Counseling 111

Counseling 111- Introduction to College & Strategies for Success (1 unit)

I have taught this course to students in the Academy of the Canyons at COC for two semesters. It has been a very rewarding experience and I have enjoyed it very much. This course will provide students with an overview to the college environment and will assist students with college success. The goal of this course is to prepare students for the challenges of college by encouraging individual initiative, confidence and motivation. Topics include student responsibilities, college policies and procedures, study skills, time management, academic programs, student service departments, choosing a major and career, educational requirements, self awareness, multi-cultural awareness and various topics relating to education planning and success. This 1 unit course meets 1 unit of the CSU GE Area E requirements.

Students in AOC have shared with me that although the course requires a lot of work which they did not expect, they find themselves giving it a very good review and state that they have learned valuable skills that will help them in college. I try to make the class interactive and as exciting as possible. At times, it is difficult to engage student's participation and their is a lack of interest by some students. So my challenge is to try to reach as many students and make it personal so that students can relate to the skills I am trying to help them develop. My favorite part of the class is getting to know the students by reading about their background and their interests. Students have an opportunity to present in front of the class and I have enjoyed their speeches.

I have also taught this course on-line since 2009 and it has been definitely a different experience. Although I do miss the student contact, I feel that I get a lot of contact in using different methods on-line and enjoy that students share a lot more than they would in a face to face class. The best experience is when students are interactive and engage in the discussion boards only then can we build a learning community on-line. Students quickly learn that they have to stay on top of each week as time slips away and many find themselves scrambling for more time or do their work at the last minute. They soon find out that it doesn't work in an on-line class and begin to make changes to their old habits. Many if not all students comment on how much they learned and how many useful strategies they will take away that can be utilized in other courses, in their work setting or in life in general. It makes it all worth it when I read their final essays.

Counseling 010 - Career Exploration (1 unit)

This course assists students in making career decisions. Emphasis is on selecting a career based on personal interests, abilities, values, and goals through self assessment and career research. I really enjoyed teaching this class. It was a lot of fun getting to know the students and witness their discoveries about themselves. Many students shared with me that they were skeptical about the class, but after they completed the class they felt assured that they were headed in the right direction in regards to their career goals. For some students it made them aware of what stage of career development they were at and what steps were needed in making a good decision about their major or career. Many of the activities helped students to confirm what they already knew, but it made it more clear and they learned what it would take to get there. For other it was an eye opener as they begun to discover more about themselves and realize that what they originally thought they have chosen as a career was not at all something that matched their personality or their values. If you are just beginning college or are undeclared this class would be of great class to take.

Counseling 070 - Becoming a Successful Distance Learning Student (1 unit) (Offered credit/no credit basis only. Non-degree applicable.)

This course is designed for students who want to acquire the skills necessary to be a successful distance learning student including word processing, synchronous (chat) and asynchronous (e-mail) discussion tools, and Internet research. Includes a review of personal learning styles and time management skills. Familiarity with the Windows operating system and keyboarding is assumed.

I have taught this class on-line in as a 5 week course since 2010. It is a fast faced course and requires a lot of time. I have enjoyed teaching students who come from so many different backgrounds and educational experiences. Some include re-entry students returning to school from an absence of several years, new students, first time freshmen from high school as well as continuing students who are new at taking on-line classes. Students will learn to interact in an on-line class and utilize the necessary tools and features on Blackboard to be successful on-line learners.

Below are various internet links to helpful sites that relate to study skills that are reviewed in the Counseling 111 course. This list was compiled by instructors who teach the Counseling 111 course. So take advantage of the links and visit them to help you develop better academic skills.

Study Skills Resources for Counseling 111

College Success