Clocks

The countdown to Spring 2011 is underway. For graduates, it will be the final semester to raise or to maintain their GPA. For continuing students, it will be an opportunity to refocus their efforts and become serious about their education and its responsibilities. For others, it will provide the necessary skills and prepare their transcripts and GPA for summer internships, upcoming co-ops, possible scholarships, and/or making the grades in the pre-requisite courses needed to move forward. Regardless of where you stand, I ask that you all give of your best and let TAN help you to be ready for every academic test.

Call or email the TAN office so that you may partner with a TAN tutor or SI leader. The clocks are ticking away and you need to set your sights on your goals for Spring 2011 today. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Happy Holidays!

Spring 2011 Is Coming!

As the Spring 2011 semester approaches, I am thankful for the tutors, SI leaders, students, faculty, staff, and administrators who helped to make the TAN program successful this Fall. I also ask that you continue to support TAN with your tutor and SI leader recommendations, suggestions, and comments.

Remember, regardless of your GPA and academic standing, TAN is here to help.
Go Bulldogs!!

The Academic Success Alphabet

As a child, I would try to share everything I learned at school with my parents when I arrived home. In discussing this information with them, I found that I was able to gain valuable insight from their experiences and feedback. I've come a long way since then, but I still recognize that learning anything depends on the planning and effort invested by the learner. Today I invite you to join me in a pledge to enhance the learning experience. Take a few minutes to review the Academic Success Alphabet listed below and post your comments, sharing how various strategies have helped you.

Attend tutoring and/or SI sessions
Build on what you already know
Consider your civic responsibilities
Demand excellence from yourself
Eat nourishing meals
Focus on your success
Get to know your learning style
Head up your own Academic Success Committee
Improve your writing skills (Writing Center)
Join a study group (if you learn well in groups)
Keep each subject's notes and information together
Layout your Academic Success Plan
Maximize your class attendance time
Network with your instructors
Organize your schedule
Plan your daily study times
Qualify your sources
Review your notes after each class
Spend quality time with your textbooks and notes
Take good notes in class
Update your contact list with study buddies
Verify the information you receive
Watch how you spend your time
X-ray your study habits
Yield to the ways of God
Zap (rid yourself of) things which do not work.

Taking Action Now!

Final examinations are just around the bend and all students must Take Action Now! Here are a few tips:

1. Identify the material which will be covered on the final exam.
2. Review the information for the final exam.
3. Ask your instructor to clarify/explain information which you do not fully understand.
4. Visit relevant course tutors to increase your understanding of the course material.
5. Rank your courses in the order of most challenging to least challenging.
6. Allot weekly study hours (SH) for each course based on its level of difficulty and credit hours (CH). (e.g MTH 112 (3 CH x 4 hrs = 12 SH/wk); HIS 101 (3 CH x 3 = 9 SH/wk); BIO 101 (3 CH x 2 = 6 SH/wk); ENG 101 (3 CH x 1 = 3 SH/wk)
7. Prepare a study schedule for each day which allots more study time to difficult courses.
8. Follow your study schedule, increasing and decreasing study times based on the challenge level you experience with the course material.
9. Eat well, exercise (you are paying for a gym membership!), and continue to focus on the final result.

Please send me your feedback regarding these tips and contact me if I may be of assistance.

Reflections of A SI Leader: The First In Our Guest Blogger Series

My experience as a SI leader has been amazing! I enjoy helping my fellow peers understand History 101 and 102 material.  I am proud that I am able to make a difference in their quiz and test scores. My passion is fulfilled when grades improve due to the encouragement in my SI sessions.  The students motivate each other and they concentrate better because the sessions are always fun, small, and comfortable.  I love tutoring, it is surely a blessing!~Britney Williams

Maximizing Your Class Attendance

I tend to think of each class session as a block of time you paid to reserve during registration. Use the AAMU Financial Aid Estimate Your Tuition feature below and calculate how much you pay for each class session. The answer may lead you to seriously consider how much you are spending to not attend class.
http://galileo.aamu.edu/financialaid/cal_tuitionfee/calculate.asp
 
I used the calculator to find out how much it would cost to take one three hour undergraduate course. The answer: $910. This means that 16 weeks of instruction could cost approximately $56.88 per week. If this class meets three times per week for 50 minutes I am paying approximately $18.95 for each class session. Then I thought about how many hours of work it would take someone making $8.00 an hour to afford one class. The answer was a whopping 114 hours. That figure did not include the costs of transportation, food, accommodation, books or other incidentals. Not to mention that person has to work more hours because taxes still need to be deducted.
 
This brings new meaning to working for your degree. Take advantage of every class. Weigh the amount of money you are spending for each class and let your discovery motivate you to attend class, study, and purchase your textbooks. You are worth it! Here are a few tips which could save you some money.

1. Talk to your instructors and ascertain your performance in each course.
2. Use tutoring and Supplemental Instruction (SI) to stay current and understand course materials.
3. Read the assigned chapters and course materials prior to attending class.
4. Think about what you are reading and create a story in your own words with the information.
5. Learn your learning style and how to use it inside and outside the classroom. (Call me at 256-372-5487 for a 10 minute consultation about your learning style.)
6. Apply your learning style tools when taking notes,  participating in class lectures and studying.
7. Search for scholarships pertaining to your major, field, church/denomination, personality, hobbies, etc.

Magic City Classic

Many of you are looking forward to watching our hard hitting football team gain a glorious victory during the 69th State Farm Magic City Classic in Birmingham, Alabama on October 30, 2010. Soon fans will have an opportunity to witness how each team's body grilling efforts will impact their performance on the Legion Field.

This Classic requires each player to spend time preparing for the challenges he will experience on the field. I imagine that this preparation involves discussions between coaches and players, exercises, drills and a host of other things. I think of the time spent fortifying the mind to withstand the mind games of the opposing team and the level of comradery team mates develop while training to win. I also think of how each player's actions may impact the outcome of the game. All of these factors involved in preparing for the "big game" bare some similarity to preparing for academic success.

As you journey along the road to academic success, you must ensure that you develop the foundational skills you need to make academic progress. Like each football team you will need to develop a playbook; designing each play (strategy) to obtain a particular goal. These proven strategies include working on your study skills, time management, class attendance, reading of textbooks, notes and supplementary materials for understanding and mastery, visiting instructors, and utilizing the tools of tutoring and SI. Then as you step on the field (virtual or physical classroom) you will be prepared to ace each exam (obtain a touchdown) and obtain a grade which leads you to a win (good GPA, progress towards degree) for the semester.

Remember, to win the championship (graduation) you have to develop a playbook outlining the plays (strategies) you will use for each game (quiz, exam). See the Student Success Links page.

Here's to your academic success Bulldog! The championship is yours for the taking.

Blogging Until The Grades Come Home

Hi there! I'm hearing some exciting news from SI leaders and tutors about their SI and tutorial sessions. One SI leader shared with me that the grades of the students attending the SI sessions for the course are constantly rising and all of the SI participants for this course have a B average. Can we shout together? Another joyous report came from a one tutor who shared that a client who entered tutoring with a poor grade now has an A-B average. Tutoring and SI work!!!

Well done students! Well done TAN team!  Come blog with me so that we can work together until the grades come home.

It's Not Over Until Its Over!

The semester is moving quickly and time is of the essence. There are projects to be completed, organizational meetings to attend, papers to write, social events to attend, and numerous other items. If you are having trouble in any of your classes visit or call the TAN office to obtain assistance. Your success is worth it.

Several of TAN's clients have and are reporting academic success because of tutoring and supplemental instruction. They are understanding the course materials better, able to participate in class discussions, making better grades on their tests and exams and feeling more confident with the course materials.

Let your TAN team work for you. We're here to help.

TAN Blogs!

Hello TAN supporters!

The leaves are changing and TAN is buzzing with blogging activity. This is TAN's first blog and the TAN team is inviting content suggestions from our students, faculty and staff. Until, then we will post tutoring walk-in schedules, the various SI schedules and helpful tips which promote academic success. Reach out to the TAN team via this blog, email (tan@aamu.edu), or telephone (256-372-5487). We want to hear from you. Your voice is important to us. Learn more about TAN and its services. Visit the TAN AAMU website.