To be successful in college, students need to study effectively. Fortunately, Weber State’s various tutoring centers are an effective way to study, learn and improve skills, so that students can pass courses and become marketable for potential employers when they graduate.
The Science Learning Center, located in Tracy Hall room 101, covers tutoring in Chemistry, Physics and Zoology. These three courses can be some of the most difficult for many students, but students don’t have to go it alone: tutors are available throughout the week for students.
Blake Merriem, a tutor in the Science Learning Center, stressed prioritizing time as a key to college success for university freshmen.
“Some courses are more intuitive than others,” Merriem said. “Proportion your study time to meet the demands of your course load, starting with the most difficult classes first.
Merriem noted that to effectively study, students should seek to comprehend the material and not simply memorize answers for an exam. He emphasized using a study guide as a practice exam in order to review and encouraged seeking assistance, not only for science courses but for any problems a student might encounter.
Merriem cited counseling and psychological services on campus as additional resources beneficial for students.
“You’re not alone,” Merriem said. “There’s always someone to talk to and get advice.”
If a student needs help passing math, the Math Tutoring Center in the Lampros Hall Hub covers Math 950, 970, 990 and 1010. Math tutor Michael Joseph identified a common concern of students expressed among students coming into the center is that the student will monopolize the tutor’s time.
“A lot of students who come into the Hub are concerned about taking up the tutors time. Please don’t be,” Joseph said. “Helping students with their math is why we are there everyday. Feel free to come in, log on to a computer with your normal Weber login and ask questions.”
As for a freshman success tip, Joseph, similar to Merriam, stressed time management.
“Everything takes so much longer than you think it does,” Joseph said. “Things don’t go according to plan. Make space in your schedule in case things run long or emergencies happen.”
After finishing Math 1010, though, students aren’t stranded without support. The Drop -In Math Tutoring Center is located in Tracy Hall room 233 and covers all Math classes between Math 1030 to Calculus 3.
Cole Eckhardt, a tutor in the Writing Center and Developmental English Learning Center, mentioned that many students aren’t aware of resources like the Writing Center in Elizabeth Hall. However, Eckhardt argued the importance of using academic support, especially since much of academic support, the Writing Center included, is covered by student fees and is, therefore, free to students.
“It’s been demonstrated that students who do take advantage of those resources succeed better in their undergraduate education,” Eckhardt said.
Eckhardt also stressed the importance of academic support options like the Writing Center or Math tutoring as places where a student can receive help from someone with a level of expertise in an unfamiliar or unpracticed subject.
“Be open to the expertise of the writing consultants or the Math tutors, because they might be able to spot problems in your writing approach or methods that you didn’t have on your radar,” Eckhardt said. “Tutoring services at Weber State are tailored to the individual student.”
Notably, the Writing Center isn’t just for English classes or English Majors.
“With the Writing Center in particular, I think one of the things that students don’t understand right away is that we work with writing for classes across the entire curriculum,” Eckhardt said.
Eckhardt stressed that students who don’t practice their skills won’t improve in their writing, and that students who are not confident in their writing ability may not want to seek feedback. However, the Writing Center doesn’t criticize the students work; rather, the center focuses on working with students in a constructive environment.
Another method students can use to improve their study habits is Supplemental Instruction, a program crafted to help students pass courses the university flags as particularly difficult. During SI sessions, students work through course content under the instruction of an SI leader. More information, including SI schedules for Fall 2019, are available at https://www.weber.edu/SupplementalInstruction.
In order for a student to maximize their chances of success, the tutors argued most for effective time management skills and a knowledge of the resources. College can undoubtedly be difficult and time-consuming; however, taking advantage of the resources available should ease the burden.
Information about the Science Learning Center, including tutoring hours, can be located at https://www.weber.edu/Tutoring/science.
Information about Math Tutoring, including tutoring hours, handouts and information about study groups can be located at https://www.weber.edu/MTC/.
Information about the Writing Center, including hours and resources covering writing and digital literacy can be located at https://www.weber.edu/WritingCenter.
