Strategies for Student Success

Syllabus

Dual Enrollment Course

Instructor: Mrs. Myers

E-Mail:

Course Credit: 3 hours

Text: On Course: Study Skills Plus Second Edition by Skip Downing

Remind 101- please join, text @4eh6e to 81010

Course Purpose:This course is designed to help you create greater success in college and in life. In the coming weeks,you will learn many proven strategies for creating greater academic, professional, and personal success. We will useguided journal writings to explore these strategies, and as a bonus, you will learn to express yourself more effectivelyin writing. You may never again have an opportunity quite like this one to discover how to create a rich, personallyfulfilling life.

Daytona State Learning Outcomes:

Outcome 1: Students will be able to effectively distinguish the purpose and function of Daytona State College websites and academic websites that support student success related topics. (Information and Digital Literacy)

Outcome 2: Students will be able to apply their understanding of a student success related topic through the development of a formal, narrative research paper. (Communication)

Outcome 3: Students will illustrate their understanding of a student success topic through a project or demonstration. (Critical/Creative Thinking)

Outcome 4: Students will recognize personal perspectives and viewpoints about diversity through a structured activity. (Cultural Literacy)

Course Objectives: In this course, you will learn how to :

1. Take charge of your life. You will learn how to take greater personal responsibility, gaining more control over theoutcomes and experiences that you create both in college and in life.

2. Increase self-motivation. You will learn to create greater inner motivation by, among other things, discovering yourown personally meaningful goals and dreams.

3. Improve personal self-management. You will learn numerous strategies for taking control of your time and energy,allowing you to move more effectively and efficiently toward the accomplishment of your goals and dreams.

4. Develop interdependence. You will learn how to develop mutually supportive relationships with people who willhelp you achieve your goals and dreams as you assist them to achieve theirs.

5. Increase self-awareness. You will learn how to understand and revise your self-defeating patterns of behavior,thought, and emotion as well as your unconscious limiting beliefs.

6. Maximize your learning. You will learn key research on how the human brain learns. You will apply this knowledgeto develop your own learning system, giving you the keys to learning important course content in college as well asbecoming a more effective lifelong learner.

7. Develop emotional intelligence. You will learn effective strategies for managing your emotional life, decreasingstress while increasing your inner sense of well-being.

8. Raise your self-esteem. You will learn how to develop self-acceptance, self-confidence, self-respect, self-love, andunconditional self-worth.

9. Write more effectively. You will learn how to improve your writing skills through the extensive writing practiceoffered by your guided journal entries.

10. Improve creative and critical thinking skills. You will learn how to enhance the thinking skills essential for analyzingand solving problems in your academic, professional, and personal lives. You will also develop reasoning skillsthat will help you both construct persuasive arguments and deconstruct illogical arguments intended to persuadeyou to think or act against your own best interest.

11. Master effective study skills. You will learn how to raise your grades in college by improving essential skills such asreading, taking notes, studying, memorizing, and taking tests.

12. Manage your money. You will learn helpful techniques for increasing your income (including gaining more financialaid for college) and decreasing your expenses.

Course Supplies:

1. On Course: Study Skills Plus 2nd edition, by Skip Downing

2. String-bound composition notebook.

Method:By readingOn Course (our textbook), you’ll learn empowering strategies that have helped others create greatsuccess. By keeping a guided journal, you’ll discover how to apply these success strategies to achieve your own goalsand dreams. By participating in class activities and focused conversations, and by completing course projects, you willfurther improve your ability to stay on course to your success. Once you make these new strategies your own throughapplication, you’ll have the ability to dramatically improve the outcome of your life—academically, professionally, andpersonally.

Course Grades:

Points

A = 90-100

B = 80-89

C = 70-79

D = 60-69

F = 59 or below

Course Summatives:

Tests (one per chapter, 8), Reaction Essays (2), Success Journals (33), Academic Skills Plans (6), Personal Assessment Pretest (20 points), Instructor Email Assignment (10 points), Online Expert Assignment (20 points), Online Library Catalog (20 points), Career Spotlight Article (30 points), Career Reality Check (30 points), Effective Time Management Assignment (20 points), Advising Prescription Assignment (30 points), Exploring the InfoGuides Assignment (20 points), Study Skills Toolbox – Presentation (100 points), Study Skills Toolbox-Reflection (60 points), Academic Support Services Testimonial (30 points), Word Basics and Academic Writing (30 points), Personal Assessment Post-test (20 points),Letter of Advice (30 points).

1. Success Journals

Your Success Journal provides an opportunity to explore your thoughts and feelings as you experiment with the successstrategies presented in On Course. By carefully examining each strategy in your journal, you will discover which oneswill assist you to create a rich, personally fulfilling life. Although I will be collecting your journals and looking through them, write your journal for yourself, not for me. Your journal entries may occasionally be read by your classmates- you may make choices about that or I will forewarn you if they are to be read by others.

Journal Writings: During this semester, you will write 33 numbered journal entries from our textbook. At various times you may have an opportunity to read a

journal entry to one or more classmates.

*THEREFORE, PLEASE BRING YOUR TEXTBOOK AND JOURNALTO EVERY CLASS.

Journal Evaluations: Journals are due weekly. I read every journal you write; with this knowledge, I can be ofgreater assistance to you this semester.

Journal Points:

A journal entry will be awarded the maximum points if it fulfills the following two criteria:

1. The entry is complete (all steps in the directions have been responded to), and

2. The entry is written with high standards (an obvious attempt has been made to Dive Deep).

2. Chapter Tests: At the end of each chapter, a test will be given on the readings in the chapter. They are typically multiple choice tests with one essay.

3. Reaction Essay: When we have finished with chapters 1-5 you will write a Reaction Essay outlining what you have learned from said chapters and how your journals have helped you clarify what each chapter has taught you. You will complete a second Reaction Essay from chapters 6-9.

4. Academic Skills Plans: Most chapters come with a Wise Choices in College section, in blue, that works on an academic skill that will help you while you are in college. You will identify the areas that you are weak in with a certain skill and articulate how you will commit to becoming better at that skill. It is a six step process for most chapters.

5. Resource Assignments: There are several assignments geared towards helping the Daytona State student utilize the resources that the college has to offer. This will insure that the student is successful in their academic endeavors.

Course Rules for Success

To create the very best environment for supporting your success and the success of your classmates, this course has threeimportant rules. The more challenging these rules are for you, the more value you will experience by adopting them.

By choosing to follow these three rules, you are choosing to be successful not only in this course but in your life. Theserules will support your success in every goal you pursue!

1. FOCUS: Attend every class with the intention of learning and growing as a student. Commit to doing the work required.

2.ATTENTION: Listen to your instructor, to guest speakers, to one another, and to your own insights.

3. RESPECT: Show consideration to your classmates, instructor, and guests by choosing positive and helpful comments and behavior. Maintain respect for yourself by conducting yourself with dignity.

Schedule of Assignments

Week 1: Go over syllabus, examine OnCourse text book, icebreaker activity, and complete Personal Assessment Pre-test.

Week 2: Review Power Point Ch. 1: 1-10, read/write Journal 1: Taking the First Step, read/write Journal 2: Understanding the Culture of Higher Education, read/write Journal 3: Becoming an Active Learner, Instructor Email Assignment.

Week 3: Complete Online Expert Assignment, Read/write Journal 4: Believing in Yourself- Develop Self-Acceptance, chapter one assessment, group activity on The Late Paper pg. 40, Ch.two Power point 1-5, read pages 41-44 in text.

Week 4: Review Power Point Ch. two 6-10, Read pages 51-53, PP slides 11, 12, read/write Journal 6: Mastering Creator Language, read pg. 54, review PP 18-24, read/write Journal 7: Making Wise Decisions. Complete Online Library Catalog Assignment.

Week 5: Read/write Journal 8: Believing in Yourself-Change Your Inner Conversation, complete Academic Skills Plan, chapter two assessment, group activity from Facilitator’s Manual, Advising Prescription Assignment.

Week 6: Group activity regarding Popson’s Dilemma pages 92-93, Read text 93-98 and One Student Story page 100, Review PP chapter three 5-11, read/write Journal 10: Designing a Compelling Life Plan, group activity from Facilitator’s Manual page 103: writing your eulogy, Exploring the InfoGuides Assignment.

Week 7: Career Spotlight Article (30 points), Career Reality Check (30 points), Read/write Journal 11: Committing to Your Goals and Dreams, PP 15-20, read/write Journal 12: Believing in Yourself-Write a Personal Affirmation, PP 21-26, group activity from Facilitator’s Manual page 106: 12-2, Affirmation Milling.

Week 8: Complete Academic Skills Plan, View video on motivation while students write what is most impactful on sticky notes and place these on the wall, complete Chapter Three Assessment, YouTube on time-saving information, read 141-145 in text book, Academic Support Services Testimonial.

Week 9: Read/write Journal 14: Creating a Self-Management System, participate in a group activity from Facilitator’s Manual pg. 123: 14-2: Time Savers, take notes from Info Geek on YouTube., read/write Journal 15: Developing Self-Discipline, read/write Journal 16: Believing in Yourself-develop self-confidence, give out 32 day commitment sheet, complete Academic Skills Plan, Complete Effective Time Management Assignment.

Week 10: Complete Chapter Four Assessment, group activity from Facilitator’s Manual: page 152: 17-2: Teen Juggling, read/write Journal 17: Creating a Support System, read/write Journal 18: Strengthening Relationships with Active Listening.

Week 11: Study Skills Group Presentation and Reflection, Read/write Journal 19: Respecting Cultural Differences, review Ch. five PP 10-23, read/write Journal 20: Believing in Yourself-Be Assertive, review a PP on memorization, complete Academic Skills Plan, complete Chapter Five Assessment.

Week 12: Work on Reaction paper from chapters 1-5, facilitator’s manual page 175: Case Study in Critical Thinking: Strange Choices – group activity and a quick write, Power Point from chapter six 1-7, read/write Journal 21: Recognizing When You Are Off course, read text 240-243, review PP 8-11.

Week 13: Word Basics and Academic Writing, Read/write Journal 22: Identifying Your Scripts, review PP Ch. 6: 12-14 and create Coat of Arms, read text 246-247 and One Student Story page 252, read text 256-257, review PP 19-22.

Week 14: Examine YouTube on test-taking skills, complete Academic Skills Plan, review Power Point chapter 6: 26-39, determine what their Holland Code is and do group activity from Facilitator’s Manual page 188: Party Game, review PP Ch. 6 15-17 and 23, chapter six assessment, read/write Journal 25: Developing a learning Orientation to Life.

Week 15: Read text 289-293 about test taking, review PP Ch. 7: 6-9, read/write Journal 26: Discovering Your Preferred Ways of Learning, review PP Ch. 7: 10-12, read/write Journal 28: Believing in Yourself-Develop Self Respect, Thanksgiving Break!

Week 16: Review Ch.7 PP 13-15, complete Chapter seven assessment, read/write Journal 29: Understanding Emotional Intelligence, examine YouTube video on emotional intelligence, review PP Ch. 8: 1-9, group activity from Facilitator’s Manual page 229, 29-2: Right Now I feel, Review PP Ch. 8: 7-11, read from text 337-339, examine YouTube video on stress, group activity from Facilitator’s Manual page 231, 30-1: Visualization, Resources Exam.

Week 17: Read/write Journal 30: Reducing Stress, read/write Journal 31: Creating Flow, analyze Quiet Time document, review PP. Ch. 8: 12-17, read page 352, watch YouTube: Building Self-Esteem and write down ten different behaviors you can do, watch I Choose to be Happy on YouTube, read/write Journal 32: Believing in Yourself-Develop Self-Love, complete Chapter 8 Assessment.

Week 18: Read 368-375 from the text book, Review PP Ch. 9- 9, Personal Assessment Post-Test, read/write Journal 33: Staying on Course to Your Success based on the last self-assessment, group activity from Facilitator’s Manual page 251- 33-3: Appreciating Others, complete reaction paper from chapters 6-9 in the text book. Write Letter of Advice.