On Course » (6th Edition)

SKIP DOWNING is an international consultant in the field of faculty development and student success strategies. Dr. Downing has earned degrees from Princeton University, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Santa Monica, and Carnegie Mellon University. He holds advanced degrees in both English and counseling psychology. He was Professor of English at Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) for 32 years. In addition to his role as an academic instructor, Dr. Downing created and coordinated BCCC's Student Success and Learning Community Programs. These programs teach students how to apply proven strategies of success to achieve their full potential in college and in life. The College Success Program resulted in a significant increase in both student academic success and retention. Click here to see the data from BCCC as well as many other institutions using the On Course text. Dr. Downing has made numerous presentations at national conferences and conducted faculty development workshops at many two- and four-year colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and the Virgin Islands. Since 1996, he has facilitated the On Course Workshops, intensive four-day retreats for college educators focusing on proven strategies for empowering students to become active, responsible partners in their education and to achieve greater success in college and in life. These workshops offer participants the option of earning three graduate credits in a follow-up on-line course. Dr. Downing's teaching, writing, and consulting are all guided by his belief that the greatest mission of any educational institution is empowering its students to live rich, personally fulfilling lives.

The concise length, tight focus, and emphasis on self-development are keys to this text's appeal. Written in a positive, motivational style, On Course empowers students with tools they need to take charge of their success in college and life. Downing's distinctive guided journal entries help students develop essential life skills by encouraging exploration of personal responsibility, self-motivation, interdependence, and self-esteem. Extensive coverage of study skills—reading, note taking, memorizing, and test taking—provided in the Wise Choices in College" sections help students excel in all of their college courses."

1. Getting On Course to Your Success Taking the First Step One Student's Story Jalana Onaga On Course Principles at Work Believing in Yourself: Develop Self-Acceptance Wise Choices in College: Learning College Customs 2. Accepting Personal Responsibility Case Study in Critical Thinking: The Late Paper Adopting the Creator Role One Student's Story Brian Moore Mastering Creator Language Making Wise Decisions Personal Responsibility at Work Believing in Yourself: Change Your Inner Conversation One Student's Story Dominic Grasseth Wise Choices in College: Effective Reading Embracing Change: Do One Thing Different This Week 3. Discovering Self-Motivation Case Study in Critical Thinking: Popson's Dilemma Creating Inner Motivation One Student's Story: Chee Meng Vang Designing a Compelling Life Plan Committing to Your Goals and Dreams One Student's Story: Amanda Schmeling Self-Motivation at Work Believing in Yourself: Write a Personal Affirmation One Student's Story Donna Ludwick Wise Choices in College: Effective Note Taking Embracing Change: Do One Thing Different This Week 4. Mastering Self-Management Case Study in Critical Thinking: The Procrastinators Acting on Purpose Employing Self-Management Tools One Student's Story: Allysa LaPage Developing Self-Discipline One Student's Story: Holt Boggs Self-Management at Work Believing in Yourself: Develop Self-Confidence Wise Choices in College: Effective Writing Embracing Change: Do One Thing Different This Week 5. Employing Interdependence Case Study in Critical Thinking: Professor Rogers' Trial Developing Mutually Supportive Relationships One Student's Story: Jason Matthew Laden Creating a Support Network One Student's Story: Neal Benjamin Strengthening Relationships with Active Listening Interdependence at Work Believing in Yourself: Be Assertive Wise Choices in College: Effective Studying Embracing Change: Do One Thing Different This Week 6. Gaining Self-Awareness Case Study in Critical Thinking: Strange Choices Recognizing When You Are Off Course Identifying Your Scripts One Student's Story James Floriolli Rewriting Your Outdated Scripts Self-Awareness at Work Believing in Yourself: Write Your Own Rules One Student's Story: Brande? Huigens Wise Choices in College: Effective Test Taking Embracing Change: Do One Thing Different This Week 7. Adopting Lifelong Learning Case Study in Critical Thinking: A Fish Story Becoming an Active Learner Discovering Your Preferred Learning Style One Student's Story Melissa Thompson Learning to Make Course Corrections One Student's Story: Jessie Maggard Lifelong Learning at Work Believing in Yourself: Develop Self-Respect Wise Choices in College: Effective Memorizing Embracing Change: Do One Thing Different This Week 8. Developing Emotional Intelligence Case Study in Critical Thinking: After Math Understanding Emotional Intelligence Reducing Stress One Student's Story: Lindsey Beck One Student's Story: Jaime Sanmiguel Creating Flow Emotional Intelligence at Work Believing in Yourself: Develop Self-Love Wise Choices in College: Effective Money Management Embracing Change: Do One Thing Different This Week 9. Staying On Course to Your Success Planning Your Next Steps Bibliography Acknowledgments Index