Free Workshops

• Learning Specialists from the Walter E. Dennis Learning Center facilitate a variety of free workshops. In addition to regularly offering FYE Success Series workshops, we accommodate requests from members of the Ohio State community.
  
  
• If you are interested in requesting a workshop for your class, program, organization, residence hall, etc. please read the information below before completing a request form.
  
  
• Workshops last approximately 45-50 minutes. Please let us know if you have a special request for a longer or shorter workshop.
  
  
• Learning Specialists utilize PowerPoint when presenting workshops in classroom settings. If your classroom does not have a computer and/or LCD projector, let us know in advance. We can make arrangements to borrow the appropriate equipment.
  
  
• Learning Specialists typically do not use PowerPoint when presenting in non-classroom settings unless the person initiating the request can provide a computer and LCD projector.
  
  
• The Walter E. Dennis Learning Center’s team of Learning Specialists is comprised of one full-time staff member (Lauren Hensley, Coordinator of Learning Services) and several undergraduates who are trained in learning and motivation strategies. Your presenter will be chosen based upon staff availability, unless you request a specific Learning Specialist.
  
  
• Note to Residence Hall Staff: We ask for your assistance in making the event as successful as possible by ensuring that at least 10 students attend.
  
  Required: Have students RSVP to you via evite, email, or sign-up sheet. Advertise the workshop by posting flyers (we will email you a file to fill out with the specifics).
  
  Suggested: Use available programming funds or request a grant to provide dinner/snacks.
  
  
• Submit the Workshop Request Form to hensley.121@osu.edu
  OR 250C Younkin Success Center, 1640 Neil Avenue.
  
  
• Fill Out Online Workshop Request Form
• Download Workshop Request Form
• Download Full Workshop Details

Active Note-Taking Strategies
As a result of attending this workshop, students will be able to:

• Become more effective and engaged note takers
• Use abbreviations and symbols to make note taking more efficient
• Determine which information in a lecture is most relevant
• Recognize instructor emphasis
• Choose appropriate organization methods for lecture content
• Develop an effective study plan based on their notes

Primary method of delivery: Lecture

Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know About Procrastination…but Haven’t Gotten Around to Asking
As a result of attending this workshop, students will be able to:

• Comprehend rationalizations for procrastination
• Recognize the costs of procrastination
• Identify the real reasons for procrastination
• Understand the procrastination cycle
• Break the procrastination cycle by addressing the real reasons for procrastination
• Better manage their time using proven techniques

Primary methods of delivery: Lecture and interactive worksheet


Great Minds…Work Together: Planning Effective Study Groups
As a result of attending this workshop, students will be able to:

• Understand why some study group experiences are successes while others are disappointments
• Describe Vygotsky’s theory of social learning
• Describe four stages of group development and appropriate task activities for each
• Apply criteria to choose compatible study group members
• Utilize techniques to enhance study group effectiveness
• Determine which study group techniques work best for different types of learners

Primary method of delivery: Lecture, discussion, and activity


Keys to Strategic, Confident Test Taking
As a result of attending this workshop, students will be able to:

• Combat pre-exam stress
• Plan study sessions that lead to a sense of preparedness
• Effectively gather and utilize feedback from past exams
• Strategically approach multiple choice exams
• Strategically approach essay exams
• Stay calm during exams

Primary methods of delivery: Lecture and small group discussion (time permitting)


Making the Most of Your Learning Style
As a result of attending this workshop, students will be able to:

• Distinguish among the characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of different learning styles
• Identify their own preferred learning style
• Recognize which types of courses and teaching styles represent worst case scenarios for different types of learners
• React constructively to academic situations that do not suit their preferred learning style

Primary methods of delivery: Lecture and small group discussion

Preparing Papers and Speeches
As a result of attending this workshop, students will be able to:

• Overcome hurdles that lead to writer’s block
• Apply criteria to possible topics
• Create strong thesis statements
• Choose appropriate sources
• Avoid plagiarism
• Develop strong introductions, body paragraphs, and conclusions
• Gauge the needs of the audience when preparing a speech
• Select appropriate audiovisual aids
• Use feedback to improve presentation skills

Primary method of delivery: Lecture

Secrets of Academic Success
As a result of attending this workshop, students will be able to:

• Describe four strategies for achievement (each with two substrategies) that enable college success
• Apply the strategies to:
• Managing time
• Learning from text
• Learning from lecture
• Preparing for exams
• Preparing papers
• Preparing speeches

Primary method of delivery: Lecture

Stress Less: Tips for Building Academic Confidence and Resilience
As a result of attending this workshop, students will be able to:

• Recognize the importance of thoughts
• Identify self-talk
• Describe five techniques for managing stress
• Distinguish between worries they can and cannot control
• Create manageable goals
• Define resilience
• Describe five techniques for building resilience

Primary method of delivery: Lecture, interactive worksheet, and self-assessment quiz

Use Your Brain! Memory Tools for Effective Studying
As a result of attending this workshop, students will be able to:

• Describe different types of memory
• Identify their sense-related learning style
• Optimize factors that lead to rote learning
• Utilize processes that build meaningful learning
• Attend to overarching factors that affect memory
• Develop a personal study plan incorporating the components above

Primary method of delivery: Lecture, interactive worksheet, and self-assessment quiz