Institute/Session Summary:

As Learning Skills Specialists in the Learning Assistance Center we often hear professors and instructors lament that students do not seem to know how to study to learn and retain the content material needed to be successful in their courses.  To assist students in learning and retaining course content material we have created a hands-on, brain compatible workshop which provides students with the ability to quickly assess their individual learning modality preferences and then use this information to determine how they learn and retain information most effectively.   Students are introduced to brain compatible learning principles that explain the learning and memory principles they have identified.  This workshop can be, and has been, successfully used in classrooms as well as for tutor and Supplemental Instructors’ training.

Participants will begin this workshop by learning how to turn a class ice-breaker into a tool that students can use to develop and identify memory principles.  Participants will then take a quick and easy learning modality preference assessment.  Without explaining the modalities the participants will be put into groups according to their assessment scores.  The groups will then be given an activity that can easily be adapted to any course content.  From this activity participants, like students, will discover that they have created learning strategies that works best for them.  As the groups go on to share their learning experiences, participants are introduced to learning and memory strategies for themselves as well as techniques they can use while working and assisting others.

All participants will receive copies of the learning modality preference assessment, a copy of the activity that can be used with their students and copies of a PowerPoint presentation describing each of the learning modalities, along with learning strategies for each. 

Presenter1 Name: Diane Eisenberg
Presenter1 Institution: California State University, Long Beach/Long Beach City College
Presenter1 Bio: Diane is a Learning Skills Specialist in the Learning Assistance Center at California State University, Long Beach.  She also teaches a Learning Skills class at Long Beach City college both in the classroom and on-line.

Presenter2 Name: Patrick Mulleavy
Presenter2 Institution: California State University, Long Beach/Long Beach City College
Presenter2 Bio: Patrick is a Learning Skills Specialist in the Learning Assistance Center at California State University, Long Beach. He is also the Academic Coach for the University's Division I baseball and softball teams. In addition to running study hall he often travels with the baseball team to conduct study hall on the road.