Synopses & Reviews
ON COURSE: STRATEGIES FOR CREATING SUCCESS IN COLLEGE AND IN LIFE, STUDY SKILLS PLUS EDITION was created for educators who would like to promote student growth and self-awareness, while providing more extensive instruction in study skills. Downing's powerful guided journal entries have been retained from the original ON COURSE text to encourage students to explore essential life skills such as personal responsibility, self-motivation, interdependence, and self-esteem. The Study Skills Plus Edition engages students in a learner-centered construction of study skills knowledge, and gives students practice in applying empowerment strategies. The 2nd edition highlights the very process of learning how to solve academic challenges with improved study skills. Students engage in critical and creative problem solving that will enable them to achieve greater success in all parts of their lives. The 2nd edition also features expanded coverage of diversity, emphasizing the many ways in which people are different and how these differences often influence the choices they make. Other new topics include a discussion of academic integrity, how to thrive in the college culture, and a research-based section on the importance of developing a growth mindset. Plus, a new Annotated Instructors Edition guides instructors to relevant exercises and materials in the ON COURSE FACILITATOR'S MANUAL. Available with InfoTrac Student Collections http://gocengage.com/infotrac.
Review
"On Course Study Skills Plus Edition gets at the heart of what I think is important for students. They need to understand that they are in control and until they understand that, all the study skills and lectures in the world won't help them. And every semester I learn a little more about myself!"
Review
"On Course: Study Skills Plus Edition is a great textbook that seems to really get students thinking, which is a huge part of what college is all about. I'm sure that On Course: Study Skills Plus Edition can be improved, but it has been a great asset for teaching my student population. Thanks goes to Dr. Downing, for writing such wonderful book!"
About the Author
SKIP DOWNING is an international consultant in the field of faculty development and student success strategies. Dr. Downing has earned degrees from Princeton University, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Santa Monica, and Carnegie Mellon University. He holds advanced degrees in both English and counseling psychology. He was Professor of English at Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) for 32 years. In addition to his role as an academic instructor, Dr. Downing created and coordinated BCCC's Student Success and Learning Community Programs. These programs teach students how to apply proven strategies of success to achieve their full potential in college and in life. The College Success Program resulted in a significant increase in both student academic success and retention. Click here to see the data from BCCC as well as many other institutions using the On Course text. Dr. Downing has made numerous presentations at national conferences and conducted faculty development workshops at many two- and four-year colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and the Virgin Islands. Since 1996, he has facilitated the On Course Workshops, intensive four-day retreats for college educators focusing on proven strategies for empowering students to become active, responsible partners in their education and to achieve greater success in college and in life. These workshops offer participants the option of earning three graduate credits in a follow-up on-line course. Dr. Downing's teaching, writing, and consulting are all guided by his belief that the greatest mission of any educational institution is empowering its students to live rich, personally fulfilling lives.
Table of Contents
Preface.Travel with Me. 1. GETTING ON COURSE TO YOUR SUCCESS. Taking the First Step. What Is Success?. The Power of Choice. Write a Great Life. Assess Yourself. Forks in the Road. A Few Words of Encouragement. JOURNAL ENTRY 1. One Student's Story Jalayna Onaga. Understanding the Culture of Higher Education. Culture Shock. The Culture of Higher Education. Choices and Culture. JOURNAL ENTRY 2. Becoming an Active Learner. How the Human Brain Learns. Three Principles of Deep and Lasting Learning. The CORE Learning System. JOURNAL ENTRY 3. One Students' Story Kase Cormier. On Course Principles AT WORK. Believing in Yourself Develop Self-Acceptance. Self-Esteem and Core Beliefs. Know and Accept Yourself. JOURNAL ENTRY 4. Wise Choices in College College Customs. 2. ACCEPTING PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. Case Study in Critical Thinking The Late Paper. Adopting a Creator Mindset. Victim and Creator Mindsets. Responsibility and Culture. Responsibility and Choice. JOURNAL ENTRY 5. One Student's Story Brian Moore. Mastering Creator Language. Self-Talk. The Language of Responsibility. JOURNAL ENTRY 6. One Student's Story Alexsandr Kanevskiy. Making Wise Decisions. The Wise Choice Process. Personal Responsibility AT WORK. JOURNAL ENTRY 7. Believing in Yourself Change Your Inner Conversation. The Curse of Stinkin' Thinkin'. Disputing Irrational Beliefs. JOURNAL ENTRY 8. One Student's Story Dominic Grasseth. Change Your Inner Conversation. Wise Choices in College Reading. Reading: The Big Picture. Challenges with Reading. Strategies to Improve Reading. My Academic Skills Plan for Reading. 3. DISCOVERING SELF-MOTIVATION. Case Study in Critical Thinking Popson's Dilemma. Creating Inner Motivation. A Formula for Motivation. Value of College Outcomes. Value of College Experiences. JOURNAL ENTRY 9. One Student's Story Chee Meng Vang. Designing a Compelling Life Plan. Roles and Goals. How to Set a Goal. Discover Your Dreams. Your Life Plan. JOURNAL ENTRY 10. Committing to Your Goals and Dreams. Commitment Creates Method. Visualize Your Ideal Future. How to Visualize. JOURNAL ENTRY 11. One Students' Story James Terrell. Self Motivation AT WORK. Believing in Yourself Write a Personal Affirmation. Claiming Your Desired Personal Qualities. Living Your Affirmation. JOURNAL ENTRY 12. One Student's Story Donna Ludwick. Wise Choices in College Taking Notes. Taking Notes: The Big Picture. Challenges with Taking Notes. Strategies to Improve Taking Notes. My Academic Skills Plan for Taking Notes. 4. MASTERING SELF-MANAGEMENT. Case Study in Critical Thinking The Procrastinators. Acting on Purpose. Harness the Power of Quadrant II. What to Do in Quadrant II. JOURNAL ENTRY 13. One Student's Story Jason Pozsgay. Creating a Self-Management System. Monthly Calendars. Next Actions Lists. Tracking Forms. The Rewards of Effective Self-Management. JOURNAL ENTRY 14. One Student's Story Allysa LePage. Developing Self-Discipline. Staying Focused. Being Persistent. JOURNAL ENTRY 15. One Student's Story Holt Boggs. Self management AT WORK. Believing in Yourself Develop Self-Confidence. Create a Success Identity. Celebrate Your Successes and Talents. Visualize Purposeful Actions. JOURNAL ENTRY 16. One Students' Story Ashley Freeman. Wise Choices in College Organizing Study Materials. Organizing Study Materials: The Big Picture. Challenges with Organizing Study Materials. Strategies to Improve Organizing Study Materials. My Academic Skills Plan for Organizing Study Materials. 5. EMPLOYING INTERDEPENDENCE. Case Study in Critical Thinking Professor Rogers' Trial. Creating a Support System. Seek Help from Your Instructors. Get Help from College Resources. Create a Project Team. Start a Study Group. JOURNAL ENTRY 17. One Student's Story Jason Matthew Loden. Strengthening Relationships with Active Listening. How to Listen Actively. Use Active Listening in Your College Classes. JOURNAL ENTRY 18. Respecting Cultural Differences. Showing Respect. JOURNAL ENTRY 19. Interdependence AT WORK. Believing in Yourself Be Assertive. Leveling. Making Requests. Saying "No". JOURNAL ENTRY 20. One Student's Story Amy Acton. Wise Choices in College Rehearsing and Memorizing Study Materials. Rehearsing and Memorizing Study Materials: The Big Picture. Challenges with Rehearsing and Memorizing Study Materials. Strategies to Improve Rehearsing and Memorizing Study Materials. My Academic Skills Plan for Rehearsing and Memorizing Study Materials. 6. GAINING SELF-AWARENESS. Case Study in Critical Thinking Strange Choices. Recognizing When You Are Off Course. The Mystery of Self-Sabotage. Unconscious Forces. JOURNAL ENTRY 21. One Student's Story Sarah Richmond. Identifying Your Scripts. Anatomy of a Script. How We Wrote Our Scripts. Self-Defeating Habit Patterns. JOURNAL ENTRY 22. One Student's Story James Floriolli. Rewriting Your Outdated Scripts. The Impact of Outdated Beliefs. Doing the Rewrite. JOURNAL ENTRY 23. One Student's Story Annette Valle. Believing in Yourself Write Your Own Rules. Three Success Rules. Changing Your Habits. JOURNAL ENTRY 24. One Student's Story Brandee Huigens. Wise Choices in College Taking Tests. Taking Tests: The Big Picture. Challenges with Taking Tests. Strategies to Improve Taking Tests. My Academic Skills Plan for Taking Tests. 7. ADOPTING LIFELONG LEARNING. Case Study in Critical Thinking A Fish Story. Developing a Learning Orientation to Life. Growth Mindsets and Fixed Mindsets. How to Develop a Growth Mindset. JOURNAL ENTRY 25. One Student's Story Jessie Maggard. Discovering Your Preferred Ways of Learning. Self-Assessment: How I Prefer to Learn. JOURNAL ENTRY 26. One Student's Story Melissa Thompson. Employing Critical Thinking. Constructing Logical Arguments. Asking Probing Questions. Applying Critical Thinking. JOURNAL ENTRY 27. Believing in Yourself Develop Self-Respect. Live with Integrity. Keep Commitments. JOURNAL ENTRY 28. Wise Choices in College Writing. Writing: The Big Picture. Challenges with Writing. Strategies to Improve Writing. My Academic Skills Plan for Writing. 8. DEVELOPING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE. Case Study in Critical Thinking After Math. Understanding Emotional Intelligence. Four Components of Emotional Intelligence. Knowing Your Own Emotions. JOURNAL ENTRY 29. One Student's Story Lindsey Beck. Reducing Stress. What Is Stress?. What Happens When Stress Persists?. Unhealthy Stress Reduction. Healthy Stress Reduction. Choose Your Attitude. JOURNAL ENTRY 30. One Student's Story Jaime Sanmiguel. Creating Flow. College and Flow. Work and Flow. JOURNAL ENTRY 31. Believing in Yourself Develop Self-Love. Design a Self-Care Plan. JOURNAL ENTRY 32. One Student's Story Wynda Allison Paulette. Wise Choices in College Managing Money. 9. STAYING ON COURSE TO YOUR SUCCESS. Planning Your Next Steps. Assess Yourself, Again. JOURNAL ENTRY 33. One Student's Story Stephan J. Montgomery. Bibliography. Index.