Never Too Late For College

Adapting to Different Teaching Styles in College

marybabysteps — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:19:06 EDT

Do you have a professor whose teaching methods drive you crazy? Does she go too fast? Does he talk in jargon you can't understand? What can you do to change this professor, to improve their teaching? Chances are, you can't change the instructor or his way of teaching. Just as there are many different learning styles, all instructors teach differently. That can be hard for both adult and traditional-aged students to deal with. What you can change is the way you adapt to different teaching styles. Here are some examples.

If your professor is extremely organized...

This instructor comes to class on time for every meeting, writing an outline on the board of the day's lesson. She gives key phrases like, "This is important." or "Three thins to remember are..." This is the kind of instructor everybody likes to have, right? Maybe. But maybe not, if you're not a visual or auditory learner. With this kind of teacher, hands-on learning rarely takes place, and if you need that kind of interaction to learn effectively, you may find yourself struggling.

One thing you can do to overcome the difference in teaching and learning styles is to make the lessons a bit more hands-on when you get home. Immediately review the notes, saying them outloud. This helps you to become personally involved in the material. If there are problems you can practice, do so, even if they're not assigned for homework. This activity will sink in better for you than just listening to a lecture. Perhaps you can even find videos in the library on a particular topic that will allow you to see the process in action. Another thing you can consider is working with the professor's strengths instead of against them. Get a tutor to teach you some outlining skills. Take a study skills course to learn better reading comprehension.

If your instructor is a conversationalist...

The conversationalist engages her students in discussions relating to the material. She likes to ask open-ended questions to be sure the students are on the right track and to provide them with a personal understanding of the topic. This kind of instructor expects you to come to class prepared. This usually isn't a problem for adult students, but talking out loud and expressing ideas may be hard for those who are shy.

The best advice I can give in this case is to come to class extra prepared. Have questions ready about your reading. Conversationalists love this. Be sure your questions are thoughtful and meaningful, not just something to get you off the hook with the professor. If you're insecure about talking in front of the class, try to remember that everyone else is probably nervous too. Also, keep in mind that this is your education, and you have the right to take charge of it by sharing what you know and getting all you can out of your classes.

If your professor is hands-on...

This is the instructor you want to have if you're a kinesthetic, or active, learner. This professor usually lectures for a bit at the beginning of class, then gives the students to take practice the material just learned. Often times, he'll walk around the room, observing or asking questions. This always made me nervous.

If this isn't your preferred learning style, remember the advice I gave earlier: this is your education. Try to remember that in helping to overcome your insecurities of making a mistake or being critiqued. Perhaps the best way to learn in this class really is using a hands-on approach. Just try to relax and let yourself get involved in the process. You may find it's even kind of fun!

There you have it, some examples of the kinds of professors you may encounter in college. As much as you may like it it happen, it's very unlikely that instructors will change their method of teaching to meet your personal needs, but you can make changes in your approach to learning that will help you to be more successful in all of your classes.

6 Reasons To Take a Study Skills Course

marybabysteps — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 13:19:55 EDT

It may be called College Success or First Year Experience at your school or it may actually be referred to as College Study Skills. Whatever they call it, it's likely your college or university offers some sort of study skills class. These classes are excellent for everyone, even students right out of high school, whom you think would have a pretty good handle on study skills since they're just getting out of school. College is a whole new ballgame and requires a different set of skills than high school. Here's a list of some things you'll learn in a first year study skills course.

Time Management, Scheduling, and Planning

One of the first things you're likely to learn in a college success course is information on time management. As an adult student, you may already be good at managing your time. Chances are you've learned this skill through life experiences like juggling your job, home, and personal obligations. But we could all use a refresher, particularly in regard to managing academic time. You'll also cover topics like goal setting and the transition to college. These are great topics that help you to consider how to best incorporate your family and current lifestyle into your new academic world.

Specific Study Skills

It seems obvious that you'll learn study skills, but what kinds of skills? As I mentioned in a previous post, note taking skills are important to college students, and it matters not only what you write down, but how you take in and process the information. You'll also cover reading comprehension in a study skills course. Yes, we all know how to read, but do you know how to read for understanding? You've probably find yourself reading a few pages of something only to have to go back and re-read the material because you weren't really paying attention in the first place. In a college success course, you'll learn ways to read more actively, which is so important due to the sheer volume of text you'll be reading over the course of your college career.

Test Taking Skills

Ah, yes, the dreaded test. Maybe it's been years since you've taken a test. You may be more than a little nervous. If so, a study skills course is for you. You'll learn tips for approaching different kinds of tests like matching, fill in the blank, or essay, as well as suggestions for taking tests in different subjects. A math test is certainly different than an English Composition exam. You'll also learn proven techniques for handling test anxiety so that it doesn't sabotage you from the get-go.

Critical Thinking

This is another area in which adult students are ahead of the game. You've learned to think things through, to consider all sides of an argument, and to not take everything you hear at face value. Students right out of high school may have a ways to go in this department. But it's always a good idea to take a look at your own patterns of thought. For example, how do you view authority figures like professors? Learning more about critical thinking may help you to better deal with your instructors or to realize that it's okay to question them. Even as adults, we sometimes find ourselves accepting the word of authority blindly.

Communication Skills

A college success course will go over methods of communication, from in person to written. You'll learn ways of using e-mail most effectively and how to handle conflict with ease. You'll also get insight into dealing with people of other cultures, and yes, those of different age groups as well. Although especially handy for those studying how to be a social worker or in pursuit of other socially-conscious degrees, communication skills are always good information for everyone to keep in mind.

Career Topics

Your institution may offer a separate career exploration or job search course, but you may find some of this information in your first year studies class as well. These classes offer career and personality assessments that give insight into your aptitudes and what kinds of careers may be of most interest to you. You'll probably also find good sources of information in these classes on how to pursue a career after graduation.

This is an overview of the kinds of things you can expect to learn in a college success or study skills class. I recommend reading this article from Redfokker's site, Nontraditional Students Reaching Long Term Goals. You'll get a current non-traditional student's opinion on the subject. Explore his blog for more real-life advice.

Reasons to See Your College Academic Adviser

marybabysteps — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:15:37 EDT

I am a huge advocate of meeting with your academic adviser regularly. As a former adviser, I've met with countless students who finally came to see me when their problems were so big that they felt there was nowhere else to turn. So many of these problems could have been avoided if they had visited an adviser in the first place. I know that at some colleges and universities, it may seem hard to touch base with an a adviser, but I promise you it's worth the effort to establish a relationship with someone from your college advising center or even a faculty adviser. Here are some reasons you'll want to see your academic adviser throughout the semester.

Help With Scheduling

An academic adviser can help you schedule your classes. We all know that. But a good adviser will talk to you about your lifestyle and obligations outside of school to help you determine the number of classes that are right for you. He or she can also help you to choose a balanced courseload so that you don't end up taking too many academically intense courses at once.

Monitor Prerequisites

Prerequisites are the classes you need to take before taking advance coursework. Your institution's course catalog should list prerequsites, but it can be overwhelming in the beginning to determine which classes require you to take something beforehand. Sitting down with an adviser will help to ease you into the process of selecting appropriate classes.

Provide Resources

Academic advisers have a wealth of information about campus and community resources. For instance, if you're struggling with your coursework, an adviser can help you to sign up for a tutor. If you're dealing with financial or emotional issues, it's likely your academic adviser will be able to point you in the direction of community organizations that can give you the support you need.

Give Career Guidance

I recommend visiting your school's career center if you are unsure of your major. But if your school doesn't have a career services center or if you have an established relationship with an adviser, it's likely you'll be able to get a good start on career counseling from your academic adviser. He or she can provide you with vocational and personality inventories that will give you insight into your interests. It's likely you can also find information on your careers of interest.

Determine Whether To Drop A Class

It's not always a good idea to drop a class. You may be failing miserably and overwhelmed, but did you know that dropping a class could affect your eligibilty for financial aid? Sometimes it's better to stick it out. Staying in the class allows you to learn as much as you can about the subject, so that if you have to repeat it, you'll be more prepared the next time around. Always talk to your instructor and an academic adviser before dropping a class.

Avoid Costly Mistakes

Spending just a few minutes with an academic adviser each semster can save your lots of money or time. Often times, students take classes they don't even need, either because they misread the catalog or because they made assumptions about the curriculum requirements. An adviser's job is to be familiar with the requirements of each major and to know your school's policies. Ultimately, what you decide to take is your responsibility, but an adviser can help you to make better decisions.

Teach Study Tips

Did you sign up to take a study skills course? I highly recommend these classes to help you get the right start on your college education, but if you didn't, an adviser can often provide good study tips to help make things a little easier for you. College can be tough for adults with kids, jobs, or other obligations. Talking to an adviser can help make things a bit more manageable.

Get the Inside Scoop

College advisers often know the dirt about different professors' teaching styles or workload. They can also explain in more detail than the course catalog provides just what a class is all about. Establishing a relationship with an adviser will also help you to find out about registration deadlines, increasing your chances of getting into the popular classes that fill up fast.

Check Your Progress

An adviser can help you to complete a degree audit once your further along in your studies. This is a checklist that determines how many classes you've completed toward your degree. Checking in periodically will make sure you don't miss anything toward graduation.

These are just a few of the many reasons to see your adviser. Most schools have some sort of academic center. You can always go there to meet with an adviser, even if you've been assigned to a faculty adviser. Faculty members are great. They know every detail there is to know about your major and can answer all of your career questions, but the academic advisers at your school are experts at school policy, financial aid regulations, general career guidance, and study skills. Find an adviser who you feel comfortable with, and your college experience is sure to be improved!