Student Success

Pricing Plans - A La Carte Selected



Online Student Success Course Overview

This course prepares you for the challenges of higher education. It introduces you to various strategies for learning and other skills that are often overlooked when planning for college. You will conduct self-assessments to become familiar with the styles of learning that best suit you. You will become proficient in time management, listening and reading skills, writing techniques, public speaking, memory abilities, and test-taking strategies. You will also explore the following topics: decision making, choosing a major, problem-solving techniques, diversity issues, technology and computer skills, relationship building, managing your finances, remaining healthy, and designing a career portfolio. All of these skills will provide you with the tools necessary to be successful in today’s college environment.

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Course Text

Feldman, Robert S. Power Learning: Strategies for Success in College and Life, 3rd edition. McGraw-Hill, 2007. ISBN 9780073252001 [find and buy the text: Straighterline.com/textbooks]

Do I have to buy the textbook?
As in many college courses, purchasing the book is ultimately up to you. The StraighterLine courses use reading assignments and practice work from the textbook as supplements, but you will not be required to turn in anything from the book. StraighterLine recommends that you purchase the appropriate text so you are equipped with as many resources as possible (please note that e-books are generally less expensive but may have slight differences in page numbers and resources compared to a hard copy text).

Student Success Course Objectives

After completing this course, you will be able to:

  • Recognize the value of a college education and the requirements for achieving success.
  • Practice self-assessment techniques to identify your learning style and develop personalized strategies for learning.
  • Explore various time-management strategies, organizational methods for effective note-taking, and listening skills.
  • Develop a proficiency in writing, reading, and public speaking skills necessary for productive learning.
  • Identify memorization and test-taking strategies to improve your course outcomes.
  • Examine ways of improving your decision making and problem solving, such as with choosing a major, managing your finances, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
  • Summarize the basic requirements in technology and effective interactions in a diverse culture.
  • Create the foundation of a career portfolio that includes your mission statement and helps you determine professional goals essential for building a personal image for success.

Course Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites to take Student Success.

Student Success Course Evaluation Criteria

StraighterLine does not apply letter grades. Students earn a score as a percentage of 100%. A passing percentage is 70% or higher.

If you have chosen a Partner College to award credit for this course, your final grade will be based upon that college's grading scale. Only passing scores will be considered by Partner Colleges for an award of credit.

There are a total of 1000 points in the course:

Topic Assessment Points Available
1 Career Portfolio: Statement of Career Objectives 100
2
 Topic 2 Quiz 25
3 Topic 3 Quiz 25
4 Topic 4 Quiz 25
5
 Topic 5 Quiz 25
6
 Topic 6 Quiz 25
7 Topic 7 Quiz 25
8 Graded Midterm Exam 150
9 Career Portfolio: Career Summary 100
9 Topic 9 Quiz 25
10 Topic 10 Quiz 25
11 Topic 11 Quiz 25
12 Topic 12 Quiz 25
13 Topic 13 Quiz 25
14 Topic 14 Quiz 25
15 Career Portfolio: Résumé 100
15 Graded Final Exam 250
Total
1000

At the end of the course, each student will receive the number of points earned. The student's final letter grade is determined by the corresponding institution's grading scale.

Course Topics and Objectives

Topic Lesson Topic Subtopics Objectives
1 Overview to Student Success
  • Student Success
  • The Road to Success
  • Identify and describe practical educational strategies for achieving success.
  • Identify key information resources related to student success.
  • Explain the advantages of college and describe the process leading to enrollment.
  • Use self-assessment to measure critical-thinking and life skills.
    		•
    2 Time Management
    • Self-Time Goals and Priorities
    • Self-Time Management
    • Develop original self-time management techniques.
    • Identify the key factors that account for wasted time. 
    • Create obtainable time-management goals and priorities to improve quality of life.
    • Create a personalized time log to better track and organize time spent.
    • Describe how to harness and direct prime time energy.
    • Identify strategies for coping with time conflicts, overcoming procrastination, and balancing family demands.
    3 Learning Strategies
    • Determining Your Learning Style
    • The Self-Concept
  • Examine the relationship between learning style, decision making, and individual personality to identify your preferred manner of acquiring, using, and thinking about knowledge.
  • Use self-assent to improve and develop original learning techniques.
  • Identify your personality traits and describe your role as a team player.
  • Create your own definition of who you are and where you want to be.
    		•
    4 Listening and Concept Organization
  • Listening Strategies
  • Note-Taking Strategies
  • Concept Organization
    		•
  • Identify and give examples of active-listening strategies.
  • Use self-assessment to profile your active-listening style.
  • Identify and describe the various note-taking strategies.
  • Identify the best process for determining your specialized learning style.
  • Define and distinguish note taking as a means of remembering information, such as main points and ideas, not dialogical transcription.
  • Write an original outline using various outlining methods, including creative and formal outlining and mind mapping.
  • Practice revising your notes based on questions and critical evaluation.
    		•
    5 Test-Taking Strategies
  • Test Preparation
  • Test-Taking Strategies
  • Overcoming Test Anxiety
    		•
    • Distinguish among various test-taking strategies and give examples of proven strategies specific to different types of tests.
    • Identify key words commonly used in essay tests and become comfortable with their meaning.
    • Define anxiety and develop a personal strategy for overcoming test anxiety.
    • List your top tips for studying and preparing for a test.
    6 Advancing Your Reading Skills
  • Reading Systems
  • Reading Strategies
  • Barriers and Bridges to Effective Reading
    		•
  • Define active reading and identify how reading systems can enhance your advanced reading skills.
  • Practice using a variety of reading strategies, including advanced organizers and key word identification.
  • Identify typical barriers to reading and develop strategies to overcome them.
  • Distinguish retention from speed reading and develop personalized techniques for enhanced memorization and more productive reading.
    		•
    7 Building Your Writing Skills
  • The Writing Process
  • Writing Strategies
    		•
  • Identify and describe writing as a means of social, economic, and political empowerment.
  • Use self-assessment to develop a better sense of your writing strengths and weaknesses.
    		•
    8 Honing Your Memory
  • The Process of Memory
  • Memorization Strategies
  • Barriers to Memorization
    		•
  • Understand the process and function of memory.
  • Describe the steps of memorization.
  • Use various memorization techniques to practice memorizing assigned content.
  • Explain how improving sensory perception can improve your memorization skills and hone your learning style.
  • Develop personal mnemonic triggers to improve memory response time.
  • Explain how to overcome memorization barriers.
    		•
    9 Choosing a College Major
  • The Academic Outlook
  • Choosing Your Major
  • Building a Future
    		•
  • Identify key information resources for choosing a major.
  • Practice registering for a class.
  • Generate a personalized list of interests and traits to identify a specialized area of study or expertise.
  • Describe the process of deciding a college major or career track.
  • Describe the relationship between a strong work ethic and a successful future.
  • Explain how to learn from life's mistakes.
    		•
    10 Technology in Today's Information Age
    • Computers and Applications
    • Distance Learning
    • Research on the Web
  • Identify basic computer applications.
  • Define Internet browser and search engine and describe how to do research on the Internet.
  • Critically evaluate information you find on the Web.
  • Use e-mail and explain its efficiency.
  • Use word processing and database programs to design a professional presentation.
  • Define distance learning and give examples of an e-learning environment.
  • Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of distance learning.
    		•
    11 Decision Making and Problem Solving
  • Developing a Framework
  • Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
  • Reflecting on Your Decisions
    		•
  • Describe the process of making a good decision.
  • Give examples of framework strategies for problem solving.
  • Develop a personalized plan for making good decisions.
  • Explain the importance of critical thinking and give examples of good decisions.
  • Identify the best strategies for problem solving.
  • Use self-assessment to improve your problem-solving skills.
  • Identify the importance of creativity in decision making.
  • Identify the process of solution making and avoiding problems.
    		•
    12 Diversity and Culture
  • Today's Diverse World
  • Diversity in the Work Place
  • Building Healthy Relationships
    		•
  • Define race, culture, and ethnicity and explain the importance of understanding today's culturally diverse world.
  • Use personal assessment to increase cultural competency and awareness.
  • Use examples to describe a healthy, diverse, and culturally aware work environment.
  • Define prejudice and stereotype and describe what it means to be culture bound.
  • Define conflict and explain the relationship between conflict resolution and a healthy relationship.
  • Identify the role of communication in maintaining healthy relationships
    		•
    13 Managing Your Finances
  • Financial Management Strategies
  • Credit Cards
  • Funding for College
    		•
  • Identify strategies for managing money and meeting and maintaining financial goals.
  • Develop a manageable budget that will allow you to save and invest.
  • Explain how to avoid excessive credit card debit.
  • Distinguish among the various credit agencies and explain how good credit can be an investment in the future.
  • Understand the value of a college education.
  • Identify resources for state, federal, and private financial aid to help pay for college.
    		•
    14 Maintaining Healthy Lifestyles
  • Preparing Yourself Physically
  • Controlling Stress
  • Sexual Health
    		•
  • Describe the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
  • Explain how eating properly and maintaining regular exercise can increase health.
  • Develop an original exercise program that will fit into your busy schedule.
  • Identify methods for controlling and alleviating stress and depression.
  • Use self assessment to identify personal life stressors.
  • Identify and describe methods for coping with drugs and alcohol.
  • Define sexual health and explain how to protect yourself from sexually transmitted disease, unplanned pregnancy, and sexual assault.
    		•
    15 Career Planning
    • The Mission Statement
    • Career Portfolio
    • Career Decisions
    • Describe the process of evaluating and determining life goals.
    • Write a professional mission statement that describes your values, qualities, and goals.
    • Identify specific qualities and skills an employer generally desires.
    • Develop a resume and cover letter that accurately reflects your personality, experience, and abilities.
    • Identify key information resources for locating desirable long-term employment.
    • List examples of careers that suit your abilities.
    16 Course Review
    • Review
    • Review of the course topics

    This program provides you with 6-months of course access.