Episode 7

Study

What does it mean to study in higher education? Many, many students who arrive at our doors don't have concrete answers because they have not been taught methods for college.

This episode digs into the skill of studying in learning and ways of teaching those skills in the classroom and in tutoring. We'll turn to the Academic Success Center's experts to get these answers.

We talk with ASC Director, Troy Mothkovich, about supporting student study and learning skills at an open enrollment college. And we hear specific details about teaching study skills from Biology adjunct professor and long-time ASC tutor Mike Mills. Studying is a set of skills that are quantifiable and teachable so we offer many resources from this episode that can be adapted as appropriate to a wide range of courses.

Join us to hear more about integrating study skills into classes and about integrating study support into teaching and learning.

And below are many resources, derived from our interviews, for teaching study and getting connecting with tutoring and other support through the Academic Success Center.

Listen to Episode 7

Listen here or stream through Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Connecting with the Academic Success Center

There's so much the ASC can do for students and faculty, as you heard Director Troy Mothkovich discuss. Below are some direct links to get more information and contact the ASC.

Contact the Academic Success Center

Through the homepage, you can find all you need or reach out for personal contact

Tutoring Subjects and Schedules

Here are the subjects currently offered for tutoring and the current calendar of offerings.

Accessing MTC StudentLingo

Students can also access asynchronous support through StudentLingo using their MTC login at this site.

Supplemental Instruction

Troy mentions a method of enhancing learned called "supplemental instruction." In its original form, a student who has excelled in and completed the class returns and attends some or all classes with current students to help them in their progression through the course. On a commuter campus, this original form may not be possible. But having successful students return and enhance class instruction can be very valuable and is a modified expression of SI. If you'd like to discuss details and possibilities with Troy, who will be happy to handle all administrative, paperwork aspects of the project, contact the ASC today.

Resources from Mike Mills

Mike shared many concrete in-class study-teaching techniques that you can adapt for your classes. Explore some of the options below. You can also contact Mike or the CTE if you'd like to talk about these or other new techniques for your classes. Select the tiles below for details on each topic.

Post-Exam Wrapper

This is the post-exam reflection Mike gives his students so they can make connections between their preparation for the exam and the outcomes based on their grade.

Checklist for Success

This is Mike's Checklist that he uses to make visible to students the steps they need to take throughout the course to succeed.

A Teaching Reading List

This is a short list of books for engaged teachers that Mike's mentor gave him that were influential. All three are available for free, online through the MTC Library.

Modeling Active Reading

Mike continuously teaches and displays this skill during the course.

Asking Good Questions

Mike finds value in helping students generate their own questions to motivate themselves.

Pomodoro: Using a Timer for Focus

Mike and Troy both suggest the Pomodoro Technique for study focus.

Using Color to Recode

Mike uses color to model re-coding in study and learning.

Mentoring at MTC

Mike, a new professor, mentions two mentors who have been central to him development in a teaching profession: Robert Marchi in Healthcare and Alice Davis in the CTE. Having a mentor can be unfortunately rare but when a good one comes along, so much becomes possible for both mentor and mentee. Take a minute to think about where you are in the chain of mentoring. Do you currently have a mentor? Are you mentoring someone? Seeking out these connections enriches lives and communities. The CTE would be glad to help you find a mentor or mentee, so please reach out to us if you'd like to link up in this great chain of connection.

Alice Davis

Alice was an English professor at the college for decades before joining the Center for Teaching Excellence in 2020. Contact her if you'd like to have the kinds of conversations about developing your teaching as she had with Mike.

Robert Marchi

Robert teaches Medical Terminology in our School of Healthcare. Hear his perspective on teaching in Season One. He's one of MTC's most caring and engaged adjuncts.

Mike Plays The Township

Mike was a musician first and always will be. Here's a fantastic video of one of his live performances at the Township before life intervened and his path brought him to teaching full time. So much talent at MTC!

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