Academic Success

Conquer Compressed Courses

Taking a course during the summer is a good way to catch up on prerequisite classes or to move closer to completing your program. There are a number of advantages to summer courses. For example, they often have fewer students, meaning you have more opportunity to connect with your instructor and peers.

Compressed Courses

Summer courses are compressed. They don’t last as long as a full semester, so they may meet more often during the week or have longer class sessions. They tend to be more intense, in order to cover all the material they present in a full semester. This means that students have a heavier class workload over a shorter period of time. Maximizing your success in compressed courses requires a particular set of strategies. Here are four tips to help you successfully complete your compressed course work this summer.

Focus on the goal. Why are you taking a summer course? Is it is prerequisite that you need to complete for your degree? Are you trying to raise your GPA? Are you trying to finish your program early? Focusing on your goal will help you stay motivated and improve your success.
Manage your time carefully. Compressed courses offer unique time management challenges. Because the course length is shorter, you need to dedicate more time daily for class work and personal study. Create a realistic study schedule and stick to it. Consider minimizing other time commitments during the course. Compressed courses are shorter, so your intense study schedule won’t last forever.
Try to stay ahead of the deadlines. Compressed courses don’t allow time for procrastination. Try to complete assignments and projects early, so you don’t get caught when life gets crazy. Remember, the course will be over soon, so stay on task.
Connect with your peers in the course. Your classmates are in this with you! Form a study group and review the material together. You will learn from one another and get support in your study sessions. Online students can meet in groups too, using free tools like Stoodle or Google Hangouts.

There are a lot of advantages to taking compressed courses during the summer. Focusing your goals, managing your time, staying ahead of deadlines, and connecting with your peers will help you maximize your success in your compressed courses this summer.

Reflecting on Reflection

I’ve been thinking about reflection a lot lately. Maybe because the school year is over and I’m wrapping up finished projects and starting new ones. Maybe it’s because as I’ve grown older, I’ve become more reflective. Mostly though, I think it’s because I believe that reflection is the key to growth, and I look for ways to improve. Taking time to reflect always results in making changes in how I do the things I do.

Uncomfortable Reflection

I don’t always enjoy reflection. I’m never a superstar when I look back over what I’ve done. Most of the time I see things I could or should have done differently. In hindsight, I could have accomplished more, had less stress, or drama, learned more, increased my efficiency, and been more organized. More personally, I could have been kinder, more helpful, more encouraging, and more patient. I could always have been more patient. So it’s not exactly fun.

Joyful Reflection

On the other hand, it’s not a total downer either. I get to see what I’ve accomplished, the goals I’ve achieved, and a whole bunch of new experiences and challenges I didn’t expect, but really enjoyed. Taking time to reflect helps me appreciate all the great people in my life; my family and old and new friends. We celebrated graduations, birthdays, new homes, and even qualifying for the Boston Marathon (my husband). Reflection brings gratitude because I am so lucky to get to celebrate with the people in my life.

Balanced Reflection

I think the key to growing through reflection is to find the balance between celebrating success and taking steps to improve. When I look at things reflected in water, it’s never a clear or perfect picture. Shapes are exaggerated and lines are blurred. What you see are fuzzy images rather than crisp detail, because we reflect through a filter of our own feelings and thoughts. Knowing this, I focus on learning from my reflections, changing the things I can change, and enjoying the celebrations. Doing this helps me grow both professionally and personally, and makes the reflective process both useful and satisfying.

SSC Open House: Connect with Learning Resources

Are you meeting your goals for academic success? Sometimes, a few simple changes can make all the difference in the way you perform. The Student Success Center was created to support all UAMS students with the resources and services they need to achieve their goals.

The SSC Winter Open House on Wednesday, January 27th is a great time to learn about what we have to offer. Come by between 2:00pm and 4:00pm and take the opportunity to

Talk with a Learning Specialist about things like time management, organization, note-taking, study skills, and test taking tips.
Ask the faculty in the Writing Center about ways to improve your writing projects.
Chat with the Laptop and Mobile Device Support Technician about ways to improve and maintain laptop performance.
Try different educational apps and websites to see if they might help streamline your workflow or improve your academic habits.
Ask our Testing Coordinators how to make your experience in the Testing Center less stressful and more efficient.
Set up a meeting with our staff if you want a more personalized and in-depth discussion about your particular needs.
Check out or space and have a cookie.

If you don’t find what you need, tell us what you are looking for. We will work with you to find it. Most of all, we want to get to know you and help you to have a very successful academic year.

SSC Winter Open House

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

2:00pm to 4:00 pm

3rd Floor Library/ED II Building

Sharpen Your Study Skills

Good study skills are a requirement for student success. Even if you’ve never had to study much before, you will need strong study habits to meet the rigorous academic requirements at UAMS. Don’t wait until you are falling behind to develop your study skills. Take control and start now.

Take Time to Prepare

Study skills begin before a class session. Students with the best study skills plan for their class meetings. Review your class syllabus and schedule so that you know what content the instructor plans to cover during the class session. Before each class, skim materials like your textbook to get an organizational snapshot of the content. Read the learning objectives, headings and subheadings, and pay attention to charts and graphs. You will be much more open to receiving explanations, details, and facts from your instructor if you have a general understanding of how the topics are connected. Your notes from the class sessions will be more meaningful if you take the time to prepare.

Be Active and Participate in Class

Good study skills are rooted in how actively you listen and participate in your classes. To maximize your ability to retain and understand information, you need to be completely engaged in your learning. This begins with being an active listener. Don’t sit passively and let information drift over you. Instead, take notes and ask questions. Don’t try to write every word. Use short phrases and abbreviations but be careful that what you write is meaningful, because you will need to understand it later when you review your notes and materials. If you ask a question, make sure you can restate it in your notes so that you fully understand it. If you took the time to preview the material for the class session, you will already understand the general outline and organization of the material your instructor is covering which should make note-taking more efficient.

Plan for Reviewing

Good study skills include multiple opportunities for reviewing your notes and materials. Plan to review your notes the same day as your class session, or at least within 24 hours. Reviewing your notes shortly after the class session will allow you to check that you understood the material presented, and that your notes are clear and complete. Mark anything in your notes that you don’t understand. Then you can go back to your resources and find the information you need.

In addition to the same-day review, you will want to schedule study sessions on the days your classes don’t meet, like on the weekends. Use that time to review your notes and materials, re-read portions of your textbooks, summarize information in your own works, make connections between newer and older information, and test yourself through self-questioning and practice questions. Try to schedule some review time with other students in your classes. Explaining the material to another student is an excellent check of how well you understand what you learned. Listening to a peer’s explanation can give you a new perspective on the content as well.

Helpful Resources

The Student Success Center’s website has resources to help you improve your study skills, including information on how you learn and retain information, reading strategies, study strategies, and test taking skills. For more information, visit the Learning Resources page.

You need good study skills to be academically successful at UAMS. Taking time to prepare, being active and participating in class, and planning for reviewing your notes and materials will help make the hours you spend studying more productive and increase your academic achievement.

References

Texas A & M Health Science Center, http://medicine.tamhsc.edu/academic-support/active-learning-techniques/managing-class-content.html

University of Waterloo, http://uwaterloo.ca/counselling-services/curve-forgetting

Master the Online Tools

Do You Know the Online Tools?

Whether you are an online student or taking classes in a traditional classroom, most, if not all, of your courses will have an online element. The most common is Backboard, the web-based learning management system used to host online courses and provide supplemental materials for face-to-face classes. But your instructors may use other web-based tools such as ExamSoft, O2, or blog sites, wikispaces, and Google apps to support teaching and learning. Whatever the tools, it is a good idea to become familiar with them and learn how they work before you need them to complete assignments or take a test.

Begin with Blackboard

Blackboard is a good place to begin, because your courses will likely have a Blackboard site. Check out your courses in Blackboard as soon as they are available to get the information you need to plan your semester. Then work your way through the following components.

Navigation

Instructors set up their Blackboard sites differently, so it is a good idea to navigate around the site to learn how things are organized and where information is stored. Chances are you will like some organizational systems better than others, but the key is not to be surprised when you go to find something. The more you explore the more you will master navigating through all of Blackboard’s features. Learn how your instructors label and use folders. Click on the discussion feature to see if your instructor will be using discussions in the course. You can learn a great deal by just touring the site.

Syllabus/Calendar

Two of the most important documents you need to access are the course syllabus and calendar. Don’t let yourself be surprised by the course schedule and requirements. Learn where the calendar and syllabus are, and download.

Course Content

Usually the course content folder or tab will contain most of the materials you need to complete the course. Remember that instructors organize information differently. Some may have everything organized into module sub-folders within a content folder, while others may simply have a series of links in the side navigation bar. This step will be easy if you take the time to navigate through the course.

Assignments/Assessments

Find the Assignments and Assessments folders and see what your instructor has posted. Often, instructors upload assignment instructions and rubrics. You will see how you are expected to turn in your assignments, and how the instructor will choose to administer quizzes and tests.

Blackboard Collaborate

If your instructor intends to have synchronous meetings online, you will see a link for Blackboard Collaborate. Learn how to join a Collaborate session and make sure your browser, virus protection, and software are up to date before you have to attend a scheduled meeting.

Identify Other Online Tools

Many instructors use other online tools in their courses, so learn what they are and become familiar with how they work. That way, you aren’t trying to learn new tools when deadlines become pressing.

Many instructors use ExamSoft for testing. The College of Medicine uses O2 to provide students with a calendar and a host of other information. Some instructors will use other web-based tools, apps, and websites in their courses. Find out what the tools are, and get to know them.

Site Support and FAQS

What should you do if you need help learning how to use the online tools? Support forums, tutorials, and frequently asked questions (FAQs) will help you get started or solve problems.

Blackboard

Blackboard Help Site

Blackboard Collaborate Requirements

ExamSoft Support

O2 (College of Medicine)

Student Success Center Tech Support

Mastering the online tools you will use in your courses is a good way to help maximize your time. Whether you are a traditional student or taking courses online, you will have to use a variety of online tools in your academic career. Whatever the programs or tools, it is best to know how they work before you need them.

Setting Academic Goals

If setting academic goals isn’t part of your preparation, it should be. Goals provide structure to your academic life. Setting and prioritizing goals helps you focus on what’s important and ignore other distractions. Without specific and realistic goals, you will find yourself making random decisions you may regret.

Set Your Academic Goals

Goal setting starts with your vision of what you want from the academic program you are pursuing. What do you want to do with your education? What is the 5 or 10-year result of being in school? Knowing what you want to accomplish with your education is powerful motivation, especially when you are struggling.

Write a declarative statement for each of your goals. Formatting your goals in the right way increases your likelihood of achieving them. Use positive language. State what you want, not what you don’t want. Say, “I will get a B or better in Equipment and Techniques this semester”, instead of “I don’t want to flunk Equipment and Techniques this semester”. Thinking positively will empower you to be more successful.

One of the most effective ways to format your academic goals is to write SMART goals. SMART goals are effective because they are both realistic and relevant; making it more likely that you will persevere and achieve your goals. Align your goals with the following SMART concepts.

Create an Action Plan

Goals aren’t accomplished simply by writing them down. You need to create a plan of action in order to achieve your goals. Break each goal down into a set of smaller tasks and subtasks. Checking off each of these tasks and subtasks will give you a sense of accomplishment and feed your motivation to successfully complete your goals. Remember, your goals will never be accomplished unless you take action.

Identify Resources/Challenges

Obstacles and setbacks are a natural part of life, but you also have resources available to you to help you overcome them. Try to anticipate the challenges you may face. Make a list of potential obstacles and identify the resources that will support you.

Maintain Your Motivation

As you work on achieving your goals, you may have trouble staying motivated to push through to the end. One way to combat that “slump” you will likely experience is to ask others to help hold you accountable for achieving your goals. We all perform better before an audience, and having people who will celebrate your successes and remind you to stay on track can be a powerful motivation booster.

Another way to maintain your motivation is to visualize your future accomplishment. What will the accomplishment your goal look and feel like? What will be the benefits from achieving the goal? Will you have more personal time? Will your future goals become more attainable? Whatever it is, visualizing the benefits can help motivate you to progress to the next step.

There’s an App for That!

There are numerous ways to track the progress of your goals. If you like to use old fashioned hard copy methods you can put your goals into your calendar, journal, or on a piece pf paper taped to your bathroom mirror. Just keep them where you can see them every day. If you like a tech solution, there are a number of apps for goal setting and habit tracking available for your smartphone or tablet. You can use any app that meets your needs, but I recommend that you check out these two apps.

CheckMark is a great tool that was designed to help you achieve daily goals. This app is extremely useful for helping you complete the tasks and subtasks associated with your goals. It’s easy to use and the design is very simple. The goals you input are the ones that your want to achieve today, not tomorrow or in the future. The goals expire at the end of the day, whether they are achieved or not.

Smart Goals is an all-in-one goal setting, bucket list (dreams) and habit tracking app. The goals feature helps you set SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound) goals. It allows you to create smaller tasks and subtasks, or milestones, that lead toward the accomplish of your bigger goals. You can re-order your goals or convert goals to dreams or dreams to goals. It is a strong tool for tracking your long-term progress, and it’s editing tools allow you to make changes in your goals as you encounter life changes.

Make goal setting a part of your academic preparation. You will be able to focus on what is most important and complete your academic courses successfully. Your specific and realistic goals will help you make the right decisions to achieve the academic and professional life you envisioned.

6 Tips for Student Success

The start of a new academic year is filled with a sense of new beginnings, possibilities, and optimism. It’s a fresh start. It’s about what you can achieve as you strive toward academic excellence. It’s a chance to take control of your intellectual development and drive your professional success.

Now is the time to set yourself up for academic success. Here are six tips to help you start out on the right path.

1. Set Your Academic Goals

If goal setting isn’t part of your academic preparation, it should be. Goals provide structure in your academic life. Setting and prioritizing goals helps you to focus on what is most important and ignore other distractions. Without specific and realistic goals, you’ll find yourself making random decisions you may regret.

Set goals that are time-specific and measurable, so you will know when you have accomplished what you set out to do. Make sure you re-evaluate your goals on a regular basis. If things aren’t working, ask yourself what you need to change. Do you have to change your behavior? Would your goal be more achievable if you broke it down into smaller chunks? Is your goal realistic? Determining the answer to these questions will get you closer to achieving your goals.

2.Check the Technology Requirements

Several of the colleges and programs at UAMS require students to have a laptop. Therefore it is wise to understand what the technical requirements are before you start. Make sure your computer will work with Blackboard and any other online tools your instructor uses. You don’t want to waste time solving compatibility problems after your courses have started. Check the 2015 Laptop Buying Guide for more information.

3. Master the Online Tools

Access your courses in Blackboard as soon as they are available. Instructors set up their Blackboard sites differently, so it is a good idea to navigate around the site to learn how things are organized and where information is stored. Many instructors use online tools in their courses, so take the time to learn what they are and become familiar with how they work. That way, you aren’t trying to learn new tools when deadlines become pressing.

4. Employ Time Management Tools

Success at UAMS is dependent on time management. You have multiple courses, projects, exams, study groups, and deadlines, and keeping up with them can seem like a part-time job. To help you manage it all, get a calendar and combine it with a To Do list. I prefer to use an online calendar and to-do app that will sync across all my devices, but if you prefer a hard-copy calendar and to-do list, that’s fine too.

As soon as you can, download the schedules for all your courses and put all your assignments, projects, tests, and deadlines for all your courses on your calendar. This will show you when you are going to be the busiest. Break down your big projects into manageable chunks and work on them a little at a time so you aren’t overwhelmed when the deadline is upon you. Keep tasks on a To Do list and check them off when complete. Having a good system for your calendar and tasks will keep you organized and make your academic life much easier.

5. Sharpen Your Study Skills

Good study skills are a requirement for student success at UAMS. Even if you’ve never had to study much before, you will need strong study habits to meet the rigorous academic requirements at UAMS. Don’t wait until you are falling behind to develop you study skills. Take control and start now!

Preview what you have to do and prioritize your workload. Don’t try to cram for tests. Instead, spread your studying out over time. Organize the information and test yourself. Find someone from class to review with before a test. Try to select someone who doesn’t understand the material as well as you. Answering their questions will strengthen your own understanding.

6. Know Where to Find Help

At some point during your time at UAMS, you may need help. Become familiar with all the services that UAMS and the Student Success Center have to offer. You might find yourself falling behind in your courses or struggling to pass a class. Don’t wait to seek help. Go get the support you need right away.

Over the next six weeks we will be exploring these tips in more detail. Check back for more information and tools you can use to achieve more in your academic pursuits. And please, stop by the Student Success Center on the 3rd floor of the UAMS Library to discover more ways we are here to help you achieve academic excellence.