contrasting colors.

• Copy & write new info - see it in your own writing.

• Use nonverbal clue’s by instructors to provide you with important information.

• Always write down important information or directions.

Characteristics of Aural/Auditory Learners

• Remember quite accurately details of important information heard during conversations or lectures.

• Have strong language skills, which include a well-developed vocabulary and an appreciation for words.

• Have strong oral communication skills. They can carry or interesting conversations and can articulate their ideas clearly.

• Have a “fine tuned ear” auditory may lead to learning a foreign language more easily.

• Often have musical talents, can hear tones, rhythms, and individual notes. AURAL/

AUDITORY

Aural/Auditory learners tend to:

Study Tips for Auditory Learners

• Talk out loud and recite information regularly.

• Discuss/study with friends.

• Record information and listen to it.

• Add rhythms or tunes to your learning.

• Use computerized technology – Text to Speech in Word, Audacity, etc.

• Work well with their hands and may be good at repairing work, sculpting, art or working with various tools.

• Often have well coordinated and have a strong sense of timing and body movement.

• Learn with movement = often do well as performers: athletes, actors, or dancers.

• Often wiggle, tap feet or move their legs when seated.

• Have been often labeled “hyperactive” as children.

Characteristics of Kinesthetic Learners

Kinesthetic learners tend to:

KINESTHETIC

Study Tips for Kinesthetic Learners

• Type or use a word processor – take notes as you read including graphic organizing.

• Pace as you study.

• Make larger-sized study tools – flipcharts, chalk/white boards.

• Learn by doing.

• Use case studies, examples and applications.

• Use your hands and your fine motor skills. Study with pen/pencil in hand.

• Use exaggerated movement for emphasis and expression.

• Like lists and words to keep ideas and “To Do” items straight.

• Remember information displayed as words.

• Emphasize text-based input and output - reading and writing in all its forms.

• Prefer PowerPoint, the Internet, lists, filofaxes, dictionaries, thesauri, quotations and words, words, words...

Characteristics of Read/Write Learners

Read/Write learners tend to:

READ/WRITE

Study Tips for Read/Write Learners

• Use a word processor – take notes as you read.

• Use dictionaries and/or make flashcards to remember key vocabulary.

• Write out the words again and again.

• Read your notes (silently) again and again.

• Rewrite the ideas and principles into other words.

• Organize any diagrams, graphs ... into statements, e.g. "The trend is..."

• Turn reactions, actions, diagrams, charts and flows into words.

Life is multimodal. Seldom are there instances where one mode is used, or is sufficient. There are those who prefer many modes almost equally are of two types. Others choose a single mode to suit the occasion or situation. There are others who are not satisfied until they have had input (or output) in all of their preferred modes. They take longer to gather information from each mode and, as a result, they often have a deeper and broader understanding.