Chapter 1 P.O.W.E.R Learning

Why College?

Consider this… Learn to think critically and communicate better Be able to better deal with advances in knowledge and technology that are always changing Learn to adapt to new situations Be better prepared to live in a world of diversity Learn to lead a life of community service Make learning a lifelong habit Understand the meaning of your own contributions to the world

P.O.W.E.R Learning System designed to help people achieve their goals based on 5 steps… P- prepare O- organize W- work E- evaluate R- rethink

Prepare- Setting Goals Set both long-term and short-term goals Recognize that who you are determines your goals Make goals realistic and attainable State goals in terms of behavior that can be measured against current accomplishments Goal should involve behavior over which you have control Take ownership of your goals Identify how your short-tem goals fit with your long-term goals

Organize- Physical and Mental Physical organization- gathering material needed for goal Mental organization- mentally preparing what you will need to know for goal Organizing paves the way for better subsequent learning of new material

Work- Finding Motivation Take responsibility of your failures- and success Think positively Accept that you can’t control everything Effort produces success!

Evaluate- How well did I do? Take a moment to congratulate yourself and feel some satisfaction Compare what you’ve accomplished with the goals you’re seeking to achieve Be fair to yourself Based on your evaluation, revise your work Have an out-of-body experience Evaluate your accomplishments as if you were a respected teacher from your past Evaluate what you’ve done as if you were your current instructor

Rethink- Critical Thinking Critical Thinking- thinking that involves reanalyzing, questioning, and challenging our underlying assumptions Rethinking- involves considering whether our initial goals are practical and realistic or if they require modification Reanalyze, reviewing how you’ve accomplished the task Question the outcome Identify your underlying assumptions, then challenge them Consider alternatives rejected earlier What would you do differently Reconsider your initial goals

Final Note Know that there’s always another day Realize that deciding when to stop work is often as hard as getting started Use the strategies that already work for you