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Academic Coaching

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Start strong. End stronger.

Work with Learning Consultant Cydney Delia on skills like time management, concentration and memory, goal setting and motivation, exam preparation and performance. Accomplish more in your classes and beyond.

  • Academic coaching and consulting

    Consulting: Schedule an appointment for an individualized consultation to establish an academic success plan that's right for you.
    Coaching: Schedule regular check-ins for tips, encouragement and feedback. Coaching helps you stay motivated, make the most of your study time and keep on track to reach your goals.

    Coaching and consulting can focus on:
    -Goal-setting and values clarification
    -Motivation and habits
    -Time management and procrastination
    -Learning preferences
    -Reading comprehension and efficiency
    -Memory management
    -Listening and note-taking
    -Online learning
    -Working in groups
    -Public speaking
    -Test preparation and performance
    -Math avoidance
    -Performing under pressure (tests, class participation, etc.)

    Book an appointment by phone (410.837.5383) or in person (AC 113). You can also email Cydney Delia directly at cdelia@ubalt.edu to make an appointment or ask questions.

  • Workshops

    RSVP for any of these FREE workshops through UB’s Web calendar. 

    Learn How to Juggle: A Time-Management Seminar
    Calling all busy students: Get tips for avoiding procrastination and for meeting deadlines. Create a schedule that will help you prioritize and achieve your goals this semester.
    Tuesday, Feb. 8             4-5 p.m.  
    Wednesday, Feb. 8         12:30-1:30 p.m.
    You Don’t Have to Read Every Word: Reading Strategies for Busy Students
    Improve your attention, comprehension and memory by changing your reading style. Get tips on effective approaches to each medium, whether it is a textbook, a case study or a journal article.
    Tuesday, Feb. 14           4-5 p.m.
    Wednesday, Feb. 15     12:30-1:30 p.m.
    Cramming 101: Exam Prep and Performance Techniques
    Turn test anxiety into test assurance: Learn strategies for multiple-choice exams and timed essays. Also, get tips for managing test anxiety and suggestions on how soon to start studying.
    Tuesday, Feb. 21         4-5 p.m.
    Wednesday, Feb. 22   12:30-1:30 p.m.
    Organic Ritalin: All-Natural Strategies to Improve Attention and Concentration
    Having trouble focusing? Learn some basic principles behind attention and concentration, and get the scoop on recent brain research that may change how you study.
    Tuesday, Feb. 28               4-5 p.m.
    Wednesday, Feb. 29         12:30-1:30 p.m.
    I Hear . . . and I Forget, I See . . . and I Remember, I Do . . . and I Understand: A Learning Styles Workshop
    How do you learn best? Complete a survey to find out, then learn study strategies suited to your unique learning style. You’ll also get tips on adapting to different teaching styles.
    Tuesday, March 6           4-5 p.m.
    Wednesday, March 7     12:30-1:30 p.m.
    CPR for Teams: How to Create a High-Functioning Team
    Fed up with teams in class or at work? Breathe some life back into your team with these tips on scheduling, communication, group decision-making and setting clear expectations.
    Tuesday, March 13           4-5 p.m.
    Wednesday, March 14     12:30-1:30 p.m.

         Get it Together: How to Prepare for a Cumulative Final
    Freaking out about finals? Learn a proven system for approaching a cumulative final. No matter the course, you’ll gain strategies to help you approach your finals with confidence.
    Tuesday, April 24           4-5 p.m.
    Wednesday, April 25     12:30-1:30 p.m.     

  • Online resources

    Goal Setting and Values Clarification 

    UB Career Counseling
    A professional career counselor will assess your interests, skills, abilities, personality and values and interpret the results to help you set short- and long-term goals and create an achievement plan.

    Positive Psychology Center @ the University of Pennsylvania
    Engage in some self-exploration with a variety of free assessments, including the well-known Signature Strengths Questionnaire, a Work-Life Satisfaction Survey, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire and more.

    Personal Goals Setting
    This MindTools page provides links to goal-setting resources and describes the process of setting SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely) goals.

    Motivation and Habits 

    Locus of Control and Attribution Style Test
    Do you believe you can control your destiny? Discover more about your personal beliefs and recognize how these beliefs influence your motivation, self-esteem, goal orientation and your eventual behavior and performance.

    Establishing Good Study Habits
    A collection of tips from other college students

    Establishing Habits
    Tips on setting good academic habits as well as links to tips on other topics relating to success

    Time Management and Procrastination

    Assignment Calculator
    Plug in your assignment and due date, and the University of Minnesota’s Assignment Calculator will break down a seemingly overwhelming task into manageable steps.

    Time Management Workshop
    A useful online workshop from Louisiana State University accessible to you as a “guest”

    How to Stop Procrastinating: Seven Timeless Tips
    Henrik Edberg’s Positivity Blog offers insight into why we procrastinate and how to stop.

    Learning Preferences

    VARK
    Visual? Auditory? Read/write? Kinesthetic? Take the assessment and discover corresponding study strategies to employ in and out of class.

    Kolb Learning Styles
    Learn about Kolb’s complex model that addresses individual learning styles as well as how we all experience a cycle of learning.

    Techniques, Tools and Resources for the Self-Directed Learner
    Whatever you believe to be your learning “style,” this site, compiled by Syracuse professor Roger Hiemstra and his students, offers resources to help you become an adaptive, flexible learner.

    Reading Comprehension and Efficiency 

    Active Reading
    Become an active reader with tips that will keep you focused and engaged in your text.

    Critical Reading
    Questions to guide you in evaluating an argument’s purpose, evidence, balance, limitations and more

    Study Guides and Strategies
    Scroll this site for a collection of information on reading strategies to suit different reading situations.

    Memory Management

    Memory Principles
    Understand the principles behind establishing long-lasting memories and learn strategies that correspond to each principle.

    Memory and Concentration
    Make practical changes to your study methods and environment to enhance your concentration and memory.

    Nine Mnemonics for Better Memory
    Learn about memory devices that can improve your test performance.

    Listening and Note-Taking

    Note-Taking Systems
    Check out these five methods of note-taking and choose the style best suited to you and your subject.

    Top 5 Tips for Effective Note-Taking
    This blog offers suggestions for how to prepare for lectures, how to stay organized, how to choose what to write down and how to remember what you wrote.

    Note-Taking Skills: Symbols & Abbreviations
    Read about some general note-taking advice as well as suggestions to help you take notes faster by using abbreviations and symbols.

    Online Learning

    Are You Ready to Learn Online?
    Two quizzes to determine if you have the technical skills and study skills it takes to succeed in online classes.

    Sakai Orientation
    A baseline orientation designed to acquaint you with Sakai, Sakai’s e-learning platform. For hands-on training, take the ALC’s free workshop.

    Study Skills
    Links to study skills designed for distance learners.

    Learning in Groups

    Forming Study Groups
    Learn how to establish study group guidelines, how to assign roles and how to use groups most effectively.

    Team Work Skills for Group Projects
    Useful suggestions include making a group contract, choosing roles based on strengths, and setting deadlines and consequences if they are not kept

    Conflict Resolution Guide for Students
    Techniques to avoid conflict when working in groups as well as how to deal with it if it does arise

    Public Speaking

    Public Speaking Website
    Tips on assessing the situation, analyzing the audience, researching and organizing your topic, and discerning your strengths and weaknesses

    PowerPoint Dos & Don’ts
    A well-conceived list from Elon University’s Student Technology Center

    Toastmasters International
    Join Mount Royal Masters Toastmasters Club to practice your public speaking skills. Meeting times can be found on UB’s calendar or by visiting the organization’s website.

    Test Preparation & Performance

    Test Preparation and Test Taking: Essay Tests
    A thorough collection of resources to help you assess your readiness and plan your success on your upcoming essay test

    Test Preparation and Test Taking: Objective Exams
    Another useful collection from Southwestern College

    The Big Bad Wolf
    A multi-media presentation to help you understand the origins of anxiety, learn strategies to cope with anxiety, and develop goals for future test performance

    Academic Anxiety (math, testing and class participation)

    WY Math Project
    A thorough collection of resources to help you understand and overcome math anxiety, test anxiety, and general study anxiety

    Overcoming Test Anxiety
    A collection of links to help you assess your level of test anxiety, as well as plan how to cope with it

    Class Participation Tips
    Try some of these suggestions to overcome nervousness and become a more active learner.

    Stress Management 

    UB Counseling Services
    Free counseling services for UB students, staff and faculty

    Beliefs that Contribute to Stress
    Learn about patterns of perception that can help or hinder you from Sweet Briar College.

    Burnout Self-Test
    Use this test from MindTools to check for signs of stress and then access links to help you “Avoid Burnout” and “Recover from Burnout.”