A Second Chance for Academically Dismissed Students Susan Holmes, Professor

1. A Second Chance for Academically Dismissed Students Susan Holmes, Professor College of Continuing Education *A higher number of International students register for Refining, although the academic dismissal rate is highest for domestic males. Compiled by Susan Holmes October 26, 2012 Refining Your Learning Skills Course Why it seems to work Student reported reasons for academic dismissal What These 30 hour courses (plus daily assignments) are practical and experiential and designed to enhance learning skills for the purpose of achieving academic success in university. Students who attend these courses will have experienced academic success in the past; however, the study skills applied may not have been sufficient for the intense demands of university. To help refine students’ skill set and the way they think about their academic performance, we have selected a range of topics that aim to secure self awareness and personal competence. Lack of sleep. Technology addiction. Students are ready; they have experienced the shock of dismissal and they sign up to get a second chance. 5 sessions deal with skills: time management, planning, note taking, goal setting, learning styles, exam preparation, feedback. 5 sessions facilitated by a psychol-ogist ,deal with issues of motivation; thoughts, feelings, actions; coping strategies; saying “no”; facing fears. Who attends Can’t say “no” to friends. Believe they will lose friends if they say “no”. Student Generated Coping Strategies Structure • If drinking is a problem, give your parents access to your bank account so they can monitor when you visit NSLC. • Take on the responsibility of designated driver for your group. • Share your schedule with parents and friends so they can see when you have early classes, assignments, mid-terms and time to play. • Print off assignments so you don’t have to use the internet. Go to the library and leave your computer at home. • Set an alarm or limiter to keep you on schedule and productive. • Specify on your schedule when you can party—Friday 7 pm to 1 am—and when you have to get up the next day. • Double your time estimates for assignments. • Set priorities--NOT parties, friends and games IF you want to earn good grades. • Break tasks into smaller chunks. For example, you can answer one question on an assignment in 30 minutes. Do this between classes. • Make a list at the end of every day, or first thing each morning, so you remember what’s important to achieve that day. Check off accomplishments. • Always get up at the same time, no matter how late you were up the night before. • Look ahead. Think ahead. Be prepared. Avoid the last-minute crunch. No schedule. No “to do” list. Low expectations. Give up too easily. They lost focus and/or did not have the tools for success in first year university classes. Students who were high achievers in high school. Breakfast makes you smarter. Daily assignment. Self reflection. Daily feedback. High expectations. Now facing academic dismissal. Engaging classroom activities. Why offered Studying with friends is rarely productive. The Bottom Line Dalhousie University wants our students to succeed. Students deserve a second chance. It makes sense to retain students who have been recruited. Multi-tasking doesn’t work. Partying consumes a lot of time. Students back to class and engaged. . Sources for photos: goalacity.com gardentherapy.ca hecatedemetersdatter.blogspot.com dal.ca Avital Greener for The Chronicle bowvalleycollege.ca Kath_Mandu on beststuff.com zazzle.comdadventure.com deborahbeatty.com studyskillshandbook.com.au queensu.ca colorbox.com blogs.discovermagazine.com johnharveyphoto.com orthopedicmanualpt.com stuffpoint.com househunting.com clickstart.org.uk ugonnaeatthat.com Dal CCE universityaffairs.ca Ehow.com Dal Dal CCE, Nov 13, 2012.