Psych 1310: Academic Learning Skills

About the Course

The Academic Learning Skills course is designed to help students develop academic skills, habits, and attitudes for success throughout their college career. This course uses a team-based learning format, in-class discussions, and personal reflections to promote individual growth. Students will learn and practice evidence-based approaches for developing personal academic skills such as time management, note-taking, reading, test preparation, goal setting, motivation, and maintaining overall wellbeing. Other course features include:

  • Curriculum grounded in the science of learning
  • Online references and activities managed through Canvas
  • Small class sizes up to 30 students
  • 1 credit, graded - meet for 50 minutes once per week

Why take Psych 1310?

Learn about available resources

"[This course] introduced me to a lot of resources at ISU that I didn't know about before. I think something that I will definitely consider is using some of the resources... they are actually really useful. There is help at ISU that I didn't have before."

Build helpful connections with peers

"[This course] challenged me to put myself in other people's shoes and look at situations from different perspectives. I feel that when you do, you can get or give good advice... and that will help people connect more."

Develop flexible learning strategies

"Every class is different, and you might need to use different strategies in order to pass. This may be hard at first... but that's okay because we're here to learn."

Be more prepared for your future

"In the long run, it is going to help me mature and be ready for things when they come my way."

Adjusting to college can be challenging - but you don't have to figure it all out on your own! I wasn't really sure what this class would entail, but I learned a lot of valuable information from this course that I would have never known otherwise.

Learning Outcomes for Psych 131

Four domains form the learning outcomes for Psych 131. Through active participation in this course and completion of required assignments, students will:

I. Goal Setting and Motivation

  1. Identify specific factors influencing personal motivation and success
  2. Articulate how to self-monitor learning and how to adjust study behaviors accordingly
  3. Learn strategies for creating short-term and long-term goals

II. Time Management and Planning

  1. Identify specific details of how time is currently spent
  2. Articulate priorities impacting use of time
  3. Learn specific time management strategies to achieve goals

III. Learning Strategies and Individual Differences

  1. Identify and understand learning preferences and strategies
  2. Articulate how personal preferences affect others when learning individually or in groups
  3. Develop strategies for academic success, including: thinking, note taking, testing, and reading

IV. Team-Based, Peer Group Interaction

  1. Identify appropriate/inappropriate ways of interacting with peer students in group or team-based, in-class interactions
  2. Articulate the value of working in groups and increase value of working with students who have diverse backgrounds and experiences
  3. Demonstrate the ability to balance multiple perspectives when working with others

Outcomes for specific course activities and assignments are determined by each instructor.

  1. Identify specific factors influencing personal motivation and success
  2. Articulate how to self-monitor learning and how to adjust study behaviors accordingly
  3. Learn strategies for creating short-term and long-term goals

  1. Identify specific details of how time is currently spent
  2. Articulate priorities impacting use of time
  3. Learn specific time management strategies to achieve goals

  1. Identify and understand learning preferences and strategies
  2. Articulate how personal preferences affect others when learning individually or in groups
  3. Develop strategies for academic success, including: thinking, note taking, testing, and reading

  1. Identify appropriate/inappropriate ways of interacting with peer students in group or team-based, in-class interactions
  2. Articulate the value of working in groups and increase value of working with students who have diverse backgrounds and experiences
  3. Demonstrate the ability to balance multiple perspectives when working with others

Questions about Psych 131?