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COURSE SYLLABUS

1. TITLE OF COURSE: ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT STRATEGIES
PREFIX/NUMBER: AAA 090 CREDIT HOURS: 3
2. PREREQUISITE: REA 060 or 60 on the ACCUR Reading Test recommended.
3. RESOURCES NEEDED:

TEXT:

Ellis, Dave.  Becoming a Master Student. 9th ed.

New York:  Houghton-Mifflin Co., 1999.

SUPPLIES:

One large three-ring, loose-leaf binder with dividers (large enough for notes and materials for this course and other courses).
4. COURSE DESCRIPTION: Students will develop personalized approaches to learn and succeed for easier transition into college.   Topics include goal-setting, time management, textbook reading strategies, note-taking, test-taking, listening techniques, concentration and memory devices, and critical thinking for student success.
5. COURSE GOAL: Students will apply various study strategies to improve academic and personal performance.
6. COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The student who successfully completes this course should be able to:
A. Accept personal responsibility for academic success.
B. Apply personal learning style to improve learning effectiveness.
C. Demonstrate appropriate student behavior.
D. Manage time effectively for academic purposes.
E. Demonstrate effective communication skills.
F. Set long and short-term academic goals.
G. Apply basic textbook reading strategies.
H. Apply effective note-taking techniques.
I. Apply effective test-taking techniques.
J. Apply techniques for improved memory.
K. Apply active and critical thinking strategies to learning.
7. EVALUATION PROCEDURES:
Attendance: 10%
Assignments + Quizzes: 50%
Tests: 20%
Final Exam: 20%
Grading Scale
Raw Score Range 		Letter Grade
90 to 100 A
80 to 89 B
70 to 79 C
60 to 69 D
0 to 59 F

Special Remarks:

A.

Attendance:  College policy states that students may be dropped from enrollment when absent 20% of the scheduled class meetings.  Reinstatement procedures are described in the PCC catalog.

B.

Tardy Policy: A student who is late three times (enters the classroom after the instructor has taken roll) will be charged with one full absence unless the student can provide valid reasons for one or more of these tardies.

C.

Assignments/Missed Exams: s  It is the student’s responsibility whether present or absent, to obtain all material presented and to complete all course assignments.  If prior arrangements are made or extenuating circumstances exist, makeup of tests may be allowed.  Late homework papers will not be accepted unless those same extenuating circumstances exist. Makeup of quizzes is to be at the instructor’s discretion.

D.

Food and drink are not allowed in classrooms and computer labs.

E.

Pagers & Cell Phones: Any communication apparatus brought into class must be set so that it does not make audible sounds.   Students must leave the room to make phone calls.

8. COURSE OUTLINE
Instructors may vary the sequence slightly, but all indicated instruction will be presented during the course. Ask individual instructors about their quiz and test schedule.
I. Personal responsibilities in college
A. Encountering new ideas
B. Academic decision-making
C. Physical/Mental healthy issues
D. College policies
E. Campus resources
F. College personnel
II. Personal Learning Style
A. Models of learning styles
B. Personal strengths/weaknesses
C. Application of personal preferences
D. Application of “stretching” skills
III. Appropriate student behavior
A. Questioning/Answering techniques
B. Course participation
C. Cooperative learning participation
D. Study group formation
E. Interpersonal communication
F. Study habits
IV. Effective Time Management
A. Analysis of time allocation
B. Time management strategies
C. Concentration techniques
D. Resource organization
V. Effective Communication Skills
A. Verbal/Non-verbal listening and speaking
B. Oral communication
C. Written communication
D. Vocabulary/Concept building
VI. Academic goal-setting
A. Long-, mid-, short-term goals
B. Prioritizing action
C. Planning and academic success relationship
D. Self-Motivation
VII. Textbook reading strategies
A. Multiple reading strategies
B. Multiple note-taking strategies from text
C. Review strategies
VIII. Note-taking strategies
A. Preparation for lectures
B. Listening improvement
C. Comprehension improvement
D. Multiple note-taking strategies (situation dependent)
IX. Test-taking techniques
A. Review strategies and tool creation
B. Multiple test-taking strategies (situation dependent)
C. Multiple test anxiety reduction strategies
X. Memory Techniques
A. Concentration/memory development
B. Multiple memory strategies
C. Storage/retrieval strategies
XI. Active/Critical thinking strategies
A. Analysis of content materials
B. Synthesis from multiple sources
C. Evaluation of content-area materials
9. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
Academic Achievement Strategies is a hands-on, interactive class. Students in this course should be prepared to utilize the textbook fully, which includes not only completing reading assignments as assigned by the instructor, but also writing in the book, marking the text, completing graphic exercises, and doing journal and other application exercises. To be successful in this course, students are expected to maintain good attendance as well as participate in discussions, readings, in-class writing, and peer review activities. The instructor may assign point values to such activities.
10. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
The very nature of higher education requires that students adhere to accepted standards of academic integrity. Therefore, Pueblo Community College has adopted a policy of academic conduct as described in the Student Handbook. Violation of academic integrity may be defined to include the following: cheating, plagiarism, falsification and fabrication, abuse of academic materials, complicity in academic dishonesty, and personal misrepresentation. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the behaviors that constitute academic dishonesty. Sanctions for violating the standards of academic integrity may include warning, probation, suspension, and/or failure of the course or assignment at the discretion of the instructor.
11. ADA NOTICE:
Students who have a documented disability may be eligible to receive accommodations for this class. Please contact the Disability Resources Center at 549-3446 for further information.