Practicing College Learning Strategies

PRACTICING COLLEGE LEARNING STRATEGIES, Sixth Edition, is a readable, straightforward, and practical text which focuses on making a first year student's transition to college smoother. PRACTICING COLLEGE LEARNING STRATEGIES models learning strategies that will give students the foundation for learning how to learn throughout college and for becoming life-long learners. The text and activities are thoughtfully constructed using strategies supported by brain research and neuroscience. In addition, the structured activities and exercises guide students in the reflection process to make the information personal and useful and to provide practice opportunities. By combining practical application with learning strategies theory, this text is a motivational tool teaching students how to learn. The author focuses on putting students in the driver's seat, teaching them how to use all of the tools that are at their disposal.

For more than 20 years, Dr. Hopper has been involved with the Learning Strategies department (formerly Developmental Studies) at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN. She is a nationally known lecturer and workshop leader on topics such as learning styles, memory, time management, effective classroom techniques, and using technology in the classroom. She is a frequent guest at the National and Fall Energizer conferences for College Survival, and is also very active in the NADE organization. Carolyn's own Study Skills web site (http://www.mtsu.edu/studskl/) has been visited by more than a million people! When asked to describe her teaching style, Caroyln says: "I am first of all enthusiastic about learning how to learn. I get excited about learning and hopefully my students catch the spirit. My classes are a combination of lecture supported by many visuals and hands-on activities. Skills for being successful in college are learned by doing. So, once students understand a concept, my aim for them is to develop the skills by practice and make modification to the skills that will work for them. A student in my class can expect homework due every class period. My style may seem casual and somewhat "laid back," but each class is carefully planned with goals and objectives in mind. I am extremely demanding, but would like to think that I am patient. I try to make sure that everything we do in class is backed up on the website."