TEACHING COLLEGE SUCCESS SKILLS: Best Practices & Lesson Plans

Transcription

1 TEACHING COLLEGE SUCCESS SKILLS: Best Practices & Lesson Plans Eric Neutuch Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center New York, New York Angel Calderon Brooklyn Educational Opportunity Center Brooklyn, New York

2 New York State Educational Opportunity Centers 10 EOC s, 2 Outreach Centers 46 Year History Funded by the State University of New York (SUNY) and administered by 2 year or 4 year institutions within SUNY or CUNY Tuition Free Programming

3 EOC Locations: Bronx EOC Bronx Community College Brooklyn EOC New York City College of Technology Buffalo EOC University at Buffalo Capital District Educational Opportunity Center Hudson Valley Community College Long Island EOC State University College of Technology at Farmingdale Manhattan EOC Borough of Manhattan Community College Queens EOC York College Rochester EOC State University College at Brockport Syracuse EOC State University College of Agriculture & Technology at Morrisville Westchester EOC Westchester Community College

4 Mission of the Educational Opportunity Centers To provide an integrated system of education, training and student support services to disadvantaged and adult residents; To offer targeted services to business and industry to upgrade the skill levels of incumbent workers; To collaborate with secondary schools to assist in the academic preparation of youth at risk; To provide intergenerational learning programs to strengthen families; and narrow the digital divide in economically challenged communities by placing technology where it is accessible.

5 Eric Neutuch Coordinator, Strategic College Initiatives Project Director, College Connections Project (TRIO EOC) Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College

6 Defining College Success Skills What Are College Success Skills? For Our Purposes Foundational Academic Skills Everything Else = College Success Skills Silent Roadmap Activity What Skills Do Successful College Students Have? What Do Successful College Students Do? What Are The Traits of Successful College Students? What Are COLLEGE SUCCESS SKILLS? Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College

7 Why College Success Skills Are Important 16% 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 8% College Graduation Rates (150% of Normal Time 3 Years) 12% 15% 0% CUNY Bronx CC CUNY Borough of Manhattan CC CUNY NYC College of Technology Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College

8 Why College Success Skills Are Important Our Hypothesis College Success Skills Instruction Higher College Graduation Rates Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College

9 Eric Neutuch Coordinator, Strategic College Initiatives Project Director, College Connections Project (TRIO EOC) Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College

10 College Knowledge Course at the MEOC The College Knowledge Course at the MEOC walks students through the college admissions, financial aid, and college enrollment processes. The 25 hour course aims to prepare adult learners for success in college. Unit: College Success Skills I. Succeeder or Struggler? II. What Would You Do??? Scenarios & Skits III. College Success Skills Presentations Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College

11 Succeeder or Struggler? Quote from College Student: My statistics professor kind of intimidated me in the beginning of the class But then I needed some help, so I had to go to office hours. I just went and talked to her and she just made it, like, way easier Succeeder or Struggler? Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College

12 Succeeder? Or Struggler? Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College

13 What Would You Do??? Instructions Step 1: Read situation. Step 2: Talk about what the good student would do. Step 3: Plan a role play who s going to be the student??? Step 4: Practice the role play. Step 5: Practice again. Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College

14 College Success Skill Presentations Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College

15 College Success Skill Presentations Topics Group 1 Time Management Group 2 Employment & Working While in College Group 3 Test Anxiety Group 4 Successful Enrollment at CUNY Group 5 Student Services and Tutoring Resources Reading + Time + Feedback + Scaffolding Grading My Assessment: Individual Grades w/group Component Mini Quiz on What You Learned Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College

16 College Success Skill Presentations Questions? Comments? Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College

17 Angel Calderon Advisor, College Connections, Student Affairs Brooklyn Educational Opportunity Center Administered by New York City College of Technology

18 BEOC s College Preparation Program (Pre Freshman Academy) week terms to mirror college semester Intensive & focused (12 hours / week) Integrated reading and writing (10.5 hrs / wk) Pre Algebra & Beginning Algebra (10.5 hrs / wk) Concurrent supporting courses (1.5 hrs / wk) College Access (offered with math classes) Digital Literacy (offered with English classes) Students are registered in their stronger subject first to boost confidence 6/17/2009

19 Students and Support System Students served: Individuals preparing to apply to college Incoming CUNY college freshmen with developmental needs CUNY Students on Academic Dismissal Support system Tutoring assistance both in class and in the Learning Resource Center Access to developmental software to extend learning time both in site and on line (Learning Express Library) Early intervention system

20 Example of CUNY Student Progression ENGL INFO % Attendance WEEK 1 7 MATH CALS % Attendance ENGL: Final Grade C and above MATH: Final Grade C and above INFO: Digital Literacy Certificate Re Test: Reading and/or Writing Section MATH CALS % Attendance WEEK 8 15 CALS: Complete All Tasks Re Test: Math Section ENGL INFO % Attendance One Semester MATH: Final Grade C and above CALS: Complete All Tasks ENGL: Final Grade C and above INFO: Digital Literacy Certificate Re Test: Re Test: Math Section Reading and/or Writing Section 6/17/

21 BEOC s Early Intervention Practice Warnings can be generated based on graded performance, late or missing course work, attendance, or any other behavior or issues that indicate the likelihood of failure The goal is to foster communication between students and advisors and faculty members 6/17/2009

22 Passive Advising Early Interventions were initiated after week 2 in the term by instructors Sometimes problems were not identified by the student or instructor until after midterms, around week 4 or later in the term Identifying students with academic problems while there was still time to effect change was a challenge Finding the cause of the problem was also proving to be a challenge 6/17/2009

23 Rethinking How We Teach College Success Skills Academic Affairs and Student Affairs joined forces The College Access course, using Skip Downing s On Course material as the template, was handed over to Student Affairs The charge from the partnership was to determine what really mattered to the students and build a course around those concerns to help the students from a mentoring standpoint We wanted the classroom setting to be a central meeting space for structured advisor student interactions 6/17/2009

24 CALS 1400 Advisement Seminar Series 6/17/2009

25 Building The Advisement Seminar Series Exit surveys common problems Knowing how to study Preparing for exams Seminar structure Basic but detailed blueprint for exam preparation and studying Discussion of how to tailor specific methods to unique needs and learning styles Seminars linked with the core math course Evaluation and modification of the seminar topics as the student s concerns changed within a term and at the end of the semester 6/17/2009

26 The Mentoring Aspect Intrusive Advising Be direct, emphatic, and prescriptive Help students set goals and build action plans Employ open ended questioning techniques "What subjects did you enjoy studying in high school?" with followup questions such as "What methods did you find successful in studying this subject? Stress how expectations and requirements differ from high school and suggest ways in which students may become active participants in their learning Help students learn how to negotiate the college environment and learn strategies for creating success in college 6/17/2009

27 What Do The CALS Sessions Cover Orientation to a Course Syllabus College success begins with an understanding of the course syllabus Major Aspects of Exam Preparation Test Structure Study Plan Intensive Review Resources Time General Stages of Exam Preparation Getting Organized Preparing Every Day Conducting Reviews Math Study Session Math Problems Sets Learning Express Library Registration Practice Math Test Questions 6/17/2009

28 General Stages to Active Exam Preparation: 1. Getting Organized How Can I Get Organized To Prepare For An Exam? Get the facts about the exam Preparing a study plan 2. Preparing Every Day What Can I Do Every Day To Prepare For An Exam? Concept Mapping 3. Conducting Reviews How Can I Make Reviews / Revisions Pay Off? 28

29 Preparing a Study Plan How much time will I need for study & review? Provide a blueprint for conducting review sessions Leads to discussions on time management and memory How can I organize my study & review for maximum effect? Provide a blueprint for continuous learning Provide a plan for maximizing understanding of a lecture Provide a plan for improving listening and note taking What will I study & review? Leads to discussion on learning resources Textbook + lecture notes, assignments, etc And how will I study & review? Leads to a discussion and examples of what it means to be focused and action oriented 6/17/2009

30 Activities: Self assessment questionnaires in class Am I prepared for my courses? Do I organize my time well? Am I prepared for my tests? Do I use good test taking strategies? Assigned background material from Louisiana State University Center for Academic Success 6/17/2009 Exam Preparation Time Management Concept Mapping Note taking and Comprehension

31 Contact Information Eric Neutuch Coordinator, Strategic College Initiatives Project Director, College Connections Project Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center ; Angel Calderon Advisor, College Connection, Student Affairs Brooklyn Educational Opportunity Center ; Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College