Archive for the 'Classes' Category

Researching your future to help you succeed

Written by Jen Golletz on April 24, 2012. 0 Comments

When you are considering college it is important to find the right degree for you, if you are heading down the wrong career path and pick the wrong major it will be difficult to excel. In other words, if your heart isn’t in it, you might not succeed. So carefully evaluate your career path choices.

It might take some time to figure out what career you want. If you are lucky enough that they know exactly what you want to do, you should take full advantage of this edge.

If you already know what area you will be seeking employment in, then do research on that field. When you have more knowledge regarding your chosen field, you will see more opportunities.

This research will allow you to select possible companies that you would like to work for and maybe even change courses that you select while in college. In fact, you might even decide to pick up a second degree or go on with your education.

Lethbridge College has advisors that are more than happy to help you figure out what career path is right for you and get you started in programs that would open up the options for your future.

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Education embracing new technologies

Written by Jen Golletz on March 29, 2012. 0 Comments

Education is moving to into a new age of technical dependency. Most post-secondary schools are now equipped with online learning tools with class materials and assignment available online.

These moves towards technology have been happening for years and now more and more aspects of how our education are being delivered to us through technology.

There has recently been debate about moving away from traditional textbooks and towards purchasing online versions of textbooks, to be used on tablets.

But, what is better for the student?

Having your textbooks on a tablet would allow you to have all of your class materials in one place without lugging around a ton of books. But reading all of your education materials off of computer screens can become exhausting for student eyes.

Online learning materials enable instantaneous access to a variety of sources, but some argue that having a digital textbook doesn’t allow for highlighting and not being able to physically mark pages inhibits successful studying.

Online text allows students to access materials in a much more cost efficient way as the production cost for online is much less than printed materials. However, in order for the student to have convenient access to online information they would have to purchase a tablet or laptop.

It may not be long before most of our learning is done in front of a computer screen, but for now it looks as though we will continue to learn in a world of growing technology.

What are your thoughts on how technology influences education?

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Tips for successful studying

Written by Jen Golletz on March 15, 2012. 0 Comments

For most college students it takes a while to find out the best ways to study effectively. Here are a few study tips that might help you stay on track during your educational endeavor.

Establish a place to study. You should surround yourself with a relaxed atmosphere with as little distraction as possible. Eliminating distractions like the TV or your gossiping roommate is the only way to ensure that you will not get sidetracked or pulled away from your studies.

Try to find a place where you don’t routinely do other things, it should be an area where your brain only has one thing to focus on. Also, good lighting is key.

Prioritize. With multiply classes, assignments and exams can pile up and can sometimes seem impossible to get through. Get yourself organized. What is due first or what exam do you write first? What is worth more in terms of your grade, or in terms of your personal, education or career goals?

If you aren’t sure what is more important or time sensitive, start with the most difficult subject. Putting off a difficult subject until your tired only makes it even harder.

Make a list and tackle one thing at a time. Concentrating on each task individually will help you feel less overwhelmed and give you greater focus.

Give yourself plenty of time. Unfortunately cramming doesn’t work. By starting to study weeks ahead of your exam you have plenty of time to read everything. It also gives you time to ask questions about anything you don’t fully understand. Procrastination is a student’s worst enemy, try and avoid it as much as possible.

Understand the assignment. Nothing is harder or more frustrating than trying to complete something when you are unclear of the expectations. Ask questions and get help if you need it.

Break down each task. Figure out everything that you need to do to accomplish the task and then break it down into smaller objectives. By subdividing the project, it becomes less intimidating and you seem to work through it faster.

Schedule breaks. Take a ten minute break after every hour of study. Spread out several short study sessions during the day and if possible avoid long blocks of study time. There is no point in trying to study when you have reached zombie state. By taking breaks you refresh your brain and make it easier to focus.

Utilize campus resources. Get to know your instructors and ask questions. Also, get to know your campus. Find the leaning services that are offered and take advantage of them.

Lethbridge College has a Learning Café that offers students, peer tutoring, development study courses, study skills, workshops, and free individualized academic support. The Learning Café is in the back section of the Buchanan Library in room CE1340.

And for those long nights when you find yourself in need of help and the college is closed, LC has an eLearning Café. This online resource offers you quick online access to advice, tools, tips and practice activities to help you reach academic success.

For more information you can visit the Learning Café on campus or contact at: learningcafe@lethbridgecollege.ca or call 403-382-6952.

What are some of your best studying tips? Please share below.

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Managing course work

Written by Lethbridge College on March 7, 2012. 0 Comments

The start of a semester can be exciting and busy as assignments start rolling in. The start of the semester can also be a great time to establish a routine to manage your workload effectively.

To get a good start at managing your time and your course work, take advantage of available online tools, including the tools within your course. And don’t hesitate to access support that is available within your learning management system and from your institution. Developing a solid plan for your studies and making a point of asking questions will help you succeed in completing your coursework.

You can also follow these simple tips:

Read through the course materials to become familiar with the course requirements. Look for details such as assignment deadlines, quizzes and exams, readings, technology requirements and grading policies. Also, use the course outcomes to give you a broad picture of the course’s key concepts.
Set deadlines for yourself using the calendar tool in your learning management system. Try setting your deadlines at least a day earlier than the actual due date just in case you run into some challenges or last-minute problems.
Track your progress using your course checklist. The course checklist tool will list all of the assignments for the course with their due dates. Depending on your learning management system, you should be able to track your progress through the course by clicking off each assignment as it is completed. If your course does not have a checklist, make your own.
Preview assignments before you complete your weekly readings. This will focus your reading and note-taking. As you read, look for the information that will help you complete the assignment(s).
Compose assignments and postings as Word documents so that you have a back-up copy of your work saved to your computer. Consider emailing assignments to yourself, too, as another way of keeping back-up copies.
Understand in advance where and how assignments should be submitted. Ask for help early if you need it.
Review the feedback provided by your instructor and apply any suggestions for improvement to your next assignment.
Seek help through your instructor’s office hours, your institution’s student support website or a tutoring service if you are encountering difficulties in your studies.

Lethbridge College offers a number of study supports and tutoring opportunities through the Learning Café. To contact the Learning Café call 403-382-6952 or e-mail learningcafe@lethbridgecollege.ca.

What strategies do you use to manage your course work?

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