Programs in the Learning Support Center

LSC Program Information - IN PROCESS

LSC Program Overview
ESL Conversation Groups
Language Conversation Groups
PASS Program for Athletes
Calculator Workshops

Grammar Workshops
Tutor Training
Faculty Liaisons
Faculty/Staff Resource Room

LSC Program Overview:

The Learning Support Center (LSC) at Paradise Valley Community College is located in the heart of the campus. The LSC is part of the Learning Resources Complex, which also houses the Library, the Computer Commons, the Center for Distance Learning, Media Services, and the office of Employee and Organizational Learning and Learning Connections. The LSC is an open, spacious facility with several glass walls that add to the sense of spaciousness. Inside the double-door entrance is an open space that houses the reception area, tables for drop-in and individual tutoring, The Writing Center, the Language Lab, video and dvd players for instructional viewing, study group rooms with dry-erase boards, and a table set up with coffee for students and staff. Staff offices are adjacent to the main tutoring area. The glass walls to the south look out on a courtyard used for outdoor tutoring with desert landscaping as a backdrop. Room E194 within the LSC houses the Math Lab, designed to serve students in Basic Arithmetic and Introductory Algebra courses.

The LSC provides drop-in, individual, group, and in-class tutoring, as well as instructional support resources in the form of videotapes, print materials, and software. Both the tutoring and resources serve to help students improve in content areas and study skills. The subject area in which most students seek help is math, followed by English and general writing skills, and the sciences. However, students receive tutoring in and use resources for many other subjects including psychology, philosophy, accounting, economics, languages, and reading. As part of a campus Phase II Expansion, the LSC has added additional space for tutoring.

The LSC staff include five board-approved employee positions (Director, Coordinator, Office Coordinator, and two administrative secretaries) and approximately 50 part-time temporary employees (45-50 tutors and five front desk staff). The tutors consist of current students, former students, community members, retirees, and part-time and full-time faculty, some of whom volunteer their time or use the center for some of their office hours. From one to six tutors per semester volunteer their services. The volunteers are usually community members or faculty, either employed or retired, who find fulfillment in helping students.

ESL Conversation Groups:

Coming Soon

Language Conversation Groups:

Coming Soon

PASS:

Coming Soon

Calculator Workshops:

Basic and advanced calculator workshops are offered as one-session calculator workshops.

The basic calculator workshops are for students enrolled in MAT120 or higher level math courses that use TI-82, TI-83, or TI-84 calculators.
The advanced calculator workshops are for students in MAT151 and above who are familiar with calculators but need advanced functions usage, including statistics, piecewise functions, and matrices.

All workshops are held in Room E190 in the LSC and are limited to a maximum of 15 attendees. Students must sign-up at the LSC front desk prior to the workshop.

Grammar Workshops:

The LSC's Grammar Workshops offer PVCC students step-by-step explanations and practice of the basic rules of punctuation and grammar. The free workshops are taught by English faculty and conveniently located in KSC building classrooms. The Grammar Workshops are offered both in the afternoon and evenings. Each workshop focuses on a specific topic.

Tutor Training Program

The Learning Support Center has provided a tutor training program since the fall of 1987. Dr. Rick Sheets, original and current LSC Director, and Dr. Sally Rings, LSC founding Faculty Liaison Coordinator, created the program and continued in their roles of co-coordinators and team teachers for the first 10 years of the center's operation. In the spring of 1994, David Gerkin, former LSC Director, and Dr. Rings revised the training program to focus on collaborative learning techniques. In the summer of 1997, David, Sally, and Rick created videotaped segments of the instructional training to augment the tutor seminars. Since 1991, our Tutor Seminar program has been certified by the College Reading and Learning Association International Tutor Certification Program. Each spring the LSC hosts a Tutor Award Ceremony to recognize the tutors who have completed one or more levels of training and to thank those who have volunteered their time and efforts.

The objectives of the Tutor Seminar program are to provide tutors with strategies, support, information, and resources that will enable them to give effective learning support to the students with whom they work; to provide tutors with an overview of the learning centered college so they can help students become self-directed, independent learners; to assist tutors in improving interpersonal communication skills so they can more effectively relate to students, faculty, and staff; to help tutors discover their own learning style preferences and develop an understanding of learning style differences and how they affect the interaction among students, faculty, and tutors; to help tutors develop metacognitive awareness so they can, in turn, help students with whom they work become aware of their own learning processes; to increase tutors' awareness of and sensitivity to students with disabilities; and to increase tutors' intercultural competence.

The tutor training is conducted in a seminar format to provide opportunities to discuss applications of the concepts presented, as well as current concerns and successes of the tutors. Tutors are given the opportunity to respond to the training and to monitor their strengths and weaknesses as tutors by completing writing learning logs. Interactive, collaborative learning experiences are provided by means of modeling, role-playing, observing, and discussing tutor and student behavior and learning strategies. Team building, peer support, mentoring, and sharing of ideas and experiences are encouraged.

All tutors are required to complete the first level of tutor training within their first semester/year of tutoring. The second and third levels of tutor certification are optional; however, increases in pay rates are given for each level of certification achieved.

Faculty Liaisons Program:

The Learning Support Center has defined its role as one of learning support for students taking classes at PVCC. To keep current with learning support needs, the LSC has part-time and full-time faculty from academic divisions serving as communication links and faculty liaisons between their divisions and the LSC. The LSC faculty liaisons may discuss LSC services in division meetings, meet with other faculty and tutors, and encourage LSC usage by students. They may also tutor in the center and complete learning support projects.

The responsibilities of the liaisons include the following:

provide information about the LSC to peers and in division meetings
look at instructional support issues for students regarding LSC services
provide input and feedback regarding new LSC policies and procedures
attend regular LSC liaison meetings, specified tutor seminars, and an annual goal-setting retreat

In addition, faculty liaisons may choose to:

work with tutors in specific content areas
provide information on changes in programs or on new programs
evaluate or recommend support materials

Faculty/Staff Resource Room:
E184 (in the LSC)

Faculty/Staff sign-in required for use.
Hours are the same as the LSC.

The Faculty/Staff Resource Room (F/SRR) houses two Dells PCs and two Macintosh computers.

Resources for help in using the F/SRR include:

LSC staff - Rick Sheets, Richard Morales, and Johnna Anderson
Technology Training Coordinator - Chrystle Hall @ 7-7784
Instructional Technologist - Jennifer Strickland @ 7-6794
Instructional Support - Sam Fraulino @ 7-7786.

PVCC faculty and staff also have access to the Computer Commons Open Lab (E137).

   Last updated: 2006-10-26
   Learning Support Center at Paradise Valley Community College - http://www.pvc.maricopa.edu/lsc/
   © 2002 Maricopa County Community College District. All Rights Reserved.
   Questions or Comments to Rick Sheets, Richard Morales, & Sandra Beeman

LSC Program Overview:

ESL Conversation Groups:

Language Conversation Groups:

PASS:

Calculator Workshops:

Grammar Workshops:

Tutor Training Program

Faculty Liaisons Program:

Faculty/Staff Resource Room: E184 (in the LSC)

Resources for help in using the F/SRR include:

Faculty/Staff Resource Room:
E184 (in the LSC)