Session Descriptions and learning outcomes

• The Writing Process
• Referencing & Plagiarism
• Getting the Whole Story
• Multiple Choice Tests and Exams
• Seeing Your Way to Better Grades
• Study Smarter, Not Harder
• Taming the Chaos
• Exam Preparation
• Exam Strategies
• Test Anxiety

• The Writing Process

Need help writing papers for university courses? Rescue yourself from the common pitfalls many students have faced, including starting with a topic that is too broad, writing a weak thesis statement, and spending too little time on revising, editing, and proofreading. Attend this session and we’ll discuss effective strategies for tackling each stage of the writing process.

Learning outcomes: Students who attend to this session will be able to:

1. List common problems students face during the writing process
2. Describe the most common mistakes students make when writing
3. Apply different techniques to generate ideas for a paper
4. Create an outline that focuses on the topic to develop

• Referencing & Plagiarism

Confused by the word "plagiarism"? Not sure what that looks like in the university setting? We’ll consider main points to consider when writing a paper, including when to cite, how to cite, and what you need to know about plagiarism. Do you know the difference between quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing? We do, and we’re here to help!

Learning outcomes: Students who attend to this session will be able to:

1. List and describe ways to avoid plagiarism throughout the writing process
2. Explain the concept of plagiarism at the university level
3. Apply strategies to avoid plagiarism
4. Identify plagiarized information
5. Assess own writing to identify potential plagiarized information and make needed changes

• Getting the Whole Story (Reading Textbooks & Note-taking):

Books, notes, additional readings, papers mounting… so much to do in such a short time! Don’t fret; you’ll get some helpful tips in organizing the information you need to study. You will also learn critical techniques for dealing with stressful situations.

Learning outcomes: Students who attend to this session will be able to:

1. Describe and choose an effective reading environment
2. Reproduce the SQ4R reading method
3. Explain the importance of reading before class
4. Apply and demonstrate active listening skills during class
5. Guide own reading and select the most important information

• Multiple Choice Tests and Exams:

“Why can’t I get it right? All these choices seem to be the same! The professor is trying to trick me. This is not fair!” If you hear yourself venting your frustration this way, come to this session to receive important tips and strategies for writing multiple choice exams.

Learning outcomes: Students who attend to this session will be able to:

1. List the pros and cons of multiple choice exams
2. Reproduce strategies to find the most correct answer in a multiple choice exam
3. Describe the best ways to predict the correct answer when guessing must be used as last resource
4. Compare the difference between recognizing and understanding a concept
5. Translate information read into possible multiple choice questions
6. Describe effective strategies to prepare for a multiple choice exam
7. Analyze a question to find the most correct answer

• Seeing Your Way to Better Grades (Memorization & Recall):

Learn to use the power of your imagination through new visualization techniques to help personalize your learning, understand your study material better, and recall these concepts more effectively. Want to be free from last minute cram sessions? We’ll tell you how… and it doesn’t involve more studying.

Learning outcomes: Students who attend to this session will be able to:

1. Describe different strategies to memorize concepts
2. Explain the advantages of using mental imagery methods
3. Select the best memorization strategy for the material/content in hand
4. Explain the relationship between reviewing and long term memory
5. Design meaningful tools for memorizing content

• Study Smarter, Not Harder:

Customize your own learning. Don’t study longer, study more effectively! Find out how to make your own study aids, summary notes, and how to use visual and oral techniques that will suit your learning style.

Learning outcomes: Students who attend to this session will be able to:

1. Explain and describe what active learning is and what it looks like
2. Outline the Cornell note taking system
3. Apply strategies to stay motivated
4. Select strategies to conclude a study session effectively
5. Select exercises to help assess learning progress after a study session
6. Select and design tools that best meet own learning style
7. Assess own attitudes towards studying

• Taming the Chaos (Time Management):

As a student, you may have to juggle many responsibilities, which might include academics, a part time job, and family obligations. At the same time, you probably want to have a social life and get out into the community to pursue your hobbies. This presentation will give you some tips on how to deal efficiently with your seemingly chaotic university life.

Learning outcomes: Students who attend to this session will be able to:

1. Describe what being proactive means in regards to time management
2. Recognize procrastination and apply strategies to avoid it
3. Apply strategies to better manage time
4. Create and plan a realistic and organized study schedule
5. Identify other factors that influence grade outcomes
6. Evaluate short and long term goals

• Exam Preparation (What To Do BEFORE the exam):

How do you deal with so many midterms, tests, and exams? Does the idea of writing an essay exam send shivers down your spine? Learn more about concentration techniques, exam preparation, and organizational strategies.

Learning outcomes: Students who attend to this session will be able to:

1. Recognize and describe the three main stages for effective exam preparation
2. Plan a study schedule that fosters learning rather than pure memorizing
3. Apply active learning strategies throughout the study process
4. Describe effective strategies to prepare for a problem solving exam
5. List and describe the best way to prepare for essay exams and objective exams
6. Apply strategies to test learning process
7. Identify the advantages of reviewing as it relates to memory

• Exam Strategies (What to do DURING the exam):

A lot of intelligent people don’t do well on tests. A poor grade on a test may reflect, among other things, how you cope with stressful situations, or how you utilize various exam strategies. Learn a new set of techniques to deal with testing in the university setting.

Learning outcomes: Students who attend to this session will be able to:

1. Identify professors' main expectations at the university level
2. Recognize the different abilities needed for the different types of exams at university
3. List and describe the main study tips for any exam at the university level
4. Plan for a routine before, during, and after the exam that helps lower anxiety levels, recall better, and learn from mistakes
5. Identify personal source of errors for future examinations

• Test Anxiety:

Feel stressed before and/or during exams? Our experienced student development specialist will discuss “test anxiety”, how it may be affecting you, and what you can do to take back control. Take the test-anxiety inventory, and practice a few simple yet effective relaxation techniques.

Learning outcomes: Students who attend to this session will be able to:

1. Describe the different ways in which anxiety can manifest
2. Describe all possible sources of anxiety
3. List strategies to lower anxiety levels during the semester, before the exam, and during the exam
4. Explain how anxiety can be beneficial as it relates to performance
5. Apply relaxation methods before the exam to lower anxiety levels
6. Identify other factors that may influence personal anxiety levels
7. Plan a routine to help lower anxiety levels when needed