Monthly publication 

September 2001 Issue

IN THIS ISSUE:

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Welcome to the LCN

Welcome to the September issue.   This month we have excellent articles including a management tip from Frank Christ on learning center mission statement, a tip on backpack weight from Lucy MacDonald , and a review of study skills web site by Susan Palau.  Jeanne Wiatr and Barbara Stout are taking a break this issue.  Their SI series column will be back next month.

I was at the TRIO conference in Chicago last week, thus the delay in getting this issue out.  Speaking of conferences, check the Conference Announcements section below for a list of eight conferences taking place next month.

Do you have something to share with your colleagues?  The Learning Center Newsletter is always looking for contributions.  See the submission guidelines below. 

Enjoy the new issue, and don't forget to pass its web address to your colleagues.  

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Management Strategies & Tips

Tip #15: Beginning a New Academic Year

September marks the beginning of a new academic year. For most academic departments, including learning support centers, this is a time to rethink goals and objectives for the upcoming academic year. Perhaps I am being presumptuous in believing that all learning support centers already have a mission statement along with annual goals and objectives. If your center does not, now is a good time to consider developing a mission statement and concomitant goals and objectives.

Whether or not your center already has a mission statement along with goals and objectives, you might consider reading David Gerkin's answer to the question, "What Management Tools May be Useful for the Success of LAC Programs and Services." It can be found in the recent CRLA publication, STARTING A LEARNING ASSISTANCE CENTER. You can find a description of this handbook and even order a copy of it, if you do not already own one, by going to the publisher's web site at http://www.hhpublishing.com and look under "Professional Development Resources."

You may also want to look at some mission statements that have been collected by NCLCA (National College Learning Center Association) for your perusal on its web site at http://www.eiu.edu/%7Elrnasst/nclca/

Look under "Sample Learning Center Mission Statements" in the site's "Resource Directory."

In addition, to see some goals and objectives of an award winning learning center, read "Using MBO to Create, Develop, Improve, and Sustain Learning Assistance Programs" at http://www.pvc.maricopa.edu/~lsche/proceedings/967_proc/967proc_christ.htm , one of the many full text articles available online in LSCHE, your learning support center web portal whose URL is http://www.pvc.maricopa.edu/~lsche/

As you develop or revise your goals and objectives, think programs and services, publicity, use of technology for online tutoring and web site design, staff training and development, and campus interrelationships with your center.

Remember that your mission statement must be congruent with your institution's mission and that your goals and objectives are developed by you with the input of your staff and selected stakeholders such as faculty, students, and administration.

Now, schedule a time and date this month to get together with your staff to develop or to revise a mission statement along with goals and objectives for this new academic year.  

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HOW HEAVY IS YOUR BACKPACK? 

After all you need the essentials, like cell phone, keys, TI graphic calculator, palm pilot, cd player and CDs, wallet, credit cards, check book, computer disks, zip disks, stamps, glasses, planner, breath mints, aspirin, water bottle, gym clothes! Oh, of course, books. Now a Biology book for 1800 pages can weigh 5 lbs. And I need a notebook for each of my 5 courses and then all of my other books. Plus extra paper in case I run out. Sticky notes, highlights, pens and pencils in a canvas pencil case and a three hole punch and a stapler. Of course, I need extra staples as well. Oh... scotch tape, dividers for my notebooks - the ones with pockets in it, because teachers don't always punch holes in the handouts. 

Now, how heavy is my backpack? Some students are carrying 25% of their body weight in their backpacks and are wondering why they have headaches, backaches and are tired.

Maybe it's time to get organized. Dump out your backpack. Do you really need a separate three ring binder for each class? Do you need to carry the binders with you or just a pad of three hole punch paper with a hard back for writing on those tiny arm desks. Then you can file your notes at night and maybe file them past the brain for a quick review.

What about organizing your backpack for Monday, Wednesday, Friday classes and then Tuesday, Thursday classes. Survey your campus to see if you can find a midpoint for a locker between classes to offload some of the stuff. For some students, their car is their locker. 

Look at consolidating. Yes, you need highlighters, but twelve of them? Maybe your school supplies should be at your desk and only carry a few each day.

Remember, carrying a 40 to 50 lb pack, doesn't mean your more studious or athletic! Put that backpack on a diet and get organized!

(For The Anatomy of the Backpack visit:

http://www.cameron.edu/academic/liberal_arts/eflj/collegian/012601/page3.pdf

Lucy

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Internet Resource of the Month

By Susan Marcus Palau
Director, Learning Center, Purchase College/SUNY
Email: Susan.Palau@Purchase.edu

Study Skills in September

I am probably the millionth person in your life to complain about how quickly the summer went.  I assume that all of us are now open full time and are already experiencing a deluge of students interested in improving their academic performance.  Or else we are being asked to present our learning centers and their services to the new freshmen.  One way of not only providing a good service but also publicizing your Center is to invite the freshmen to your center to take a study skills inventory and handout out study skills tips in the areas they are found wanting.

The Division of Student Affairs at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University has a great website that opens up with a Study Skill Checklist and then depending on the results, directs the students to thorough but concise descriptions of good study strategies.  The 21 question checklist covers the areas of Time Scheduling, Concentration, Listening and Note taking, Reading, Exams and Writing Skills.  These are also the same topics that students can get in depth information on how to improve in these areas.  To keep this website interesting, there are some interactive pages that allow the users to zero in on just how they manage their time and an evaluation of their study environment.

Some of the study tips that I think are particularly useful are as follows:

My daughter, Serena, is a new Freshman at the University of Delaware.  I have decided to email her this website and I will encourage her to include it in her listing of favorite sites.  This is a great all-inclusive study skills reference site and the best part of it is that it is a freebie!  You can find all this at http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/checklis.html 

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Free Educational Software and Publications

The LCN is starting a new publications review program of software and books of interest to learning assistance professionals.  The publications will be obtained from publishers and offered to educators for free.  All we ask is that you write a review of the item for publication in the Learning Center Newsletter.  If you are interested in becoming a reviewer, email reviews@accutrack.org with your contact and job information.  If you are interested in a particular publication, include its name and publisher info.

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Conferences

NCLCA Annual Conference 
October 3-5, 2001 
Evanston, IL 

The keynote speaker is Bunk Spann. The mission of NCLCA is to support learning assistance professionals as they develop and maintain learning centers, programs, and services to enhance student learning at the post-secondary level.  More information about the conference is available on the NCLCA website:

    http://www.eiu.edu/~lrnasst/nclca/index.html

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ArkADE Annual Conference 
October 4-5, 2001 
Hot Springs, Arkansas 

For more info about the Arkansas Association for Developmental Education national conference, contact Sandra Kerr, ArkADE President at skerr@eacc.cc.ar.us or visit the ArkADE web site at:

www.clt.astate.edu/arkade

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MNADE Fall Conference 
October 4-5, 2001 
Mankato, MN 

For more info about the Minnesota Association for Developmental Education (MNADE) conference, contact Linda Russell, at  russelli@mctc.mnscu.edu

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NACADA National Conference 
October 11-14, 2001 
Ottawa, Canada 

For more info about the National ACademic ADvising Association (NACADA) conference,  visit this web site:

http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Confs/links.htm

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American Council on Education Conference 
October 18-20, 2001 
Cincinnati, OH

    http://www.acenet.edu/programs/omhe

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3rd National Conference On Research In Developmental Education
October 24-28, 2001
Charlotte, NC, MA

The conference theme is "Research 2001: Integrating Theory and Practice".  The will focus on this integration for the purpose of highlighting current research in the field, sharing research-based classroom techniques, validating current instructional methods, and networking among professionals. 

    http://www.ncde.appstate.edu/ 

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LAANE 18th Annual Conference
October 26, 2001
Burlington, MA

The Learning Association of New England (LAANE) will have its annual conference at the Northeastern University in Burlington, Massachusetts.  The theme for this year's conference is "Student Retention!"  LAANE supports educators in meeting the academic and interpersonal needs of under-prepared, at risk, and nontraditional students.  This also includes students with disabilities and those for whom English is a second language.

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8th National Conference  on Students in Transition
October 27-30, 2001 
Oak Brook, IL

    http://www.sc.edu/fye/

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Let us know about conferences not listed here by emailing lcn@attendance-tracking.com

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One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.  

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up!

Remember these five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

[Author Unknown]

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Software Pick

Proxomitron

Proxomitron is a flexible web content filter that can be used to turn off annoying elements in web pages. This utility works with almost any browser. Here are some of the things it can do: 

In addition to the above, Proxomitron also allows you to create your own filters or download filters other users have created.  This makes it possible to customize the filtering to your needs.  

To use Proxomitron, you will need to change something called the proxy option of your browser.  The program provides instructions on how to do this.

 Proxomitron is a free utility.  To download or for more info, visit its web site at:

http://spywaresucks.org/prox/

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Windows Tips of the Month

Adding Items to the Windows Start Menu

The Start Menu button gives you a quick way of launching applications and opening files.  So how do you add items to this button?  The quickest way is to use Windows drag and drop.  Simply drag the file, folder, or shortcut to your Start button and let go.  The next time you click on this button you will find your item there!

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MS Word Tip of the Month

WordArt 

WordArt makes it easy to add catchy headlines and text to your document.  WordArt is a neat utility included with MS Word.  To launch it, click on "Insert", "Picture", then "WordArt..."

You will see the WordArt Gallery:

Start by clicking a style from the gallery by clicking on its square.  You will see the text entry box:

Use this box to enter the text.  If you like, you can also change the font, size, bold, and italics.  Click on "OK" and Word will create the effect and insert the text into your document:

Catchy!  

If you would like to make some changes to the text effects, simply click on the WordArt object.  You will see the WordArt toolbar:

Using the toolbar, you can change things like colors, shading, orientation, spacing, alignment, and placement.  Click on the different buttons on this toolbar to see what they do.  The text wrapping option (dog icon) is of particular interest as it allows you to control how the WordArt object is going to be laid out in relation to the text of your document.

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On the Lighter Side

Course Evaluations

Some actual excerpts from college course evaluation forms:

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Quotes

"Training is anchored to the past. Education looks toward the future."
- Nido Qubein 

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"Great minds discuss ideas, 
Average minds discuss events, 
Small minds discuss people." 
- Admiral Hyman Rickover (1900 - 1986) 

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"The first qualification for success in my view is a strong work ethic." -
- Henry Ford, II 

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"Here is the secret of inspiration. Tell yourself that thousands and tens of thousands of people, not very intelligent and certainly not more intelligent than the rest of us, have mastered problems as difficult as those that now baffle you." 
- William Feather (1889 - 1981) 

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"I don't care what you do for a living. If you love it, you are a success." 
- George Burns 

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"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man's determination."
- Tommy Lasorda 

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"It is much harder to ask the right question than it is to find the right answer to the wrong question." 
- E. E. Morison (1909 - 1995) 

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"I have not the shadow of a doubt that any man or woman can achieve what I have, if he or she would make the same effort and cultivate the same hope and faith. What is faith if it is not translated into action." 
- Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948) 

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Last Issue

The August issue of the Learning Center Newsletter featured:

To view the August issue, click here.

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Submissions Guidelines

Get involved in the learning-assistance community via The Learning Center Newsletter by:

The average article length is one page written in 12 points size and single line spacing.  If the article is long, we might put it in a separate page and show the first few paragraphs in the newsletter with a link to the full article.  Send your articles in ASCII text or MS Word format.  We will take care of the html conversion.  If you want to include images with the article, the preferred format is jpg or gif, but we will convert images in other formats if needed.  

The newsletter is usually released during the first week of each month.  The deadline for each issue is the 25th of the previous month, so if you would like to submit an article for the next issue, we need to receive it by the 25th of this month.  By submitting articles, you give us the right to publish and edit them if needed.  

The subject of submitted articles must be of interest to learning-assistance professionals.  The editor of this newsletter reserves the right to reject articles at his discretion.  

Submitting your article will make you more famous and will help your colleagues worldwide!  E-mail your submissions to:

        newsletter@attendance-tracking.com

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Feedback

We certainly hope you find this newsletter useful and entertaining.  We welcome your suggestions and improvements ideas.  To send in your comments,  simply click here.

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About the Authors

This newsletter is sponsored by AccuTrack and edited by Mon Nasser from Engineerica Systems, Inc.  My thanks to this month's contributors: Frank Christ, Susan Marcus Palau, and Lucy MacDonald.

Click here to tell a friend about this issue

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Last Modified: January 13, 2004 10:22:39 AM