1. 1 An Academic Support Program “Preparing” Session 1 STUDY SKILLS “If you are smart enough to get into college, you are smart enough to graduate.” ~Dr. Bernice Strauss

2. 2 Session 2: Avoiding Procrastination Session 4: Reading Textbooks and Taking Notes Session 6: Managing Stress Session 3: Managing Your Time Session 5: Taking Tests In the weeks to come ….

3. Online vs. Face-to-face Courses 3 Most of the information we’ll cover in the next six weeks can be applied to any type of course: traditional face-to-face, online, or web-enhanced (hybrid). There are some tips specific to online or web- enhanced courses, and we’ve included these in our discussion. Look for the symbol in your handouts for these.

4. 4 Essentials for Success  Eat right.  Exercise.  Sleep.  Pick a study place (not your bed).  Eliminate distractions. Watch out for social media pages!  Go to class. Log in to class regularly.  Ask questions.  Speak with professors. E-mail professors and/or classmates with questions, or look into other communication methods, such as Skype. Don’t forget that you may also call your professor during office hours. When communicating in writing, remember to avoid texting lingo.

5. 5 give you something to work toward! For the goal-setting process, consider the following: 1.Small and specific goals—things that can be accomplished in a week 2.Measurable goals—Can you count it? How much? How do you know you met your goals? 3.Reward size=Task size/effort/difficulty 4.Sense of accomplishment when reached

6. 6 Be punctual. If you come in late or must leave early, let the professor know why. Check to see if your professor has an online attendance policy. Turn off cell phones, and do not text in class. To prevent distractions, turn off your cell phone while working on any online assignments. Give all attention to the professor. No sleeping, talking to friends, listening to music, or reading newspapers/magazines. This includes online lectures, live or previously recorded. Do not cheat—it isn’t worth it.

7. 7 Contact the professor immediately if you are having problems. Don’t wait until the day before the exam. If you experience technical difficulties, contact your professor IMMEDIATELY! Have a back-up plan, and utilize campus resources. For a list of computer labs and hours, visit http://www.shsu.edu/~ucs_www/lab/index.html and select “General Use Labs” from the menu. http://www.shsu.edu/~ucs_www/lab/index.html Address the professor as “Dr.” unless asked to do otherwise. Learn his/her name. Observe e-mail etiquette: When e-mailing a professor, use your full name and your school e-mail account. Avoid texting lingo. Consider your voice mail greeting. Does it create a good first impression?

8. 8 Taking a LASSI A what???  The Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI)...  provides a visual depiction of your study strengths and weaknesses.  identifies areas in which you can benefit most from Study Skills.  measures your degree of success for the duration of the program with pre- and post- testing.

9. 9 GPA Increase by Semester Does it REALLY work?