FLUNK DAY!: How Not To Flunk Out

by Arabella Chamberlain

Photo Credit

Everyday is FLUNK DAY. Or so I've been told.

Since arriving back from Spring Break, everyone’s been wondering when will that blessed day come with an email saying “NO CLASS”. A day when (almost) all your classes are cancelled. Okay, except the occasional night class or evening exam. Nevertheless, NO CLASS.

But what is Flunk Day? A day of debauchery and chaos, celebrating the start of warm weather, sunshine, and summertime? Maybe to some. But how can you use Flunk Day to save yourself from flunking out?

Many students choose not to participate in the Flunk Day activities and some activities are illegal to others, but whatever reason you choose not to participate in the traditional Flunk Day activities this year, there are countless other great things to do.

• If you're behind on homework, take some time on Flunk Day to catch up. Here are some other great posts that offer some good study tips and strategies:
• How to Study (When the Sky is Falling)
• Be Advised!: Advising Season
• Back-to-School Blues: Starting the Year off "badly"
• Midterms: What to Expect When You're Not Expecting
• The End of the World: The Onslaught of Finals
• Studying vs. Homework
• 5 Study Habits to Start Now



Photo Credit

• Setting the Mood: Study Jams

On a non-academic note:

• If you plan to spend Flunk Day doing some less crazy activities, the Learning Commons also has a ton of great alternatives! Things that might be planned include:
• Guided Painting, board games, puzzles and more! More details will be available on Flunk Day.
• Get outside and enjoy nature! You can always spend your Flunk Day just enjoying the nice weather - alcohol-free if you choose or legally should - and maybe take a hike or sprawl out on the lawn and catch some zzz’s in the sunshine. Even if you don’t spend your Flunk Day working on academics, don’t let the day pass you by!

Whatever you do, have fun, stay safe, and don’t FLUNK out!

Photo Credit

Photo Credit

Photo Credit

Marching on from Midterms

 by Arabella Chamberlain

So midterm grades are out, spring break is over, what now?

Photo Credit

It can feel overwhelming, especially in the last leg of the semester, to look at those midterm grades and wonder if you'll ever be able to pull that grade up. Fear not, there are tons of resources available to put you back on the path to success!

• To start with, if you are struggling in a class, a good place to start is to have a chat with your professor. Reach out by email and set up a time to meet or just drop by office hours - they have them for a reason! Ask about what you can do differently in the course to improve. Are you getting your assignments in on time? Is something hindering your ability to learn in the classroom? Have an open, honest conversation. Your professor can't help you if they don't know you need help.
• Request a tutor - they're here for a reason! The Learning Commons has tons of tutors available for many classes and if there isn't a tutor, we'll work on finding you one! Tutoring is a great resource for working through homework and assignments, prepping for an exam, or just learning a new study strategy or two.
• Stop into the Peer-to-Peer Academic Space. Trained tutors are available, staffing the P2PAS in the back right corner of Stewart Memorial Library from 12-9pm Mondays through Thursdays, 12-5pm Fridays, and 5-9pm Sundays. The staff are tutors for multiple courses and can help you get connected to the right resources.
• What is you are struggling in more than one class? Meet with an academic coach. If things feel like they are too far off-track, set up a meeting with an academic coach to help you get organized and back on top of everything. These are professional staff members who are trained on how to set you up for success - use them as a resource!
• Lastly, as the past couple years have shown, mental health is so important and comes before academics. If you are struggling, reach out for professional help. Coe offers a number of resources available on- and off-campus. Reach out to Cathy Muller, Coe's Student Care Coordinator & Counselor.

Many of the aforementioned resources can be accessed here, unless otherwise noted.

Request for Academic Support Form

Survey Responses: What Do You Know About the Learning Commons?

 

We conducted a survey about students' knowledge of the Learning Commons to gain feedback and suggestions for the future. We would love to continue hearing students' feedback, so feel free to fill out the survey if you haven't yet!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeUgICImAUW0l_ZP48wM8tkIHEXTL6eldYJ1XMRoT4TO3cMdw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Most Commonly Used Resources

1. Writing Center

2. Tutoring

3. Supplemental Instruction

4. Test Proctoring

5. TRIO/AAP

6. Peer-To-Peer Academic Support Space

7. LC Study Hall

Have These Resources Helped You?

"Yes, these resources have made it so my time here at Coe was possible, without their help I would not have been able to attend this school and be passing.”

“Yes, they have helped tremendously!”

“Yes, specifically the writing center in my FYS class.”

Every student who responded said "yes" in some form. Many responders mentioned specific resources that have been the most help to them such as tutoring, the writing center, and test proctoring.

Suggestions For Additional Resources/Support

Students offered up these suggestions in the survey:

1. "More times for SI, possibly structural type SI's for assistance with learning and how to do things like fill out a lab journal for those who may be lost in the course."

2. "Professor, staff, or just student hours on a monthly basis (sort of like a long night against procrastination)."

3. "Professors in the library"

4. "It would be helpful to have a folder of organizational templates such as monthly calendars, assignment checklists, and so on. That way students have easy access to helpful academic planning materials."

Questions About the Learning Commons

What is the Learning Commons "Study Hall"?

This is a new program we are trying out this semester. On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-5pm, the library classroom is open for study to have a place where they can be held accountable to study. Each session, students work until 4pm then a Learning Commons staff member leads a 15-20 minute study break. These breaks change each session and include activities such as games, meditation, and crafts. After the break, students work until 5pm.

Image Source

Got Writer's Block? Visiting the Writing Center!

Got Writer's Block? Visit the Writing Center!

Are your writing assignments piling up? Can't figure out how to start? Got writer's block? Don't stress because help is available right on campus at the Writing Center! The Writing Center, located on the main floor of Stewart Memorial Library in the Learning Commons, is a student-run center that can help you with any kind of writing. No matter if you are at the brain-storming stage, or just need another pair of eyes to proofread, the Writing Center has got your back. 

The Writing Center has over 60 student-peer consultants covering about every type of major on campus. All consultants are eager and excited to help you with your writing and the Writing Center provides a warm and welcoming environment to engage in conversations about writing. Want to learn about some of the consultants you might see in the Writing Center? Meet them below!

Lila Dabill

Lila is a senior majoring in physics and math. This is her fourth year working at the Writing Center and she has strong experience helping others with argumentative papers, math papers and lab reports. For any of you taking calculus with Dr. Brittney Miller or philosophy with Dr. Jeffery Hoover or Dr. John Lemos she can help you with any writing assignments they assign. For fun, Lila likes to read, draw, paint and go hiking!

Evan Perry 

Evan is a junior whose majors are economics and math. This is currently his third year working in the writing center and he particularly enjoys helping those with technical writing assignments. He has taken a lot of economic classes so if any of you need help with writing assignments for these classes he can definitely help. In his free time, Evan likes to hang outside, read, and watch Netflix. Currently, he is watching New Girl!

Brittany Ramirez

Brittany is a freshman majoring in neuroscience and psychology and this is her first year working at the Writing Center. Having just taken her FYS class, she is very helpful with any FYS writing assignments as well as has experience with English papers and nursing and psychology papers. On campus, Brittany is involved in Greek life belonging to her sorority - Alpha Gamma Delta. In her free time, she likes to play tennis, hang out with her sorority sisters and friends, and watch movies.

Brett Porter

Brett is a sophomore whose major is elementary education with endorsements in reading and language arts. This is his second year working in the Writing Center and he particularly enjoys helping others brainstorm ideas and write personal narratives. He has taken many education and history classes as well as taken a religion course with Dr. Kenzski. So if you need help with any of these types of classes be sure to sign up for a conference with him! For fun, Brett likes to play video games and basketball and is on the ultimate frisbee team here at Coe. 

Ally Roeker

Ally is a senior triple majoring in English, Communication Studies, and Writing. She has been working at the Writing Center for almost four years and has a lot of experience with cover letters, personal statements, literary analyses, and research papers. She also enjoys helping write citations. Some courses in which she can assist with any writing assignments are, The Art of Literary Research, Research Methods in Communications Studies, Persuasion, Fundamentals of Public Speaking and senior literature seminars in the English major. In her free time she enjoys bullet journaling (ask her about it sometime!), reading books from the Cedar Rapids Library, and making playlists on Spotify.

As you can clearly see, writing consultants of the Writing Center span a multitude of majors and are able to help with you all and any kind of writing. To sign up for a conference you can make an appointment directly at the Writing Center or go to coe.mywconline.com

Coe Writing Center Hours

Monday-Thursday: 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM 

Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM

What Is Your Learning Style?

Have you ever wondered what your learning style may be? Knowing that I am a kinesthetic and reading/writing learner has helped me find study techniques that work best for my brain. Keep on reading to see how you relate to the four most common learning styles!

Image Source

1. Visual Learning

Visual learners absorb information, concepts, and ideas best through seeing them represented as a visual. They thrive on learning through visuals such as charts, diagrams, images, and videos. In addition, they often have strong visualization skills with the ability to form images in their mind. It can be more difficult for them to understand and remember information solely through the spoken word. Therefore, lectures with visual presentations can be a big help for these learners. 

2. Auditory Learning

Auditory learners learn best by listening to information rather than just reading or seeing something. For example, they would prefer listening to someone explain a concept rather than reading a textbook or trying to figure it out on their own. When studying, it can be helpful for auditory learners to explain concepts or information out-loud because they are more likely to recall a conversation over an image or words on a page.

Image Source

3. Kinesthetic Learning

Kinesthetic learners thrive on hands-on projects and activities. They learn best by doing rather than listening or watching someone else demonstrate. Trying things out for themselves can help them remember information better. It also may be hard for them to sit for long periods of time which makes a movement-based study break really helpful for them. Sometimes, just being physically engaged while learning, such as having something to fidget with or tossing a ball, can help them retain information better.

Image Source

4. Learning Through Reading/Writing

As reflected in the name, these learners thrive on the written word. They absorb information best by reading texts or seeing written words in a presentation, and they can further retain the information by engaging in it through writing. These learners typically take in-depth notes during class. For studying, reading and annotating the textbook plus creating flashcards can work well. 

Image Source

These are just four of the core types of learning styles. You could be a variation of these or something even more specific such as logical, social, solitary, and verbal learners. Everyone is unique, and there are so many different ways people learn. Understanding how your brain works can help you find what works best for your learning and studying skills.

Want to take some quizzes to help you figure out your learning style? Check these out:

https://www.learningstylequiz.com/

https://vark-learn.com/the-vark-questionnaire/

Works Cited:

https://www.rasmussen.edu/student-experience/college-life/most-common-types-of-learners/