Syllabus

Overview

This course will cover some basic principles on making the adjustment to college learning. It will include not only information but also opportunities to practice what you learn.  In fact, the practice will form the basis for strategies that will serve you well in the fall. These strategies, while not necessarily course specific, serve as tools for success.

Course Objectives

This course provides students with a general understanding of the first year as a transition place that requires adjustment on the part of students. These adjustments fall into three categories: 

1. Required amount of time and work: Students should be able to build a schedule and make effective choices.
2. Responsibility for learning: Students should be able to complete an assignment independently and formulate questions.
3. Standards for high quality performance: Students should be able to establish reasonable goals based on not only mastering the facts, but also understanding their significance or relevance.

Lectures and Assignments

All required materials for this course are provided on this web site. The six lectures are listed in the Lectures table, and the associated assignments and activities are listed in the Assignments table.

Other Reading

• Covey, Sean. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1998.
  
• Covey, Stephen. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1989.

• Freire, Paolo.  “The ‘Banking’ Concept of Education.”  Shaping Discourse. Ed. April Lidinsky, et al. Pearson Custom Printing, 2002.

• Light, Richard J.  Making the Most of College: Students Speak Their Minds.  Cambridge, MA:  Harvard University Press, 2001.

• Smith, Donald E. P., et al.  Learning to Learn. Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc., 1961.

• Weinsheimer, Joyce D.  Turning Point.  Wadsworth, Inc., 1993.

Course Requirements

University of Notre Dame first year students are expected to complete all lessons and exercises. Students will follow instructions provided in the lessons which will direct them to the exercises to be completed.Assignments to be submitted via Concourse for grading are highlighted in the Assignments table.  In addition to completing the assigned exercises, students will have the opportunity to complete supplementary exercises, as well as to ask questions of Dr. Harmatiuk, Director of Learning Strategies for First Year of Studies.