This course is designed to improve student performance in math and science courses. Emphasis on math and science specific study skills, making use of on-campus and online math/science resources, strategies for anxiety reduction, time management, and test taking. Ideal for anyone feeling anxious about their math and/or science class.
Concurrent enrolment in any math or science class is required.
Course Learning Outcomes
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Identify and demonstrate practical life skills such as goal setting, decision-making, problem solving, time management and stress management techniques in college related situations and recognize how to apply them in broader life scenarios.
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Identify and demonstrate practical life skills such as goal setting, decision-making, problem solving, time management and stress management techniques in college related situations and recognize how to apply them in broader life scenarios.
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Apply and implement study skills and success strategies and techniques that promote and improve their learning in college level courses and beyond.
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Apply and implement study skills and success strategies and techniques that promote and improve their learning in college level courses and beyond.
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Apply and implement study skills and success strategies and techniques that promote and improve their learning in college level courses and beyond.
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Develop personal life skills that lead to an integrated sense of self, well-being, and resilience.
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Exhibit an increased awareness, utilization and value of resources and support services so that they can successfully navigate the college environment.
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Exhibit an increased awareness, utilization and value of resources and support services so that they can successfully navigate the college environment.
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Apply and implement study skills and success strategies and techniques that promote and improve their learning in college level courses and beyond.
Core Topics
1. Diversity in STEM: What it is and why it matters
2. Goal setting and motivation to study STEM
3. Brain research and how to study for long term recall
4. Math and science as a skill, not a talent
5. Before, during, and after lecture – behaviors for success in math and science courses
6. Time management and procrastination
7. Finding and utilizing on-campus and online resources
8. Online learning management system
9. Understanding science textbook information – including reading and comprehension strategies, interpreting charts and tables, and understanding the process for solving practice problems.
10. Getting the most out of lecture in math and science classes
11. Strategies for studying mathematical and scientific material
12. Dealing with and overcoming academic anxiety, emphasis on math anxiety
13. Exam preparation and test taking strategies
14. Math topics that support students’ individual needs in math and/or science, to be selected through student and faculty collaboration. Possible topics include but are not limited to
- Operations on fractions: reduce, multiply, divide, add, subtract, complex fractions
- Word Problems: strategies for solving, common geometric and rate formulas found in Beginning and Intermediate Algebra
- Factoring techniques: factor two, three, and four term polynomials
- Family of functions: connecting equations, tables, and graphs for common functions
- Intro to statistics: measures of center and dispersion
- Interpret graphs and charts commonly found in science textbooks
- Logs and exponents: solving and graphing equations involving exponential or logarithmic growth
- Dimensional Analysis: converting between units of measure including the metric system and moles to grams
- Solving formulas for an unknown variable
- Rates, percent change, percent yield
- Scientific notation, significant figures, and orders of magnitude
- Simple and serial dilutions