Course Tools

To participate in this course, you will use a number of tools. Please click on the names of each of these tools in order to learn more about them. Then proceed to look at the syllabus. 

1. LMS Textbook--Learning and Motivation Strategies: Your Guide to Success
2. A Hope in the Unseen
3. Modules
4. Online Course Management System
5. Portfolios
6. “Hope” Papers
7. LMS Discussions
8. “Hope” discussions
9. Calendar
10. Syllabus

1. LMS Textbook--Learning and Motivation Strategies: Your Guide to Success:

The Strategies course uses Learning and Motivation Strategies: Your Guide to Success by Tuckman, Abry, and Smith, 2002, as the primary textbook. 

You must have the textbook to participate in the class. It covers the following ten learning modules:

 Module 1: Introduction ...

               ... describes the purpose and format of the course.

Module 2: The Keys to Achievement ...

               ... introduces  general overall strategies that enable people to be successful achievers. 

Module 3: Procrastination - The Thief of Time ...

               ... describes strategies and approaches that reduce or eliminate procrastination.

               For more information on Procrastination, click here.

Module 4: Believing in Yourself - Self-Confidence ...

               ... introduces methods that increase self-confidence.

Module 5: Taking Responsibility - It's up to You ...

               ... presents methods that increase one's sense of control over life

Module 6: Active Listening - Learning from Lecture ...

               ... describes methods for taking notes and processing the material from notes. 

Module 7: Active Reading - Learning from Text  ...

               ... introduces methods for reading and understanding text materials. 

Module 8: Preparing for Exams ...

               ... describes methods for organizing class information to successfully prepare for exams. 

Module 9: Preparing Papers and Speeches ...

               ... covers methods for writing papers and giving speeches.              

Module 10: Managing your Life in School ...

                ... presents methods for successful  adjustment to college life. 

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2. A Hope in the Unseen:            

The Strategies course uses A Hope in the Unseen by Ron Suskind as a supplementary reading. You must have this book to participate in the course.

For information on the book, follow these links:

Read the Wall Street Journal articles for which Suskind won the Pulitzer Prize.

Read the review by Salon Magazine.

Read an interview with Cedric.

Read an interview with Cedric and Ron Suskind.

Read about Cedric's reaction to the MITES controversy.

Read MIT's president's reaction to Cedric's MITES comments.

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3. Modules:

There are ten modules for this course. For more on modules, go to the syllabus. 

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4. Online Course Management System:

Most of the content of the Strategies course is offered through an online interface. The software platform that hosts interactive online course content is generally known as a Course Management System or CMS. Currently we have the course available for three different CMS': Blackboard, WebCT and Angel.

Some of the different kinds of assignments that are hosted online for the Strategies course include:

q       Quickpractices,

q       Mod Assignments,

q       Self-Surveys,

q       Self-Assessments,

q       Spotquizzes, and

q       Feedbacks

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5. Portfolios:

These are ten written activities that will be submitted in class to your instructor.

They will give you the opportunity to apply what you have learned in the ILM mod. For more information see the syllabus.

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6. “Hope” Papers:

These are four two-page papers that will give you the opportunity to relate the ILM theory to the life experiences of the main character in the book. For more information see the syllabus. They are submitted to your instructor during class.

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7. LMS Discussions:

These discussions will give you the opportunity to share your ideas with other students taking the course. There are three ILM discussions. For more information see the syllabus.

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8. “Hope” Discussions:

These discussions will give you the opportunity to share your ideas with other students taking the course. There are three “Hope” discussions. For more information see the syllabus.

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9. Calendar:

The calendar contains dates, activities, modules, and when the “windows” are open to complete the Modules.

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