7 | 1 Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Strategies for Creating Success in College and in Life On Course Chapter 7 ADOPTING LIFELONG

7 | 1Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Strategies for Creating Success in College and in

Life

On Course

Chapter 7ADOPTING LIFELONG LEARNING


CASE STUDY IN CRITICAL THINKINGA FISH STORY

• Read the case study “A Fish Story.”

Why do you think the biology professor didn’t simply tell the students what he wanted them to learn?


A FISH STORY: DIVING DEEPER

Think of a time in your life when you became as involved in your learning as did the students in the biology class. Perhaps you were working on a project, pondering a new idea, involved in a debate or engaged in a deep conversation.

What motivated you to become so involved? How could you experience that same level of

motivation in your current college courses?


CRITICAL THINKING: FOCUS QUESTIONDEVELOPING A LEARNING ORIENTATION

TO LIFE

• How can you maximize your learning in college and in life?


GROWTH MINDSET AND FIXED MINDSET

Identify the following statements as a fixed mindset or as a growth mindset.

I made an “A” in math because I am smart!

I made an “A” in math because I worked hard!

Fixed Mindset

Growth Mindset

Learners with a fixed mindset believe people are born with a fixed amount of ability and talent. Learners with a growth mindset believe their ability and talent get stronger the more they are used.


HOW TO DEVELOP A GROWTH MINDSET

Make a list of strategies you could use to develop a growth mindset?

How many of the following do you have on your list?Think of your brain as a muscle that gets stronger with exercise.Set learning goals as well as performance goals. Seek feedback to deepen your learning.Change course when needed.

What other strategies do you have on your list?


CRITICAL THINKING: FOCUS QUESTIONSDISCOVERING YOUR PREFERRED WAYS

OF LEARNING

• What is your preferred way of learning?

• What can you do when your instructor doesn’t teach the way you prefer to learn?


SELF-ASSESSMENT: HOW I PREFER TO LEARN

• Complete the Learning Preference Inventory in On Course and calculate your scores. (p. 290)Did anything surprise you about the results?How can you use this information to help you

in college?


PREFERRED WAYS OF LEARNING

Asks “what?” questions. Ponders facts and theories.

Asks “how?” questions. Enjoys taking action.

Asks “why?” or “who?” questions. Enjoys personal connections.

Asks “what if?” or “what else?” questions. Imagines new possibilities and making unexpected connections.

InnovatingLearnerFeelingLearner

ThinkingLearner

Match the preferred ways of learning to their correct descriptions.

DoingLearner


PREFERRED WAYS OF LEARNING

Identify the preferred way of learning described below:

Learns well with lectures, visual aids, PowerPoint slides, and

textbook readings.

Learns well with hands on

work in guided labs or

practice applications.

Learns well in a safe and

accepting classroom

atmosphere.

Learns well when

encouraged to use

intuition to create

something new.

ThinkingLearner Doing

LearnerFeelingLearner

InnovatingLearner


EMPLOYING CRITICAL THINKING

• What are two skills that are essential to employing critical thinking.

Constructing logical arguments

Asking probing questions


CONSTRUCTING LOGICAL ARGUMENTS

When constructing a logical argument, what three components are essential?•Reasons

Premises, Claims, AssumptionsAnswers "Why?”

•EvidenceSupport: Facts, Data, StoriesAnswers "How do you know?”

•ConclusionsOpinions, Beliefs, PositionsAnswers "What should the audience think or do?”


APPLYING THE CONCEPT

[Reason] I’ve decided that I’m not really college material. [Evidence] I’m taking four courses and it looks like I’m going to get only one B and three D’s. [Conclusion] I think I’ll drop out before I flunk out.

Imagine that a friend presents you with the argument below. As a critical thinker, what probing questions might you ask about his reason, evidence, and conclusion?


CRITICAL THINKING: FOCUS QUESTIONSDEVELOP SELF-RESPECT

• What is your present level of self-respect?

• How can you raise your self-respect, and therefore your self-esteem, even higher?


ONE STUDENT'S STORY:Jessie Maggard

Sometimes, when we are off course, something happens that shakes us up and we realize we need to make an important change. What events shook up Jessie and what changes did she make as a result?

When in your life did something shake you up and you realized that you needed to make a change? Explain what happened to shake you up, what change you made, and the Life Lesson you learned from the experience.


At the top of a piece of paper, write the word "Integrity.“

In a moment, words will appear on the screen one at a time.

When you see a word that you associate with the idea of “integrity,” write it on your page.

Here we go…

INTEGRITY


Honesty

Cheating

Wholeness

Truthfulness

Honor

Hypocrisy

Lying

Reliability

Uprightness

Weak

Betrayal

Character

Consistency

Friend

INTEGRITY

Completeness

Unity

Enemy

Trustworthy

Strong

Deceptive

Dependable


Below your list, write one of the following: •A definition of “integrity.” •A true story that illustrates integrity

(about yourself or someone else)

Form Groups.

Each person, read to your group what you have written. After all have read, continue the conversation about integrity.

BECOMING AN ACTIVE LEARNER


LIVE WITH INTEGRITY

We create integrity by choosing words and deeds that are aligned with our values. Discuss the following questions with a partner.

•On a scale of 1-10 (10 high), how much do you value your education?

•What choices of yours are aligned with the value you place on your education?

•What choices of yours are not aligned with the value you place on education?

•Are there any changes you plan to make to bring your choices into greater alignment with your values?


KEEP COMMITMENTS

• Think about a personal commitment you have been wanting to make. Perhaps you want to study more, quit smoking, or spend less money. Answer the following questions so you will be prepared when you are ready to make the commitment.

How can you make your agreement consciously?

How can you use Creator language when making this commitment?

How can you make your agreement important?

How can you create a plan and do everything in your power to carry out the plan?

If you were to experience problems, how could you renegotiate your commitment?


QUICK REVIEW

I will never be college material.

If I study a lot, I will do fine in college.

Math has always been easy for me because I’m smart.

Math has always been easy for me because I work hard at it.

Fixed Mindset

Growth Mindset

Fixed Mindset

Growth Mindset

Identify the following statement as an example of a growth mindset or as a fixed mindset.


What are the four preferred ways of learning?

QUICK REVIEW

Thinking Innovating

FeelingDoing


QUICK REVIEW

What are two skills essential to employing critical thinking?

Constructing logical arguments

Asking probing questions


QUICK REVIEW

Answers “How do you know?”

Answers “Why should the audience think or do something?”

Answers “What should the audience think or do?”

Reasons

Evidence

Conclusions

Match the three components of a logical argument to their description.


QUICK REVIEW

Use creator language.

Make your agreements important.

Create a plan; then do everything in your power

to carry out your plan.

If a problem arises or you change your mind,

renegotiate.

Identify five strategies for keeping commitments:

Make your agreements consciously.

7 SS | 26Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

WISE CHOICES IN COLLEGE: WRITING

• What are the four components in the writing process?PrewritingWritingRevisingEditing

Brian A Jackson


WISE CHOICES IN COLLEGE: WRITING

• Match the four components of writing to their correct description. Includes any preparation you do before

actually writing.

Turns your raw materials into a document that achieves your defined purpose.

Helps to identify what you don’t understand and encourages you to think more critically.

Eliminates surface problems (errors in grammar, sentence structure and spelling).

Writing

Editing

Revising

Prewriting


STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE WRITING:BEFORE WRITING

• What’s a good strategy for collecting ideas on the spur of the moment?Carry index cards with you.

• What’s a good strategy for guiding your collection of information?Create focus questions that arouse your

curiosity. Perhaps write them on index cards.



What are some sources for collecting information?Discuss your topic with others. Start by asking

focus questions and follow where they lead.Seek ideas and supporting details in your

campus library. Search the internet for more ideas and

supporting details.



• What strategies could you use to start organizing your information?Group your notes: Sort information into piles, with one pile

for each main idea or focus question. Identify your audience: Once you know the audience, use

that information to decide what information to include/exclude, how much evidence is needed, and whether to write formally/informally.

Define your thesis: Identify the most important idea you want to convey. Everything else should support this idea by answering questions a reader might have.

Create a plan: Use an outline, concept map, or question outline.

• Compare your answers to those listed in On Course.


STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE WRITING:WHILE WRITING

What are additional elements you can include in the rest of your composition?

Support: Include your secondary ideas and supporting details. These are often examples, experiences, explanations, and evidence (4E’s).

Transitions: Use words, phrases or sentences that act as bridges between ideas.

Refutation in a persuasive essay: Dispute any reasons that someone would be resistant to what you want them to think or do.

Satisfying conclusion: Summarize the main points you have made or echo the hook.


STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE WRITING:AFTER WRITING

• Yesterday you finished a paper that you spent many hours writing. What actions should you take before turning in your final paper?

Revise Cite sources Read aloud Edit carefully Seek help


STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE WRITING:AFTER WRITING

• After you receive a graded paper back, what strategies will help you improve your writing?

Keep an error log: record every sentence in which you had a grammar or punctuation problem, write the sentence with all corrections, and record the grammar or punctuation rule.

Rewrite graded papers: use the instructor’s feedback to improve your writing. Show the revision to your instructor; you may even receive a higher grade.

• Compare your answers to those listed in On Course.


CREATING AN ACADEMIC SKILLS PLAN FOR WRITING

• Make a list of the biggest challenges you have had with writing assignments. Look over strategies for Writing.Choose the three strategies that you will use.Explain to a partner the three strategies that

you have chosen and why.

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7 | 1 Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Strategies for Creating Success in College and in Life On Course Chapter 7 ADOPTING LIFELONG