College Life
Hello everyone: This is the time of the semester when some students are pretty worn out, if they are taking an 8-week course. You’ve made it through the first four weeks, but the end really does not seem in sight yet. There is probably a boatload of assignments yet to be done, and they are probably the most heavily-weighted of the term. How will you...
Read More
College Life
Hello everyone: Sometimes I wonder why students go to college. They tell me that it’s to stay on their parents’ insurance or to avoid having to find a job or to keep their folks off of their back…..or something else. While I appreciate the honesty of these students, it would be fun to hear that someone absolutely loves learning. One student that I asked about...
Read More
College Life
Hello everyone: Why do you think college book publishers release new editions? Can there really be that much new stuff since their last edition? Well, guess what? College professors usually don’t like the new editions any better than you do. Why, you might ask? Because, while you cannot sell your textbook to your friends coming up through college after you, we have to re-do all...
Read More
College Life
Hello everyone: Yep, it happens. College websites crash, leaving online students in the lurch. You have deadlines and limited time available to do your work, so what do you do now? Well, do not panic, for one thing. Do all the work you can without the website. Write essays and discussion boards that are due (hopefully, you did not wait until the last minute to...
Read More
College Life
Hello everyone: Here is part two of what I am writing about college organization. Okay, it is the first day of class and your professor just handed you the syllabus for the class. DO NOT LOSE THIS! I suggest that you slip it into a clear protective sleeve and carry it in your class notebook. [Some professors also post their syllabus on the class webpage,...
Read More
College Life
Hello everyone: My face-to-face college students have asked me to blog about getting and being organized in college. They asked me about balancing work and college and getting assignments done. For the next few blogs, I will break things down, step-by-step and show you how to be more organized. I used these same principles while working on two undergraduate degrees at the same time, home...
Read More
College Life
Hello everyone: Have you ever been assigned group work in your academic life? Well, then you know it can be a great experience or …..not. Here are some tips to help you become the teammate from heaven versus the teammate from….well, you know where. First, try to be evenly matched. That does not mean that you team up with your best friend in the class....
Read More
College Life
Hello everyone: For some of you, midterm time has already arrived. For others, it may still be a couple of weeks away. Whenever it is for you, let’s take a moment or two and see where you stand. How are your grades so far? One poorly-done exam will probably not destroy your grade for the class, but if you have not performed up to snuff,...
Read More
Books / College Life
Hello everyone: Have you seen them? They are the clear-eyed students sitting about halfway back in the room who never seem to need to take notes. They tell themselves that they will remember everything the instructor says, so note taking is for wimps. I see them all the time, usually in a class that they are on track to fail. In eleven years of teaching...
Read More
College Life / Suddenly Single
Hello everyone: Today I would like to approach the thorny subject of kids and college. Some students I meet would be better off going to trade school than sitting in a college classroom where they don’t want to be. I know this is shocking news, especially since I teach at three colleges, but the world needs trade school graduates- we need electricians, welders, plumbers, and...
Read More