Academic Skills Workshops
StudentLingo is a series of interactive on-demand workshops, action plans, and valuable resources focused on helping students achieve their academic, personal, and career goals.
If you encounter accessibility barriers, contact the assigning faculty or staff for assistance. For alternative learning platforms or support with academic skills, reach out to the Learning Resource Center at lrc@cpp.edu
Academic and Career Exploration Workshops
Overview
Research suggests that students who build strong relationships with their professors and utilize campus resources report a more satisfying college experience and are more likely to succeed academically (Light, 2001). This interactive workshop will challenge you to think about the relationship you have with your institution as a friendship. Like the beginning of most new friendships, you are likely facing some unknowns; however, you do not have to face these uncertainties alone. “Making friends” with campus resources, departments, professors, and programs that support students inside and outside the classroom will help you take charge of academic uncertainties and the feelings that go along with them. This workshop will help you cultivate and strengthen your relationship with your professors and your institution, and confront those academic uncertainties.
What You Will Learn
- Discover your role in the learning process
- Understand how to clarify professor’s expectations
- Identify your responsibilities as a member of the campus community
- Identify attitudes and habits that contribute to academic success and achievement
Learning to Learn Workshops
Overview
One of the roles of colleges and universities is to prepare their students to work and thrive in the 21st century. At the same time, the world of work is changing rapidly, and employees face more complex challenges than they have in the past. As a result, employers report that the development of critical thinking skills is essential in future employees. This workshop helps you to begin to develop the critical thinking skills you’ll need to live, learn and thrive in a global environment.
What You Will Learn
- Identify the key steps to ready yourself to cultivate critical thinking skills
- Examine the definition of critical thinking and explore the complexity of this cognitive skill set
- Learn the vocabulary associated with critical thinking
- Reflect on the qualities of critical thinkers
- Consider how your own personal critical thinking works in practice
Developing Critical Thinking Skills workshop
Overview
Taking tests typically strikes fear, anxiety, and sometimes panic in the hearts of many students. During this session, the presenter will share strategies that give you the best chance of alleviating fear and passing those exams. This workshop will explain the difference between studying and learning, demonstrate a 5 step exam preparation process, and provide specific strategies for multiple-choice, essay, and final exams. You will leave with specific test-taking strategies, which can be applied immediately in order to succeed during your next exam.
What You Will Learn
- Identify the differences between studying and learning
- Understand the five-phase test preparation strategy called The Study Cycle
- Discover how to use campus resources such as the tutoring center, study groups, supplemental instruction, etc.
- Gain strategies for what to do once you’re actually taking the test
- Identify specific test-taking strategies for multiple-choice, essay, and final exams
Overview
Failure is often something that college students try to avoid, but it can be a transformative learning experience. This workshop provides an overview of what failure is and what it isn’t and why you shouldn’t be shamed by failure! You will learn common academic failures and gain an understanding of how failure is a part of the learning process. You’ll leave this workshop with the ability to reflect on failure to determine what happened, what needs to be changed, and what help you might need to make that change happen in the future.
What You Will Learn
- Learn what failure is and what it isn’t
- Understand why it’s important to talk about failure
- Identify common academic failures
- Reflect on failure to determine what needs to be changed
- Discover when and how to reach out for help
Overview
This workshop is designed to help students understand and ultimately overcome math anxiety. You will learn how to identify the physiological and emotional aspects of math anxiety and the negative impact that results. This workshop also addresses methods to avoid math anxiety and cope with math anxiety so that you can be successful!
What You Will Learn
- Learn how to assess yourself regarding math anxiety
- Explore effective methods that counteract this type of anxiety in order to be successful in math
- Identify the practical steps that can be taken to avoid math anxiety before it begins
How to Overcome Math Anxiety workshop
Overview
Do you think you’re ready for your first college exam, test, or quiz? This interactive session will provide you with proven test-taking strategies. The workshop will address test anxiety - what it is, how it affects you and what you can do to overcome it. The presenter will share with you practical strategies for examining the source of your difficulty and dealing with it in an effective manner.
What You Will Learn
- Discover the nature of test anxiety
- Learn how anxiety affects the body and cognition
- Understand how to use simple strategies to calm the body and keep the brain focused
How to Reduce Test Anxiety workshop
Overview
This workshop is designed to help you achieve maximum success in your math classes. You will learn techniques that will help you be prepared and confident. In this workshop, the presenter will share proper note-taking and study techniques, test preparation, understanding comprehension versus memorization, avoiding procrastination and fully utilizing the resources available to you.
What You Will Learn
- Learn techniques you can apply to any math course to help you succeed
- Discover how you can have a “can do” attitude toward mathematics instead of feeling intimidated or overwhelmed
- Review proper note-taking and study techniques as well as how to effectively prepare for tests
- Understand the difference between memorization and comprehension
- Identify strategies you can use to avoid procrastination
- Understand the importance of fully utilizing the resources available to you
How to Succeed in Math workshop
Overview
In this workshop, you will learn about the importance of group dynamics and how it influences your participation and productivity when interacting in groups. You will learn tips, strategies, and effective group processes that you can apply and benefit from when participating in a variety of groups (study groups, group projects, group work in the classroom, etc.). The skills learned in this workshop are transferable when interacting in groups outside of class, such as clubs, sports teams, student organizations, and ultimately in the work environment, helping you to be more well-rounded, skilled and effective in your interactions.
What You Will Learn
- Explore potential groups in higher education settings such as study groups, group work in the classroom, group projects and group papers
- Discover group dynamics and roles and the implications for group processes
- Look at the stages of group development
- Discuss effective communication strategies
- Learn to pre-empt problems you might encounter when working in a group
How to Work in Groups: Creating a Productive & Positive Learning Experience workshop
Overview
A critical skill all college students need to develop is how to be an intelligent consumer of information. This workshop will help you to understand what it means to be information literate and why it is so important. Information literacy includes the ability to determine the need for outside information, where to go to search for that information, how to most effectively search for that information, how to cite that information appropriately, and most importantly, how to evaluate what they find to determine its worth and credibility. In this workshop, you will become familiar with types of information sources (books, journal articles, websites, blogs, social media), their similarities and differences and how you might best make use of these different types of sources in your research. You will also learn how to evaluate resources and become a consumer of information.
What You Will Learn
- Identify the definitions of Information Literacy and Metaliteracy
- Distinguish similarities and differences between resource types (newspapers, books, websites, blogs, etc.)
- Develop key terms for searching the web, library catalogs, and databases
- Determine where to look for the information needed
- Explore evaluation tools and tips to help determine the credibility of located resources
Information Literacy: How to Master College Research workshop
Overview
Excelling in college courses usually requires a different kind of studying than you did in high school. In order to be successful, it’s critical for you to understand the difference between studying and learning. One of the best ways to make sure that you are learning, and not just studying, is to introduce the concept of metacognition. This workshop walks you through the basics of metacognition. The presenter shares recommendations for how you can use this concept in your study strategies.
What You Will Learn
- Understand the difference between studying and learning
- Discover the basics of metacognition
- Learn how to use metacognition when studying
- Understand the study cycle learning strategy
- Understand how the study cycle can help you move to higher learning levels
Overview
This workshop shows you how to effectively prepare for final examinations. You will learn the different stages of exam prep, from one to two weeks before the final until after the exam is over. You will also learn how to use available information and opportunities, including review sessions, instructors’ office hours, and self-tests or sample tests provided in many textbooks. Finally, through this workshop, you will discover strategies for managing the stress associated with taking a final exam.
What Will You Learn
- Understand the relative importance of the final exam score on your course grade
- Discover the five stages of final exam preparation and strategies for success at each stage
- Learn the importance of using course textbooks to prepare for final exams
- Cultivate strategies for reducing the stress that accompanies taking a final exam
- Identify resources that should be used when preparing for final exams
Preparing for Final Exams workshop
Overview
Do you think you’re ready for your first college exam, test, or quiz? This interactive session will provide you with proven reading, studying, and note-taking strategies for optimal performance in lectures and on exams. Facing the testing situation in college is inevitable. In this workshop, you will learn tips for mastering course material so you can be successful!
What You Will Learn
- Consider the ways in which your learning preferences influence how you study
- Learn how to take effective notes in college
- Understand how to reconcile class notes with out-of-class notes
- Be able to self-evaluate level of preparedness for exams
- Understand how to apply higher-order thinking strategies to study methods
- Improve performance on multiple-choice exams
Study Tips & Note-taking Strategies workshop
Overview
For professors who assign writing, one of the biggest problems they face is that their students plagiarize, either purposely or inadvertently. However, avoiding plagiarism isn’t difficult, once you understand the basic rules of academic writing. This workshop will help you better understand what plagiarism is, and what you can do to avoid plagiarizing when you have a written assignment. In this session, you will learn what it means to quote, summarize and paraphrase appropriately, what types of information must be cited, and how citation systems work. By better understanding professors’ expectations in terms of using outside sources, you will be more confident using these sources in your writing.
What You Will Learn
- Be able to define plagiarism and identify what types of information must be cited
- Understand common student behaviors that lead to plagiarism
- Identify time management behaviors and organizational behaviors that can help students avoid plagiarizing
- Learn how to quote, paraphrase, and summarize without plagiarizing
- Discover citation requirements for common documentation styles
Understanding & Avoiding Plagiarism workshop
Online Learning Workshops
Overview
In this workshop, you will learn skills and strategies to succeed in an online learning environment. You will learn how to understand course expectations, define a study schedule, locate good study locations, communicate with your instructor, and manage your time. The presenter will cover 10 key strategies that will prepare you for online learning and help you succeed in your online courses.
What You Will Learn
- Determine if an online course is right for you
- Learn tips for understanding course expectations
- Acquire understanding around technology requirements for courses
- Develop specific strategies for success in your online courses
- Develop effective online communication strategies with your instructor
- Learn how to manage your time in the online environment
Overview
Online classes present unique challenges, particularly when taking tests. This workshop provides strategies that will help you be more successful when taking online tests. The presenters provide practical and effective strategies that you can use to prepare for taking a test, as well as strategies you can use during the test. In addition, you will learn how to use the test results and instructor feedback to improve your future performance.
What You Will Learn
- Discover what you need to know about the test before you take it
- Identify how to gather and organize your resources before the test
- Understand the importance of identifying an appropriate place and time to take the test
- Understand the importance of “R & R” (relax and review)
- Learn how to use test results and instructor feedback to improve your future performance
Personal Management Workshops
Overview
Every college student wants to become financially independent but often does not know where to begin. In this workshop, you will learn ten essential money management skills necessary to take a more active role in managing your finances. Using these skills will help you begin to manage your money responsibly and to plan for the future.
What You Will Learn
- Explore the ten essential money management skills every student should possess
- Learn how to build a budget
- Be able to track spending
- Discover how to use credit wisely
- Understand how to avoid and eliminate debt
- Use SMART goals to create a plan for the future
Financial Literacy: Smart Money Skills for College & Beyond workshop
Overview
Inextricably linked to time management and academic goal setting are the concepts of motivation and procrastination. In this workshop, you will learn what motivation is and how procrastination affects motivation. The presenter will share strategies to combat procrastination and ways to get motivated to reach your goals and achieve academically.
What You Will Learn
- Learn what thoughts, feelings, and attitudes fuel procrastination behavior
- Understand the consequences of procrastination
- Identify replacement activities
- Learn solutions to overcome procrastination
Overview
This workshop provides an overview of the dimensions of wellness and how they impact the everyday choices you make about your health and your overall level of well being. The presenter will share with you five dimensions of health which include physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and social health. When the five dimensions are combined, students are able to find better balance. You will learn tips for managing balance in the many aspects of your life including: fitness, nutrition, sleep, stress management, substance use/abuse, depression/anxiety, relationships, getting involved in groups/organizations and studies.
What You Will Learn
- Learn the importance of viewing yourself as a whole and not as separate parts
- Learn the five dimensions of health
- Realize that taking care of the basics (eating well, exercising, sleeping well, avoiding/eliminating alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and talking to someone when you need to) can go a long way in reducing stress levels and achieving your educational goals
Stress Management Techniques workshop
Overview
The various aspects of college life place many demands on your time. Psychologists who studied time management practices extensively concluded that effective time management practices have a significant influence on college achievement. Academic achievement takes time, and it is not unusual as a student to feel overwhelmed and stressed, thus leading you to consider how you might manage your time more effectively. This workshop will help you do just that: manage your time and behavior, so that you can achieve academically and still have some room for fun!
What You Will Learn
- Develop strategies to self-regulate learning
- Understand the 8-8-8 Formula for effective time management
- Gain strategies to plan for both short and long-term goals
- Learn how to follow a three-tier time management system
- Identify tips for following through with a time management plan
Reading and Writing Strategies Workshops
Overview
Once the work of prewriting is done, the process of drafting begins. Using the context of a narrative essay, this workshop explores how to draft an essay from introduction to conclusion. You will leave this workshop with techniques for improving your writing process.
What You Will Learn
- Identify three strategies to write an effective introduction
- Learn ways to organize body paragraphs for flow and coherence
- Discover three strategies to write an effective conclusion
Drafting Introductions, Body Paragraphs & Conclusions workshop
Overview
The real work of writing a paper comes in generating and developing ideas prior to creating a first draft. Using a narrative essay as the context, this workshop presents several methods of pre-writing techniques designed to make the process of writing papers more effective.
What You Will Learn
- Cultivate strategies for generating ideas that employ a variety of learning preferences
- Develop ways to choose the best ideas
Understand how to focus those ideas
Pre-writing Techniques: Planning & Idea Development workshop
Overview
Reading college textbooks requires a different level of engagement than reading books for enjoyment. Textbooks are often densely packed with information, and it is often hard to figure out what is important and what isn’t. This workshop explores strategies to stay active with a text so that you can get the most out of a textbook (and stay awake while reading one!).
What You Will Learn
- Learn effective strategies for chunking a text for the “big picture”
- Discover effective strategies for annotating a text for the key details
- Learn how to gain a better understanding of your readings
Reading Comprehension Strategies workshop
Overview
There are differences between the processes of revising and the processes of editing and proofreading. Both are important, but both have a different purpose. This workshop presents effective strategies for each of these stages of writing and will help you to learn how to both proofread and edit your paper!
What You Will Learn
- Learn how to develop the content of an essay after initial drafting is completed
- Be able to check for organization and coherence
- Understand how to proofread and edit a paper for grammatical and mechanical issues
The Revision Process: How to Proofread & Edit Your Writing workshop
Success Strategies Workshops
Overview
This workshop discusses how your VARK (visual, aural, read/write, kinesthetic) modality learning style preference can impact your academic success. You will find out whether you prefer learning from visual information such as pictures, charts, and diagrams, or from aural information by listening to information, or by reading and writing information, or kinesthetically by doing hands-on activities. Knowing this about yourself will help you adjust your study approaches to get the maximum benefit. The workshop will help you determine your preferred style and discuss strategies for each modality style preference that can be used while studying and during tests. After learning the strategies for every style, you will be able to learn in any situation because you will be able to adjust your study approach to fit the needs of each learning environment.
What You Will Learn
- Identify the four learning style preference modalities described by VARK – visual, aural, read/write and kinesthetic
- Identify your learning style modality preference(s) as determined by the VARK questionnaire
- Learn strategies for each of the four learning style preferences that can be used while studying and taking tests
- Understand the importance of learning the strategies for all four styles in order to perform well in any learning situation
Overview
As a first-generation college-goer, you will experience a variety of challenges as you enter and move through higher education. In fact, much of the existing research indicates that students whose parents did not attend college are more likely than your non-first-generation counterparts to be less academically prepared for college, to have less knowledge of how to apply for college and for financial assistance, and to have more difficulty in acclimating yourself to college once you enroll (Tym, et al., 2005). As such, educational institutions ought to provide first-generation college students with the information and guidance you need to understand.
What You Will Learn
- Identify steps you can take to ensure that you are academically prepared for college
- Explore opportunities you should look for and take advantage of to make a successful transition into college
- Learn about resources available on college campuses, as well as how to access and utilize these supports
- Discover ways to prepare for life after college
Overview
Research suggests that students who build strong relationships with their professors and utilize campus resources report a more satisfying college experience and are more likely to succeed academically (Light, 2001). This interactive workshop will challenge you to think about the relationship you have with your institution as a friendship. Like the beginning of most new friendships, you are likely facing some unknowns; however, you do not have to face these uncertainties alone. “Making friends” with campus resources, departments, professors, and programs that support students inside and outside the classroom will help you take charge of academic uncertainties and the feelings that go along with them. This workshop will help you cultivate and strengthen your relationship with your professors and your institution, and confront those academic uncertainties.
What You Will Learn
- Discover your role in the learning process
- Understand how to clarify professor’s expectations
- Identify your responsibilities as a member of the campus community
- Identify attitudes and habits that contribute to academic success and achievement