Faculty Syllabus

The following elements will be used in calculating the course grade:

1. Time Management Project (15%)— This project takes approximately two weeks, during which students will track use of time before and after implementing time management strategies, and reflect upon the changes.
2. Career Exploration Project (20%)—As part of your long-term goal-setting activities, you will complete the Focus2 online career assessment and use it to reflect on long-term and career planning.
3. Learning Profile Paper (25%)—A summary paper describing your purpose for being in college, your educational experience, motivation and attitudes toward learning, your strengths, weaknesses, and academic/career goals. 
4. Exams (25%)—Three exams will be given during the semester covering material from the textbook and class sessions. Students who miss a test must contact the instructor as soon as possible to coordinate making up the test. Make-up tests are not the same as original versions.
5. Scaffolding Activities (15%)—Attendance and attentiveness in class are essential to learning, especially in this course since you will be completing exercises in class and working in groups much of the time. Your active participation in class activities will increase your own learning as well as contributing to that of others. In order to account for acceptable absences (see Participation and Attendance Policy), the lowest two activity grades will be dropped.

This is a ZTC-class (Zero Textbook Cost section). In place of required textbooks, all textbook materials needed for the class will be available digitally to students free of charge at https://www.oercommons.org/courseware/8434. Students may print copies of the resources (if applicable), but will be responsible for printing costs.

Learning Framework: Effective Strategies for College Success at Austin Community College, compiled and edited by Heather Syrett and Laura Lucas.  These materials are Open Educational Resources; as such students do NOT purchase a textbook.

Online Resources: http://www.austincc.edu/blackboard

Session            Topics                                                                         Assignments Due

                         Course Orientation                                                  Complete Mandatory Orientation

                                                                                                          Read: Welcome

                                                                                                            DUE: Discussion Board #1           

                       Chapter 1: Manage the Transition to College       Read Chapters 1 and 2

                                                                                                            Complete Chapter Lessons

                        Chapter 2: Set Yourself Up for Success    

                                                                                                          DUE: Journal #1                                                                              

                       Chapter 3: Values and Goals                                  Read Chapter 3/ Chapter Lessons

                                                                                                        START: Time Management Project

                       Chapter 4: Manage Your Time                               Read Chapter 4/ Chapter Lessons

                                                                                                         DUE: Time Management Project                                                                                                    

                       Chapter 5: Getting and Staying Organized           Read Chapter 5/ Chapter Lessons

                        Exam #1 (Units 1 and 2)                                            DUE: Journal #2

                                                                                                         Complete Exam #1 (Timed)                                                                                                                     

                       Chapter 6: Theories of Learning                            Read Chapter 6/ Chapter Lessons

                                                                                                         DUE: Discussion Board #2

                                                                                                          DUE: Self-Change (SC) Contract                                                

                          Chapter 7: Critical and Creative Thinking           Read Chapter 7/ Chapter Lessons

                                                                                                          DUE: Self-Change Final Contract

                                                                                                            DUE: Discussion Board #3                          

                        Chapter 8: Ways of Knowing                                  Read Chapter 8/ Chapter Lessons

                                                                                                         DUE: Discussion Board #4                                                       

                       Chapter 9: Memory and Information Processing Read Chapter 9/ Chapter Lessons

                        Exam #2 (Unit 3)                                                       DUE: Journal #3

                                                                                                            Complete Exam #2 (Timed)

                                                                                                       START: SC Baseline Week Data

                        Chapter 15: Planning for Your Career                  Read Chapter 15/ Chapter Lessons

                                                                                                       START: Career Project                             

                        Chapter 10: Active Listening                                  Read Chapters 10 and 11

                        Chapter 11: Note-Taking Strategies                      Chapter Lessons

                                                                                                          DUE: Career Project

                                                                                                            START: Learning Profile Paper

                        Chapter 12: Active Reading Strategies                  Read Chapters 12 and 14

                        Chapter 14: Writing Effectively                             Chapter Lessons

                                                                                                        DUE: Learning Profile Paper

                                                                                                            DUE: Discussion Board #5                                                                                                  

                       Chapter 13: Test-Taking Strategies                       Read Chapters 13 and 16  

                        Chapter 16: Managing Your Health                      Chapter Lessons                                       DUE: Journal #4                                                                           

                        Chapter 17: Diversity and Cultural Competency Read Chapter 17/ Chapter Lessons           DUE: Discussion Board #6

                       Chapter 18: Managing Your Money                      Read Chapter 18/ Chapter Lessons

                        Exam #3 (Units 4 and 5)                                            DUE: Journal #5

                                                                                                         Complete Exam #3 (Timed)

                       Self-Change Project                                                 DUE: Self-Change Paper

                        Course Wrap-Up                                                     

1. Skill: Refers to the learner’s knowledge of and ability to utilize effective learning strategies and skills in order to learn information effectively, efficiently, and actively. It also includes knowledge of oneself as a learner, including strengths, weaknesses, and previous content knowledge. Identify and apply effective learning strategies and skills: 

a.  Explain how theoretical models of learning, information processing, and memory influence the learning process.

b.  Develop and apply critical and creative thinking skills to problem-solving, decision-making, and evaluating information.

c.  Identify personal strengths and areas for growth related to the learning process.

d.  Explore and implement specific learning strategies for student success.

2.  Will: Refers to the learner’s beliefs, attitudes, and emotions about learning. This includes motivation, beliefs about abilities, level of commitment to goals, and a range of emotions from fear and anxiety to excitement and joy toward learning.  Demonstrate knowledge and application of the beliefs, attitudes, motivations, and emotions that affect learning

a.  Reflect on previous educational experiences and how they influence current attitudes and beliefs toward college.

b.  Assess personal patterns, habits, and potential barriers which affect learning.

c.  Implement goal-setting strategies and goal-attainment behaviors.

d.  Identify the characteristics of growth mindset and reflect on their own mindset. 

e.  Reflect on personal behaviors and choices as they relate to increasing self-efficacy and strengthening emotional regulation. 

3.  Self-Regulation: Refers to the learner's ability to combine skill and will to self-manage, be self-aware, and hold themselves accountable within the learning environment.  Develop awareness of and practice strategies for effective self-regulation:

a.  Develop and practice sustainable time management and organizational skills.

b.  Identify and practice executive skills to regulate cognition.

c.  Demonstrate ability to monitor the learning progress and adjust as needed for success.

d.  Develop skills to manage and cope with stress and anxiety that impact learning and goal attainment.

e.  Identify when additional support is needed and utilize available resources to support their own success.

f.  Identify and implement effective motivational strategies to achieve goals.

4.  Academic Environment: Refers to the learning contexts and the learner’s understanding of the expectations for successful performance, as well as the types of resources available.  Understand, analyze, and use resources to manage the academic environment:

a.  Determine how college and instructor policies define expected student behaviors.

b.  Identify requirements and expectations for learning activities and managing responsibilities.

c.  Identify and use services and resources to support learning and academic success. 

d.  Identify and develop social support networks that encourage and strengthen academic achievement. 

The Student Learning Outcomes are based on the Model of Strategic Learning. (Weinstein, C.E. (1994)

General Education Student Learning Outcomes: As a Core Curriculum course, students completing this course will demonstrate competence in:

1.  Social Responsibility

Analyze differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.

2.  Critical Thinking

Gather, analyze, synthesize, evaluate and apply information for the purposes of innovation, inquiry, and creative thinking.

3.  Personal Responsibility

Identify and apply ethical principles and practices to decision-making by connecting choices, actions and consequences.

4.  Communication Skills

Develop, interpret, and express ideas and information through written, oral and visual communication that is adapted to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.