Study Skills, Stress Management, and Community
I have recently taken over the role of General Education Department Chair at my campus and need to improve the department's retention, absence rates, and failure rates. I would like to include the following topics in all first-quarter classes:
- Study Skills
- Stress Management
- Seeing the class and school as a community
It appears that these are three major issues that relate to retention.
My question is: How can these skills incorporated into classes that are not college success courses, such as math or introductory computer classes?
Victoria, I think your list of skills could be applied to teachers as well as students.
All classes require these skills. Study skills: -working with a partner or alone?, -cramming or over a longer period of time?, - vary the subject matter or stick to one subject?, - use varied learning techniques?, etc. Stress management: -studied sufficiently?, - physically and mentally comfortable?, -practice calming techniques?, -time management under control?, etc. These are all applicable regardless of the subject matter and should be reinforced in all classes. Having a strong sense of school/class community only helps reinforce a student's confidence in knowing that giving and receiving support is welcome.
It's important for students to master good study habits and, like most habits, that requires regular re-enforcement and practice.
Loren Kroh
Our classes are offerd in 4-week increments,and students take one class at a time. Because our students are mostly nontraditional students, I believe they need a refresher on these topics, and that this refresher needs to be reinforced in classes other than the college success class. It seems to make the most amount of sense to me to reinforce these skills in their first three or four classes to prepare the students for success in their second quarter and beyond.
Leslie, why are you identifying these courses to introduce those topics?
Loren Kroh
