Academic Strategies Workshop Series

The McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning is offering a series of hands-on, active, and process-focused workshops in which students learn and apply strategies designed expressly for the highly demanding Princeton University context. Led by McGraw's Senior Associate Director, Nic Voge, the emphasis is on advanced and innovative techniques for purposeful and efficient learning. Students apply the strategies to their own course materials whenever possible during the workshops and, ideally, make a one-to-one follow-up appointment in The McGraw Center which builds upon what they learned in the workshop.

The strategies introduced emerge from a common core of research-based learning principles and comprise an integrated strategic approach. While each workshop can stand alone, the series is designed to build on itself and thus reinforce the core principles, and yet is sequenced to be responsive to the current demands of the semester (e.g. midterms).

Princeton Students can meet with a McGraw Learning Strategies Consultant to work on any of these topics. Daytime, evening, and weekend appointments are available.

Do you have suggestions about topics or issues for McGraw Undergraduate Programming? Email your ideas to mcgraw@princeton.edu.

Spring 2019 Academic Strategies Workshops

 

Start Your Semester Strong: Mapping Your Semester for Balance & Success

Spring semester poses some unique demands, especially when it comes to time management and planning. Learn from McGraw learning consultants (Princeton Juniors and seniors) practical strategies for starting your courses off strong and managing your time effectively so you can make the most of all that Princeton has to offer. Get their advice, ask your questions, leave with valuable resources.

Wednesday, February 6, 4:30-6:00 p.m. in 330 Frist Campus Center
RSVP to reserve a spot.

Friday, February 8, 2:00-3:30 p.m. in 330 Frist Campus Center
RSVP to reserve a spot.

How does my professor expect me to do all this reading? Managing Assigned Readings

Learn How to Maximize Your Reading Efficiency! To achieve academic success at Princeton it is crucial for students to develop superior strategies for reading and learning from text. In this workshop, you will learn an approach that helps you align your learning strategies to instructor objectives, techniques for reading various kinds of academic texts, strategies for enhancing retention and recall, and methods for reading faster and more efficiently.  This is an active, hands-on workshop in which you will learn specific strategies by applying them.

Wednesday, February 13, 4:30-6:00 p.m. in 330 Frist Campus Center
RSVP to reserve a spot.

Friday, February 15, 2:00-3:30 p.m. in 330 Frist Campus Center
RSVP to reserve a spot.

Too Much to Learn, Too Little Time: Deciding What to Study and How

Looking for more effective—and efficient—study strategies? Because of the large amounts of information assigned and the compressed schedule of midterm exam week, you need to prioritize, organize and study course content as the course unfolds. Waiting until exam week to study just doesn’t work. Learn several different study methods applicable to a variety of courses so that you can read, take lecture notes, and study more efficiently.

Wednesday, February 20, 4:30-6:00 p.m. in 330 Frist Campus Center
RSVP to reserve a spot.

Friday, February 22, 2:00-3:30 p.m. in 330 Frist Campus Center
RSVP to reserve a spot.

Why do I keep putting things off? Understanding & Overcoming Procrastination

Is procrastination an obstacle to maintaining balance and achieving academic success? If so, you are not alone. Up to 80% of college students report that procrastination has been a significant issue. Procrastination is not a matter of mere “laziness” and the solution is not simply “better time management”. To overcome procrastination, it is vital that you understand its root causes and motivational dynamics. It is also vital to learn an array of (sometimes counter-intuitive) strategies and techniques for dealing with it.

In this workshop, you will gain a deeper awareness of what procrastination is and why people do it, understand the motivational dynamics and mind games that perpetuate procrastination. and Learn a variety of techniques for managing procrastination.

Friday, March 1, 2:00-3:30 p.m. in 330 Frist Campus Center
RSVP to reserve a spot.

Friday, April 5, 2:00-3:30 p.m. in 330 Frist Campus Center
RSVP to reserve a spot.

Feeling Confident for Midterms: Test Prep and Learning Strategies to Succeed this Midterm Season

Ready for your midterms? In this workshop you will learn proven methods for:

  • Anticipating and preparing for the kind of problems and questions you will be expected to answer on exams.
  • Selecting and prioritizing the most important information in your courses.
  • Synthesizing and reducing large amounts of information from multiple sources into manageable formats.
  • Organizing your knowledge in ways that promote deep learning, retention, and efficient recall.

This is an active hands-on workshop in which you will work on materials from YOUR own current courses. So, bring a syllabus or two and any other information from your courses such as previous exams (check Blackboard) that might be useful in preparing for midterms.

Wednesday, March 6, 4:30-6:00 p.m. in 330 Frist Campus Center
RSVP to reserve a spot.

Friday, March 8, 2:00-3:30 p.m. in 329 Frist Campus Center
RSVP to reserve a spot.

Got my midterms back, what should I do differently? Adjusting after midterms

What did you learn FROM your midterms? How can you use your exams to make adjustments to your approach?

In this interactive workshop led by McGraw Undergraduate Learning Consultants, you will use the feedback gained from your midterms to develop more effective approaches to learning for the rest of the semester. You will take away a:

  • concrete action plan for your courses
  • process for using exams to adjust your studying
  • a better understanding of the kinds of studying required in Princeton courses

Wednesday, March 27, 4:30-6:00 p.m. in 330 Frist Campus Center
RSVP to reserve a spot.

How will I get it all done? Planning for Dean's Date & Finals

This interactive workshop will focus on successful strategies for how to complete Dean's Date assignments efficiently and prepare for exams effectively. Come get your questions answered about managing one of Princeton's unique challenges. Discussion topics are time management, productivity, and dealing with stress.

Monday, May 6, 4:30-6:00 p.m. in 330 Frist Campus Center
RSVP to reserve a spot.

Tuesday, May 7, 12:00-1:30 p.m. in 330 Frist Campus Center
RSVP to reserve a spot. Lunch is provided.

 

Previously held Fall 2018 Academic Strategies Workshops

Princeton Students can meet with a McGraw Learning Strategies Consultant to work on any of these topics. Daytime, evening, and weekend appointments are available.

 

Let's get a meal sometime: How to ensure academics don't overwhelm your social life

Princeton academics and extracurriculars pose unique time management challenges and offer incredible opportunities. Enhance your time (and task) management strategies so that you can have the kind of Princeton experience you want and achieve your most important goals while finding balance. This is an active, hands-on workshop in which you will learn specific strategies by applying them.

Not Like High School – Understanding (and coping with) How Princeton is Different

Many students find adjusting to the examination styles of each new course to be challenging, and it is usually around midterm time that this realization sets in. Turn the "shock" of midterms into a successful learning experience by reflecting, evaluating, and strategizing for the future. Join us for this Midterms Reflection Workshop.  Together we will:

  • Reflect on the midterm experience: what you learned, how you felt, what you would like to work on.
  • Discuss ways to adjust your mindset and approach to the course.
  • Learn how to evaluate your test results in a practical and constructive manner for future success.
  • Develop strategies for academic success in the remainder of the semester. 

There's so much to do!: What should I do the first week, when, and how? 

Learn from McGraw learning consultants (Princeton Juniors and seniors) practical strategies for starting your courses off strong and managing your time effectively so you can make the most of all that Princeton has to offer. Get their advice, ask your questions, leave with valuable resources.

Too Much to Learn, Too Little Time: How to Decide What to Study

Looking for more effective—and efficient—study strategies? Because of the large amounts of information assigned and the compressed schedule of midterm exam week, you need to prioritize, organize and study course content as the course unfolds. Waiting until exam week to study just doesn’t work. Learn several different study methods applicable to a variety of courses so that you can read, take lecture notes, and study more efficiently.

Frequently Offered Academic Strategies Workshops