TASC tutors, staff, and faculty can help you build general academic skills to make the most of your learning, and help you become self-sufficient learners. When you come to tutoring, you can then make better use of your time and tackle higher-order concepts and problems during sessions.
Every student is different, and some tips may work better for certain types of learners;
however, it is important for all students to try different strategies, especially
when you are at the beginning of your journey building study skills. Over time, you
will learn what works best for yourself.
Attending class lectures is an essential part of learning in college. Lecture is often
where you receive your first introduction to course material from your instructor.
While we may think of the traditional lecture as the time when instructors speak to the class at the whiteboard or over Zoom, it is also important to note that in an asynchronous online environment, lectures can take different forms such as pre-recorded videos and readings within Canvas modules. Whatever form the lecture takes, it's important for you to take in this information before attending tutoring. A tutoring session should not be the first time you see the material, and it should not be a replacement for going to class.
Taking notes during class discussion or lecture (even if the lecture is a pre-recorded
video) can help you better retain the information covered. In addition, lecture and
class notes are important references during tutoring sessions, particularly because
these materials will help you and your tutor review information or problems in the
same manner in which your instructor has presented them during class
During lecture, you should take notes in a way that works best for your learning style.
There are many systems for effective note taking. The University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
has a great summary of various note-taking methods. Here are the basics of note taking:
During our busiest moments, haven’t we all wished that there were more than 24 hours in a day? Time management in college is essential, especially if you are juggling family responsibilities, work, and extracurriculars on top of a college course load. Below are some tools that can help you manage your time, so that you don't miss lectures and tutoring opportunities.
Keeping a planner or calendar can help you organize your daily time commitments.
In addition to keeping a calendar/planner, creating a to-do list with a timeline can
help you stay on top of your assignments (and help you avoid procrastination!).
The academic skills mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg. Below are a few
guides on some additional study skills that may help you further succeed in your courses.
OpenStax Math books are available in English and Spanish for Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus, College Algebra, Precalculus, and Statistics.
OpenStax Science books are available in English for Anatomy & Physiology, Astronomy, and Biology, and in English and Spanish for Chemistry, and Physics.