Developing A Credit-Based Student Success Course: How To Implement A Learning Frameworks Curriculum

Description  ChallengeThe webinar will address how postsecondary educators can transform and underpin their student success curriculum with research, theory, and best practices.Key Takeaway How to develop an effective student success course by implementing learning frameworks into the curriculum. How the learning frameworks curriculum differs from traditional study skills and first-year seminar course curriculum. OverviewCollege success courses—also referred to as learning frameworks, strategic learning, learning strategy, study skills, and first-year seminar courses—are typically designed to help students adapt to the rigors of college by: Fostering their knowledge of college culture Helping them increase their self-efficacy, self-regulation, metacognition, and motivation to succeed Helping them understand the reasons for engaging in specific study behavior Helping them transfer new study behaviors to their other courses These courses are offered for college credit in one, two, or three-hour course formats. They also vary widely in their grounding in theory and research, pedagogical approaches, and course topics. This online webinar will describe how to strengthen college success courses by implementing key components of theory and research-based learning frameworks curriculum. The hallmark of the learning frameworks curriculum is to introduce students to theories, research, and best-practices from cognitive, behavioral, and affective domains of educational psychology to underpin the learning strategies and skills taught within the course. Providing both conceptual and strategy-based content are critical aspects of the courses. The curriculum sets them apart from introductory study skills courses, which typically teach students specific techniques and methods in isolation, such as content mapping and textbook annotation, focusing on acquiring a skill but not comprehensive understanding of why and how learning can be enhanced using that technique. Learning frameworks curriculum guides students in assessing their learning strengths and weaknesses to strategically build upon their strengths and target specific areas for improvement. The intent is to lay the theoretical groundwork for students to comprehend how their learning occurs and then foster a variety of strategic choices to evaluate the effectiveness of using these strategies and individualizing their strategic approaches. Students are ultimately taught to transfer and apply learning strategies to their academic program. A unifying conceptual framework often used in learning frameworks curriculum is Weinstein’s Model of Strategic Learning, which includes four components: skill, will, self-regulation, and the academic environment. Each component comprises a number of elements, or variables, found in research to be causally related to student success and amenable to change. Empirical studies also suggest achievement benefits for students enrolling in college success courses with learning frameworks steeped within the curriculum.Drs. Russ Hodges and Taylor Acee will convey learning frameworks, course curriculum, teaching strategies, the Model of Strategic Learning, and recent research supporting the implementation of these courses for online, hybrid, and face-to-face course formats. Participants will also receive an instructor’s guide with sample course activities, sample syllabus, and exams.Objectives Discuss the learning frameworks curriculum components for a “model” student success course Examine research that supports the implementation of courses with learning frameworks curriculum Identify best-practices for differing course formats (online, hybrid, face-to-face) Explore syllabus components, faculty training, and course policies Engage in an activity on attribution theory (demonstrating how to conduct the activity for students) Who Should Attend Administrators Faculty Student Services/Affairs First-year experience instructors 7 coordinators TRIO Program Administrators & Staff (e.g. Student Support Services) Retention Program Administrators & Staff Any educator interested in learning more about teaching research and theory-based study strategies