Academic Skills for College (EDLD 101)
Course description: EDLD 101 – Academic skills for college. The development of academic skills, including time management, note taking, reading textbooks, preparing for and taking examinations, and orientation to University life.
Textbook: Study Wise: A Program for Maximizing your Learning Potential. (2004). ISBN 0-13-111521-9. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
What to expect from this course: Let’s face it – you’re in this class because last semester wasn’t a stellar one in terms of grades and you were placed on Academic Probation. But we believe that you have what it takes to succee d and we’re operating on the assumption that you want to succeed. Therefore, we are offering you the opportunity to participate in a series of assignments, discussions, and projects designed to help you become a stronger student.
Methods: We will use the discussion method of teaching rather than the lecture (the predominant teaching method used in college). Our method, while more engaging and enjoyable, is also more demanding on students. After all, instructors can’t very well discuss topics with themselves, can they! We will present you with questions to ponder, case studies to discuss, and activities to facilitate the development of your critical thinking skills. We hope that you will choose to f ully participate.
Attendance: We want you to succeed and one very important factor in success is being present, physically and mentally. Add to this our reliance on the discussion method, and you really need to be present and participatory. Therefore , this class has a strict attendance policy. We understand that everyone gets sick on occasion, and that freshmen get even sicker, so we will accept forms from Student Health if you get them to us immediately.
Due dates and make-up policy: Because this class is designed to help you learn how to succeed in college, we would be handicapping you if we allowed you to hand in assignments at your convenience. If you know you’re going to be absent when an assignment is due, give us the assignment early and get full credit. Late assignments will lose points for every day they are late.
Tardiness: We’re nice people, we understand about oversleeping, running late, etc. And we expect that you’re nice people too and won’t make a habit out of being tardy (and disruptive). Some professors lock out latecomers! We reser ve that right.
Assessments (grading): Your grade will be determined by the apparent effort you put forth in learning, as evidenced by your portfolio, participation, and attendance.
This course is offered in coordination with the Dept of Educational Leadership & Counselor Education
