Academic Success Video Series

1.)   What community groups and/or organizations were you involved in prior to UB? Review UB’s Clubs, Activities and Events. Are you interested in further pursuing your interests or exploring new interests at UB? Why or why not?

2.)   As you begin your academic career, reflect on your academic and social goals. Write a letter to yourself sharing what you want your college experience to be and how you will work toward this experience.
Instructor consideration: Collaborate with the Career Design Center. Either have CDC come and provide a relevant and authentic presentation and/or create an assignment that requires your students to make an appointment with CDC.

1.) Many study techniques were shared in the video, including paraphrasing, flashcards, study problems, review sheet, and notetaking. What study techniques have you used and how have they supported your learning? What study techniques are new and may be helpful?

2.)   Choose one of the following options.
Option A: Reflect on your previous studying experiences. What strategies worked well? What strategies didn’t work well? From your previous studying experiences and the studying techniques shared in the video, develop a study planDownload pdf for yourself.

Option B: Choose a current assignment you are working on, or, alternatively, an upcoming assessment you’re are preparing for. Consider and apply strategies to prepare and complete the assignment or assessment.

1.)   Making connections with your instructors is important. How can office hours help you strengthen your professional relationship with your instructors?

2.)   What can you do to prepare for a meeting with your instructor? Create an outline for an upcoming meeting. The outline can include guiding questions, a specific problem, concept clarification, seeking clarity of specific assignment expectations and outcomes, etc.  

1.)   After listening to the students’ organizational strategies, what strategies will work best for you? How will you apply these strategies? For example, for larger assignments and assessments, how can you prepare for these without getting overwhelmed?

2.)   How can you create a schedule that will help you meet your goals and responsibilities? How will you organize and prioritize your varied responsibilities – academic assignments and assessments and personal activities, etc.? If you don’t have a schedule, begin to create one.  

1.)   What academic experiences are you most confident about? What academic experiences are you most concerned about?
Instructor consideration: If possible, have students complete a think-pair-share activity. First, students reflect independently, then they share and discuss these reflections in their established groups. And finally, groups share out to the whole class. The instructor takes notes from the whole class discussion and if necessary, provides additional guidance and support.

2.)   How have you overcome past academic challenges? How can you apply these strategies or skills to the academic obstacles you may encounter?