1. Key Resources, Strategies, & Tools for College Success
Presented by: Ithaca College Academic Advising Center | 130A Rothschild Place

2. Academic Advising Center
Appointment & Drop-in Hours
Monday – Thursday | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Friday | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

3. Comprehensive Student Success Model
V.A.R.K.
College- Level Reading
Study Strategies
Exam Prep
Time Management

4. What’s Your Learning Style?

5. V.A.R.K. Visual–concept maps, diagrams, charts, etc.
Auditory–read out loud, hearing and listening
Read/write–taking notes, make lists, re-write notes
Kinesthetic–act of writing, moving while reading, coloring/highlighting
Pass out VARK exercise

6. V.A.R.K. Self - Assessment
Take a few moments and complete the VARK learning styles inventory questionnaire!
How do you learn best?
Do you think this self-assessment accurately reflects your learning style preferences?
Why is this exercise and information applicable for this workshop?
Allow 5 minutes for exercise

7. Hitting the Books

8. College-Level Reading
Make a connection between the readings and class content.
Avoid reading a large number of pages at once.
If you get to the end of a paragraph or page and can’t remember what you read – STOP!
Read with purpose – jot down main ideas and highlight as needed.
Here are some Active Reading Skills

9. Types of Reading Textbooks Recommended/Supplemental Readings
Preview chapters and examine chapter structure
Read, summarize, and highlight sections as needed
Recommended/Supplemental Readings
Use supplemental materials to help you understand complex ideas
Journal/Research Articles
Introduction and conclusion provide valuable information
Middle section usually includes methodology and statistical analysis
Blogs/posts/other web-based readings
What are reliable sources?

10. Study Strategies

11. Study Strategies Frequent and brief review of notes and Power Points
Break down reading into smaller segments
Look for purposeful connections between assignments/readings and course content
-review notes after class
-check your comprehension. It is not just about doing the reading, it is about absorbing it.
-think about the goal of the assignment

12. Study Strategies
Understand that different disciplines require different ways of studying
Science, Math, & Computer Science:
formulas, concepts, connection, problem sets, & practice
Humanities & Social Sciences:
concepts, theories, trends, analyzing, large amount of reading, focus on papers

13. Tips for Exam Prep

14. Tip #1 | Read the Syllabus
What is the exam going to look like?
What information will it include?
Will it be multiple choice/essay/short answer?
Will it look like other exams you have taken in the course?

15. Tip #2 | Predict Test Questions
Devise questions from the text, lectures, handouts, and materials used in class.
Be aware of the following clues:
Points that the professor repeats or emphasizes in class
Questions asked by the professor in class
Questions from quizzes, homework, handouts
Student learning outcomes from syllabus

16. Tip #3 | Create Good Review Tools
Review notes and extract main ideas and important concepts:
Use Flash Cards
Make a Chapter Outline
Create a Study Checklist
Create Mnemonics
Create Mind Maps
Study in a Group
MIND MAP
A mind map is a diagram used to visually organize information. A mind map is often created around a single concept, drawn as an image in the center of a blank landscape page, to which associated representations of ideas such as images, words and parts of words are added. Major ideas are connected directly to the central concept, and other ideas branch out from those.
Mind maps can be drawn by hand, either as "rough notes" during a lecture, meeting or planning session, for example, or as higher quality pictures when more time is available.
MNEMONICS
Please (parentheses)
Excuse (Exponents)
My (Multiplication)
Dear (Division)
Aunt (Addition)
Sally (Subtraction)

17. How do I fit it all in? Pass out schedule
Does it sometimes feel like this? Being pulled in different directions? How do I fit it all in?

18. What are my mandatory time draws?
Class times
Other mandatory attendance programs:
work, tutor programs, extra help sessions, etc.
Meals
Clubs
Anything that requires some of your time:
Volunteer work, organizations, etc.
Sleep
Give students 5 minutes to plan – give them time to start their schedule
By this slide, we want the schedule completed enough for “free blocks” of time

19. Where are my free blocks of time?
Identify time slots that are not taken by mandatory time draws.
Indicate study time/free time.
Be sure to allow 3 hours per credit hour for each class!!
Ex. 15 credits of class time indicates 45 hours of study time per week. Does that seem possible?
Take a highlighter or pen & section off all the free time – get an idea of how much free time

20. Tips for Successful Time Management
Plan each day
Prioritize your tasks
Say no to nonessential tasks.
Take the time you need to do a quality job
Break large, time-consuming tasks into smaller tasks
Evaluate how you're spending your time
Limit distractions
Get plenty of sleep, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly
Take a break when needed

21. Questions?
Students will get a survey feedback form sent to their at the end of the week