The cost of college should never discourage anyone from going after a valuable degree. –Arne Duncan, former United States Secretary of EducationLEARNING OBJECTIVESBy the end of this section, you will be able to:Establish financial goalsIdentify strategies for creating and maintaining a budgetDescribe available options for paying for collegeDescribe the benefits and risks of creditDevelop financial literacy skills to prepare for your financial future

LEARNING OBJECTIVESBy the end of this chapter, you will be able to:Identify the risks and rewards of college.Describe the responsibilities of college student life and how they differ from high school or early career life.Identify differences in class delivery and compare strategies for success in each type.Identify different categories of students who might share the same classroom as you.Identify similarities and differences between different types of students compared to yourself.

LEARNING OBJECTIVESBy the end of this chapter, you will be able to:Define what success means to you.Identify campus resources to support your success.Describe the qualities of a successful college student.Understand the principles of academic integrity.Compare and contrast a Growth Mindset vs. a Fixed Mindset.Understand the concept of GRIT and how to apply it to your college success.

Welcome to Austin Community College and Effective Learning Strategies, a course that provides the “college knowledge” you need to succeed. This course was compiled and edited by Heather Syrett with assistance from Laura Lucas from the Student Development Department at Austin Community College. It is maintained by Heather Syrett, Associate Professor and Assistant Department Chair of Student Development and General Studies at Austin Community College.

LEARNING OBJECTIVESBy the end of this chapter, you will be able to:Define core values and identify your own personal core values.Explore your current life-stage.Identify the benefits and rewards of setting goals.Identify short-term, mid-term and long-term goals.Apply the SMART goal model to your goals.Brainstorm long-term, mid-term and short-term goals to create a Personal Action Plan. 

LEARNING OBJECTIVESBy the end of this chapter, you will be able to:Understand the relationship between goals and time management.Consider how your priorities impact your time.Identify your time management personality.Assess your current use of time.Understand the basic principles of time management and planning.Use a calendar planner and daily to-do list to plan ahead for study tasks and manage your time effectively.Explore time management tips and strategies.Identify procrastination behaviors and strategies to avoid them.

LEARNING OBJECTIVESBy the end of this chapter, you will be able to:Analyze the impact of your surroundings while you study.Recognize the importance of organizing your space to your best advantage for studying.Understand the dangers of multitasking and strategies for avoiding it.Assess the degree to which personal technology may help or hinder your study efforts.

LEARNING OBJECTIVESBy the end of this chapter, you will be able to:Define thinking and thoughtDescribe metacognition and how it applies to your learningIdentify the stages of the learning processDefine learning objectivesUse Bloom’s taxonomy to interpret learning objectives and adjust your expectations accordinglyExplain the model of strategic learningIt is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. —Aristotle, Greek philosopher

LEARNING OBJECTIVESBy the end of this section, you will be able to:Define critical thinkingDescribe the role that logic plays in critical thinkingDescribe how critical thinking skills can be used to evaluate informationApply the CRAAP test to evaluate sources of informationIdentify strategies for developing yourself as a critical thinkerIdentify applications in education and one's career where creative thinking is relevant and beneficialExplore key elements and stages in the creative processApply specific skills for stimulating creative perspectives and innovative options Integrate critical and creative thinking in the process of problem-solving

LEARNING OBJECTIVESBy the end of this chapter, you will be able to:Describe the theory of multiple intelligences and identify your preferred intelligencesDescribe the relationship between emotional intelligence and self-regulationIdentify the types of thinking that contribute to successful intelligenceDefine multimodal learningApply multimodal approaches and a growth mindset to learning tasks

LEARNING OBJECTIVESBy the end of this chapter, you will be able to:Identify and describe the three basic functions of memoryDifferentiate between sensory, short-term, and long-term memoryIdentify and describe methods for information retrievalDescribe the forgetting curve and its implications for learningDescribe strategies for deciding which course content to learn and retainRecognize and apply strategies for strengthening your memory

LEARNING OBJECTIVESBy the end of this chapter, you will be able to:Explain why regular class attendance class is important.Understand the stages of the listening process.Identify effective listening strategies.Identify effective participation strategies.Identify strategies for obtaining content from a class you missed.Evaluate different teaching styles and how your personal learning style fit with each.Define active learning.

LEARNING OBJECTIVESBy the end of this chapter, you will be able to:Explain why taking notes is important.Use the four primary methods of note taking: lists, outlines, concept maps, and the Cornell method.Apply strategies to make note-taking more effective.Organize your notes into effective study guides.Use teacher handouts to complement your notes.Determine what to do with your notes after the course is complete.

LEARNING OBJECTIVESBy the end of this chapter, you will be able to:Explain how reading in college is different from reading in high school.Identify common types of reading tasks assigned in a college class.Describe the purpose and instructor expectations of academic reading.Identify effective reading strategies for academic texts using the SQ3R System.Explore the Anatomy of a Textbook.Develop strategies to help you read effectively.Explore strategies for approaching specialized texts, such as math, sciences, and specialized platforms, such as online text.Identify vocabulary-building techniques to strengthen your reading comprehension.

LEARNING OBJECTIVESBy the end of this chapter, you will be able to:Understand the role of tests in the Learning Cycle.Define test anxiety, identify sources of test anxiety and techniques for preventing and controlling it.Identify long-term study strategies.Become familiar with different types of tests and test formats.Implement specific test strategies for before, during and after a test.Identify strategies for answering typical kinds of test questions (multiple choice, true/false, matching, short answer and essay).Understand the importance of academic integrity and the consequences of dishonesty.Effectively evaluate your test results and correct your mistakes.Use your test results as a study guide.

LEARNING OBJECTIVESBy the end of this chapter, you will be able to:Describe the importance of good writing skills.Define “academic writing.”Identify key differences between writing in college and writing in high school or on the job.Identify common types of writing tasks in a college class.Define what instructors expect of a college student’s writing.Understand and utilize writing-process steps in the development of academic writing.Differentiate between revision and proofreading, and explain the value of each.Know where to get help with your writing.Identify strategies for ethical use of sources in writing.Understand the special demands of specific writing situations, including in-class essays, group writing, and online.