SUNY Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center

TEACHING COLLEGE SUCCESS SKILLS: Best Practices & Lesson Plans Eric Neutuch
Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center
New York, New York
Angel Calderon
Brooklyn Educational Opportunity Center
Brooklyn, New York
New York State Educational Opportunity Centers
ƒ 10 EOC’s , 2 Outreach Centers ƒ 46 Year History ƒ Funded by the State University of New York (SUNY) and administered by 2‐year or 4‐year institutions within SUNY or CUNY
ƒ Tuition‐Free Programming EOC Locations:
Bronx EOC ‐ Bronx Community College
Brooklyn EOC ‐ New York City College of Technology
Buffalo EOC ‐ University at Buffalo
Capital District Educational Opportunity Center ‐ Hudson Valley Community College
Long Island EOC ‐ State University College of Technology at Farmingdale
Manhattan EOC ‐ Borough of Manhattan Community College
Queens EOC – York College
Rochester EOC ‐ State University College at Brockport
Syracuse EOC – State University College of Agriculture & Technology at Morrisville
Westchester EOC – Westchester Community College
Mission of the Educational Opportunity Centers
ƒ To provide an integrated system of education, training and student support services to disadvantaged and adult residents;
ƒ To offer targeted services to business and industry to upgrade the skill levels of incumbent workers; ƒ To collaborate with secondary schools to assist in the academic preparation of youth‐at‐risk;
ƒ To provide intergenerational learning programs to strengthen families; and narrow the digital divide in economically challenged communities by placing technology where it is accessible.
Eric Neutuch
Coordinator, Strategic College Initiatives
Project Director, College Connections Project (TRIO EOC)
Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center
Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College
Defining College Success Skills
What Are College Success Skills? For Our Purposes…
y Foundational Academic Skills
y Everything Else = College Success Skills
Silent Roadmap Activity •What Skills Do Successful College Students Have? •What Do Successful College Students Do? •What Are The Traits of Successful College Students?
•What Are COLLEGE SUCCESS SKILLS?
Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College
Why College Success Skills Are Important College Graduation Rates (150% of Normal Time – 3 Years)
15%
16%
14%
12%
12%
10%
8%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
CUNY‐Bronx CC
CUNY‐Borough of Manhattan CC
CUNY‐NYC College of Technology
Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College
Why College Success Skills Are Important Our Hypothesis
College Success Skills Instruction
Higher College Graduation Rates
Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College
Eric Neutuch
Coordinator, Strategic College Initiatives
Project Director, College Connections Project (TRIO EOC)
Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center
Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College
College Knowledge Course at the MEOC The College Knowledge Course at the MEOC walks students through the college admissions, financial aid, and college enrollment processes. The 25‐
hour course aims to prepare adult learners for success in college.
Unit: College Success Skills I. Succeeder or Struggler?
II. What Would You Do??? Scenarios & Skits
III. College Success Skills Presentations Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College
Succeeder or Struggler? Quote from College Student: “My statistics professor…kind of intimidated me in the beginning of the class…But then I needed some help, so I had to go to office hours. I just went and talked to her and she just made it, like, way easier…”
Succeeder or Struggler?
Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College
Succeeder? Or Struggler? Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College
What Would You Do???
Instructions
Step 1: Read situation. Step 2: Talk about what the good student would do. Step 3: Plan a role‐play…who’s going to be the student???
Step 4: Practice the role‐play. Step 5: Practice again. Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College
College Success Skill Presentations
Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College
College Success Skill Presentations
Topics y Group 1 ‐ Time Management y Group 2 – Employment & Working While in College
y Group 3 – Test Anxiety
y Group 4 – Successful Enrollment at CUNY
y Group 5 – Student Services and Tutoring
Resources
y Reading + Time + Feedback + Scaffolding Grading
y My Assessment: Individual Grades w/Group Component y Mini‐Quiz on What You Learned Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College
College Success Skill Presentations
Questions? Comments? Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College
Angel Calderon
Advisor, College Connections, Student Affairs
Brooklyn Educational Opportunity Center
Administered by New York City College of Technology
BEOC’s College Preparation Program (Pre‐Freshman Academy)
y 7 + 7 week terms to mirror college semester
y Intensive & focused (12 hours / week) y Integrated reading and writing (10.5 hrs / wk)
y Pre‐Algebra & Beginning Algebra (10.5 hrs / wk)
y Concurrent supporting courses (1.5 hrs / wk) y
y
College Access (offered with math classes)
Digital Literacy (offered with English classes)
y Students are registered in their stronger subject first to boost confidence
6/17/2009
Students and Support System
y Students served:
y Individuals preparing to apply to college y Incoming CUNY college freshmen with developmental needs
y CUNY Students on Academic Dismissal
y Support system
y Tutoring assistance both in class and in the Learning Resource Center
y Access to developmental software to extend learning time both in‐site and on‐line (Learning Express Library)
y Early intervention system
Example of CUNY Student Progression
ENGL1310 + INFO1050
90% Attendance
MATH1210 + CALS1400
WEEK
1 ‐ 7
90% Attendance
MATH: Final Grade C and above INFO: Digital Literacy Certificate
CALS: Complete All Tasks
Re‐Test:
Re‐Test:
Reading and/or Writing Section
Math Section
MATH1210 + CALS1400
ENGL1310 + INFO1050
90% Attendance
WEEK
8 ‐ 15
90% Attendance
ENGL: Final Grade C and above MATH: Final Grade C and above CALS: Complete All Tasks
INFO: Digital Literacy Certificate
Re‐Test:
Re‐Test:
Math Section
Reading and/or Writing Section
6/17/2009
20
One Semester
ENGL: Final Grade C and above BEOC’s Early Intervention Practice
y Warnings can be generated based on
y graded performance, y late or missing course work, y attendance , or y any other behavior or issues that indicate the likelihood of failure
y The goal is to foster communication between students and advisors and faculty members
6/17/2009
Passive Advising
y Early Interventions were initiated after week 2 in the term by instructors
y Sometimes problems were not identified by the student or instructor until after midterms, around week 4 or later in the term
y Identifying students with academic problems while there was still time to effect change was a challenge
y Finding the cause of the problem was also proving to be a challenge 6/17/2009
Rethinking How We Teach College Success Skills
y Academic Affairs and Student Affairs joined forces
y The College Access course, using Skip Downing’s On Course material as the template, was handed over to Student Affairs
y The charge from the partnership was to determine what really mattered to the students and build a course around those concerns to help the students from a mentoring standpoint
y We wanted the classroom setting to be a central meeting space for structured advisor‐student interactions
6/17/2009
CALS 1400 – Advisement Seminar Series
6/17/2009
Building The Advisement Seminar Series
y Exit surveys – common problems
y Knowing how to study
y Preparing for exams
y Seminar structure
y Basic but detailed blueprint for exam preparation and studying
y Discussion of how to tailor specific methods to unique needs and learning styles
y Seminars linked with the core math course
y Evaluation and modification of the seminar topics as the student’s concerns changed within a term and at the end of the semester
6/17/2009
The Mentoring Aspect – Intrusive Advising
y Be direct, emphatic, and prescriptive
y Help students set goals and build action plans
y Employ open‐ended questioning techniques y "What subjects did you enjoy studying in high school?" with follow‐
up questions such as "What methods did you find successful in studying this subject?“
y Stress how expectations and requirements differ from high school and suggest ways in which students may become active participants in their learning
y Help students learn how to negotiate the college environment and learn strategies for creating success in college
6/17/2009
What Do The CALS Sessions Cover
y Orientation to a Course Syllabus y College success begins with an understanding of the course syllabus
y Major Aspects of Exam Preparation y Test Structure y Study Plan y Intensive Review y Resources y Time y General Stages of Exam Preparation y Getting Organized y Preparing Every Day y Conducting Reviews y Math Study Session – Math Problems Sets
y Learning Express Library Registration ‐ Practice Math Test Questions
6/17/2009
General Stages to Active Exam Preparation:
1. Getting Organized
• How Can I Get Organized To Prepare For An Exam?
• Get the facts about the exam
• Preparing a study plan
2. Preparing Every Day
• What Can I Do Every Day To Prepare For An Exam?
• Concept Mapping
3. Conducting Reviews
• How Can I Make Reviews / Revisions Pay Off?
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Preparing a Study Plan
y How much time will I need for study & review?
y Provide a blueprint for conducting review sessions
y Leads to discussions on time management and memory
y How can I organize my study & review for maximum effect?
y Provide a blueprint for continuous learning
y
y
Provide a plan for maximizing understanding of a lecture
Provide a plan for improving listening and note‐taking
y What will I study & review?
y Leads to discussion on learning resources
y
Textbook + lecture notes, assignments, etc
y And how will I study & review?
y Leads to a discussion and examples of what it means to be focused and action oriented
6/17/2009
Activities:
y Self assessment questionnaires in class
y Am I prepared for my courses?
y Do I organize my time well?
y Am I prepared for my tests?
y Do I use good test taking strategies?
y Assigned background material from Louisiana State University Center for Academic Success
y Exam Preparation
y Time Management
y Concept Mapping
y Note‐taking and Comprehension
6/17/2009
Contact Information Eric Neutuch
Coordinator, Strategic College Initiatives
Project Director, College Connections Project
Manhattan Educational Opportunity Center
212‐961‐5853; Eric.Neutuch@man.eoc.cuny.edu Angel Calderon
Advisor, College Connection, Student Affairs
Brooklyn Educational Opportunity Center
718‐802‐3386; CalderonA@beoc.cuny.edu
Administered by Borough of Manhattan Community College