So you really blew your Spanish class last semester, and that physics final didn’t go too well either. Now is the time to ensure that this semester is different, and the learning centers on campus have some advice to offer — free of charge.
“The main thing is to start the semester with a self-assessment,” said Barbara Bekis, the coordinator of The University of Memphis’ Educational Support Program. “Students need to look at what they had trouble with last semester and work on that this semester.”
The learning centers, which are part of the Educational Support Program, can assist students with this. They offer free help with everything from time management to calculus.
“We can help students get a handle on spring courses,” Bekis said. “Students can come in for a one-time consultation on study strategies or set up daily appointments with tutors.”
One of the main problems that students encounter, according to Bekis, is that they are not knowledgeable about ways to manage their time to assure they have time to study and prepare for their classes.
The learning centers can assist students with time management by helping them create a comprehensive time chart, mapping out times that would be best for homework, studying and projects.
There is also a seminar to help students with this problem. “Balancing Time and Using Valuable Study Habits” will be held Feb. 5 in Dunn Hall 101 from 1-2 p.m.
Another problem area for many students is test preparation. According to Nicole Cabrere-Buggs, a learning specialist with the Educational Support Program, students sometimes think the way they study for one test is the way they should study for every test.
“At the learning center we help students prepare for the test,” Cabrere-Buggs said. “We find out what is being asked on the test and then focus on what the student has trouble with.”
The whole month of April is filled with test-taking seminars at the learning centers, to help students prepare for final exams.
“The seminars really helped me,” said Mamie Redd, freshman. “I had a hard time with math last semester, but this semester I’m visiting the learning centers daily, and I scheduled my classes to meet my needs better. I’m going to make an A this time.”
Students sometimes think that in the end everything will all work out, but it doesn’t always happen that way, Bekis said.
“Students just need to go to class ready to learn,” Bekis said. “They are paying to attend The University, and they need to get their money’s worth by attending class and coming to the learning center.”
