New Beginnings : A Reference Guide for Adult Learners

by Simon, Linda

• ISBN13: 9780131958890
• ISBN10: 0131958895
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

Offer your adult students a resource that truly provides them with the tools they need to... bull; bull;Make successful oral presentations bull;Manage collaborative work projects bull;Conduct research on the Internet bull;Finance their adult education As an adult learner... This revision of New Beginnings provides relevancyand opportunity, as it guides you through the specific needs you have as an adult learner and/or returning student to do well in college. Whether you are pursuing a new career or seeking advancement in your current career, this book will also be a valuable resource. Its contents will equip you with skills for continuous learning so that you reach your goal of obtaining - and keeping - a better job. Additional Support - in and out of the classroom... For instructors and students alike, we encourage you to visit our Student Success Supersite. This valuable resource is at www.prenhall.com/success. Features include: bull; bull;Majors Exploration bull;Career Advice bull;Web Links bull;Tips from Successful Students bull;Student Bulletin Boards bull;Faculty Resources

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
1 BECOMING A STUDENT	1	(12)
Looking Back and Moving Forward: Applying Life Experiences to Being a Student	2	(4)
Juggling responsibilities
Evaluating information
Working with others
Researching a problem
How Being a Student Affects Your Relationships with Others	6	(1)
Friends and family members
Instructors
Classroom Protocol	7	(1)
Presenting Your Work	7	(2)
Written work
Oral presentations
Collaborative projects
BOX: GUIDELINES FOR ORAL PRESENTATIONS	8	(1)
BOX: GUIDELINES FOR COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS	9	(1)
Learning On-Line	9	(2)
BOX: CLASSROOM DO'S AND DON'TS	10	(1)
Getting Your Work Done	11	(1)
Setting Goals	12	(1)
BOX: COMMUNICATION AND GOALS	12	(1)
Additional Resources	12	(1)
2 ASSESSING LEARNING NEEDS AND COURSE REQUIREMENTS	13	(16)
Types of Learners	14	(3)
Visual learner
Kinesthetic learner
Auditory learner
WORKSHEET: EVALUATING YOUR LEARNING STYLE	15	(1)
BOX: TIPS FOR CAPITALIZING ON YOUR LEARNING STYLE	16	(1)
Understanding Classroom Formats	17	(2)
Lecture
Seminar
Workshop
WORKSHEET: ASSESSING YOUR PREFERRED CLASS FORMAT	18	(1)
Recognizing Different Areas of Study	19	(2)
Choosing Your Classes	21	(4)
Deciphering course descriptions
BOX: IDENTIFYING YOUR COURSE REQUIREMENTS	22	(1)
Evaluating a course syllabus
BOX: QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT A COURSE	23	(1)
WORKSHEET: YOUR COLLEGE CAREER PLAN	24	(1)
On-Line Learning	25	(4)
What you can expect from an on-line course
BOX: SUCCESSFUL LEARNING ON-LINE	27	(2)
3 IDENTIFYING COLLEGE RESOURCES	29	(8)
Educational Advisors	30	(1)
Study Skills Classes	30	(1)
Instructors	30	(1)
Classmates	31	(1)
Testing Services	31	(1)
Counselors for Students with Disabilities	32	(1)
Career Counseling	32	(1)
Personal Counseling	33	(1)
Mentoring Programs	33	(1)
Tutoring Networks	33	(1)
BOX: MAKING THE BEST USE OF SUPPORT RESOURCES	34	(1)
Writing Center	34	(1)
Computer Center	35	(1)
Librarians	35	(2)
BOX: PLANNING A MEETING WITH AN ADVISOR	35	(2)
4 STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING TIME AND STRESS	37	(10)
Time Commitments of Being a Student	38	(1)
Ten Hints for Time Management	38	(3)
1. Be realistic
2. Build in "safe time"
3. Keep a planner
4. Find a space
5. Look at the big picture
6. Speak up about your concerns and commitments
7. Work a little every day
8. Make a checklist each week
9. Just say no
10. Get a study buddy
Procrastination	41	(1)
Perfectionism	42	(1)
Six Tips for Managing Stress	43	(4)
1. Identify a source of comfort
2. Try relaxation techniques
3. Use exercise
4. Try imagery
5. Find an anchor
6. Connect with your support system
BOX: RELAXATION EXERCISE	44	(3)
5 DEVELOPING NOTE-TAKING, STUDYING, AND TEST-TAKING SKILLS	47	(14)
Taking Notes from Different Kinds of Instructors	47	(7)
The organized lecturers
The storyteller	21	(32)
The discusser
BOX: GENERAL POINTERS FOR TAKING CLASS NOTES	53	(1)
How to Prepare for Tests	54	(2)
Assessment
Study time
Preparing for a multiple-choice or short-answer test
Preparing for an essay test
Test-Taking	56	(2)
BOX: TYPES OF ESSAY QUESTIONS	57	(1)
Understanding Your Grade	58	(1)
Additional Resources	59	(2)
6 STRATEGIES FOR READING	61	(10)
Taking an Active Approach to Reading	62	(1)
Reading a Textbook	62	(2)
Reading a Theoretical or Critical Book or Article	64	(3)
Reading Fiction	67	(1)
Reading Poetry	68	(3)
BOX: ANALYZING YOUR READING ASSIGNMENTS	69	(2)
7 STRATEGIES FOR RESEARCH	71	(24)
Choosing a Research Topic	72	(1)
Formulating a Research Question	72	(1)
Distinguishing Primary and Secondary Sources	73	(1)
Library Resources	74	(4)
Dictionaries
Encyclopedias
Popular magazines
Professional and scholarly journals
Dissertations
Book Review Digest
Biographical indexes
Newspaper indexes
On-line catalogues
Other on-line databases
CD-ROM
Using the Internet for Research	78	(3)
Evaluating Internet sites
BOX: INTERNET LINGO	80	(1)
Taking Notes Based on Your Research	81	(4)
Using quotations
Paraphrasing
Summarizing
Documenting Sources	85	(3)
Styles of documentation
Organizing Your Notes	88	(2)
Index cards
Notebooks
Tape recorders
Computer files
Plagiarism and Overdocumentation	90	(4)
What is plagiarism?
When does plagiarism occur?
How can you avoid plagiarism?
Are you overdocumenting?
BOX: USEFUL GUIDES TO RESEARCH	92	(2)
Additional Resources	94	(1)
8 STRATEGIES FOR WRITING	95	(14)
Writer's Block: What Is It and What Causes It?	95	(2)
BOX: WRITING ASSIGNMENT CHECKLIST	96	(1)
Generating Ideas	97	(4)
Journal writing
Freewriting, brainstorming, and mind-mapping
BOX: AN EXAMPLE OF FREEWRITING	99	(1)
Starting with passages from source material
Outlining
BOX: SAMPLE PARAGRAPH OUTLINE	100	(1)
Visualizing a reader
Planning	101	(1)
Drafting	101	(4)
Writing an introduction
Developing paragraphs
Writing a conclusion Revising	103	(2)
BOX: REVISION CHECKLIST	104	(1)
Three Qualities to Aim for in Your Writing	105	(4)
Conciseness
Clarity
BOX: ELIMINATING UNNECESSARY WORDS	106	(3)
Coherence
APPENDIX A GRAMMAR BRUSHUP	109	(16)
The Parts of Speech	109	(2)
What Is a Sentence?	111	(2)
Pronoun Protocol	113	(1)
Handling Verbs	114	(1)
Placing Phrases and Clauses Logically	115	(1)
Punctuation	116	(3)
Using the Active Voice	119	(1)
Possessives	119	(1)
Common Usage Errors	119	(5)
Additional Resources	124	(1)
APPENDIX B MATH BRUSHUP	125	(26)
Math Anxiety Is a Learned Behavior	126	(1)
Overcoming Mathematics Anxiety	127	(1)
The Language of Mathematics	127	(2)
Arithmetic	129	(1)
Multiplication	129	(2)
Fractions	131	(1)
Decimals and Percentages	132	(1)
Scientific Notation	133	(1)
Algebra	134	(3)
The Number Line	137	(1)
The Real Number System	138	(3)
Expressions and Equations	141	(2)
Prime Numbers and Factoring	143	(1)
Working with Exponents	144	(3)
Ratios	147	(2)
A Method for Dealing with Word Problems	149	(2)
APPENDIX C FINANCING YOUR EDUCATION	151	(4)
WORKSHEET: ASSESSING YOUR COLLEGE EXPENSES	152	(1)
How to Find Financial Aid	153	(1)
Scholarships and Grants	153	(1)
Loans	153	(1)
Assistantships, Internships, and Work-Study Plans	154	(1)
On-Line Resources	154	(1)
Index	155