Georgia Northwestern Technical College COLL 1000 College Success and Survival Skills 1/9/2014 Getting Off to a Good Start Why College? Mike “Wheels” Breakey, MA

Georgia Northwestern Technical College Words of the day Reactive Tending to be responsive or to react to a stimulus Proactive Acting in advance to deal with an expected difficulty; anticipatory Objective Having actual existence. Uninfluenced by emotions or personal prejudices Subjective Proceeding from or taking place in a person's mind rather than the external world. Particular to a given person; personal

Georgia Northwestern Technical College Does technology (I-phones, , Google, etc.) make us more or less proactive? Does technology (I-phones, , Google, etc.) make us more or less proactive?

Georgia Northwestern Technical College

Georgia Northwestern Technical College

Georgia Northwestern Technical College Hopper writes about college being a trip to a foreign land—it is, sort of. Hopper writes about college being a trip to a foreign land—it is, sort of. What is her point? What is her point? Who can help you? Who can help you? What is the first step in getting help? What is the first step in getting help? Help—not do it for you. Help—not do it for you.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. ~Thomas A. Edison Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. ~Thomas A. Edison Pride is an admission of weakness; it secretly fears all competition and dreads all rivals. ~ Fulton J. Sheen Pride is an admission of weakness; it secretly fears all competition and dreads all rivals. ~ Fulton J. Sheen Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, rather it is a sign of strength. ~ Mike Breakey Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, rather it is a sign of strength. ~ Mike Breakey

Georgia Northwestern Technical College So you have decided to earn your certification or degree: I commend you for the choice! I commend you for the choice! Earn, not get…earn Earn, not get…earn The easy part deciding to do it The easy part deciding to do it Now comes the hard part…seeing it through Now comes the hard part…seeing it through SO—WHY? Why are you here? What went into the decision? SO—WHY? Why are you here? What went into the decision?

Georgia Northwestern Technical College If it was easy everyone would do it! 5 Stages of learning ANYTHING…guitar, language 5 Stages of learning ANYTHING…guitar, language Novice Novice Advanced Beginner Advanced Beginner Competent Competent Proficient Proficient Expert Expert

Georgia Northwestern Technical College You are probably at the Novice Level The Novice has a beginning awareness of subject area. The Novice has a beginning awareness of subject area. Knows some abstract concepts and ideas. Knows some abstract concepts and ideas. Novices posses little or no ability to put ideas into practice in a reliable way. Novices posses little or no ability to put ideas into practice in a reliable way. They apply their learning by following a set of rules without regard for context. They apply their learning by following a set of rules without regard for context. Sounds bad…it is NOT…everyone was a novice once! Sounds bad…it is NOT…everyone was a novice once!

Georgia Northwestern Technical College 1. In 1900, what percentage of Americans attended college? 2. What percentage of current high school students attend college…or perhaps more accurately START college? 2a. How many finish? 2b. GNTC graduation rate? 3. There are approximately _________ colleges in the US?

Georgia Northwestern Technical College 4. What do you think is the primary reason students give for attending college? 5. Define a critical thinker 6. List three keys to college success. 7. What do you see as the biggest difference in attending college versus high school? Think about this for a future class: What is the American Dream?

Georgia Northwestern Technical College Always…ALWAYS work on key competencies Always…ALWAYS work on key competencies Communications—Writing, speaking, listening Communications—Writing, speaking, listening Critical Thinking Critical Thinking Collaboration Collaboration Research Research MORE than just topical knowledge—learn what you are truly capable of MORE than just topical knowledge—learn what you are truly capable of To do that you must stretch yourself To do that you must stretch yourself Question—what is the difference (is there) between knowledge and wisdom? Question—what is the difference (is there) between knowledge and wisdom?

Georgia Northwestern Technical College So what is your point? The point is to understand you are probably as motivated as you will be in your academic pursuit The point is to understand you are probably as motivated as you will be in your academic pursuit It gets harder as you progress…classes/assignments It gets harder as you progress…classes/assignments Know that it will get harder…do not give up Know that it will get harder…do not give up Remember WHY you decided to get a degree Remember WHY you decided to get a degree The HARD is what makes it worth doing! The HARD is what makes it worth doing! If it was easy EVERYONE WOULD DO IT! If it was easy EVERYONE WOULD DO IT!

Georgia Northwestern Technical College Couple more Wheelsisms You are in college…be proactive You are in college…be proactive Take ownership of your education...not sure—ask! Take ownership of your education...not sure—ask! Late just because…NO Late just because…NO Serial excuse making…NO Serial excuse making…NO Asking questions…YES Asking questions…YES Thinking critically…YES Thinking critically…YES Expanding knowledge…YES Expanding knowledge…YES Improving communication skills…YES Improving communication skills…YES

Georgia Northwestern Technical College Priorities What competes for your time? What competes for your time? You have added a BIG piece to plate! You have added a BIG piece to plate!

Georgia Northwestern Technical College Critical Thinking Exercise Read NYT article on the Education Gap: grows-between-rich-and-poor-studies- show.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 How did you dissect this article? Did it make a mark or just bounce off your forehead? How can we increase comprehension?

Georgia Northwestern Technical College Developing self-awareness and the will to learn Coming to school should build your confidence in your ability to learn and value education. Coming to school should build your confidence in your ability to learn and value education. Do NOT be afraid to make mistakes. Do NOT be afraid to make mistakes. The cost of a college education is very expensive; make it worth the time and money! The cost of a college education is very expensive; make it worth the time and money!

Georgia Northwestern Technical College Managing yourself and monitoring your progress To monitor your progress you must set short and long term goals for yourself, evaluate your progress toward goals, take an active responsible role in learning to manage your time. To monitor your progress you must set short and long term goals for yourself, evaluate your progress toward goals, take an active responsible role in learning to manage your time. Reflection is critical Reflection is critical

Georgia Northwestern Technical College Fear Fear Technology Technology Not trying different techniques Not trying different techniques Poor communication skills Poor communication skills Time management Time management Bias Bias Hopper writes about Gather, Analyze—then Hypothesize, Test, and USE Hopper writes about Gather, Analyze—then Hypothesize, Test, and USE

Georgia Northwestern Technical College Degree/Certificate requirements Degree/Certificate requirements Advisor Advisor Time Time Peers Peers Ratemyprofessor.com Ratemyprofessor.com Easy = Good Easy = Good So—why did you choose your path—next class or so. So—why did you choose your path—next class or so.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College The amount of effort = final grade? The amount of effort = final grade? TIP—Bank some As and Bs early on! TIP—Bank some As and Bs early on!

Georgia Northwestern Technical College What is the difference between acceptable and exceptional? What is the difference between acceptable and exceptional?

Georgia Northwestern Technical College Chapter 1: Some Strategies for Success to end of chapter Chapter 1: Some Strategies for Success to end of chapter Expectations discussion Expectations discussion Bring Higher Education Vocabulary Words (p. 25) to class on a note card or sheet of paper. Bring Higher Education Vocabulary Words (p. 25) to class on a note card or sheet of paper.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College

Can you start over at the beginning?