Academics Plus Workshop Series
Spring 2021 Schedule
The Academics Plus workshops are designed to help international students and students from diverse linguistic backgrounds transition to Penn by providing study strategies and introducing helpful campus resources. The workshops are an ideal space to discuss academic, language, and cultural topics.
If you have questions about the Academics Plus series, please email Julianne Reynolds, Associate Director and Learning Specialists for International Students, Learning Resources at reynj@upenn.edu.
Thriving Academically in Online and Offline SpacesSome of the challenges faced by Penn students this remote pandemic year have included increased levels of stress and anxiety, social isolation, reduced ability to focus, and non-conducive workspaces. Given these challenges, how is it possible to not only survive but thrive? Join us to learn effective strategies for getting work done and improving wellbeing by paying attention to your own values and needs. This workshop will be co-facilitated by Learning Resources and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). |
Tuesday, January 26, 8:00 – 9 a.m. EST Zoom Recording Passcode: %mM@1v@I |
Managing Your Time in Times of UncertaintyTime management skills are always an important key to academic success. During times of uncertainty, these skills become even more important. There will always be things that are outside of your control but managing your own time is something you have a lot of power over. Having this sense of control over your time and finding comfort in your own routines will help you navigate any storm. This workshop will share strategies for effective daily, weekly, and semester planning as well as strategies for managing distractions and building flexibility into your study plans. |
Wednesday, January 27, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. EST Zoom Recording Passcode: YP#%2U@4 |
Strategic Reading and Critical Thinking for Online CoursesReading primary and secondary sources will enhance your learning and deepen your understanding of the history, theories and current issues of your field of study. However, the amount of assigned reading can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when English is a second language. The good news is that there are many pre-, during-, and post-reading strategies you can use to increase your understanding and retention of texts. This workshop will address those strategies and teach you how to adapt your strategies for different courses and different modalities. |
Thursday, January 28, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. EST Zoom Recording Passcode: 40Gjck=N |
Strategies and Tools for Remote ResearchPenn Libraries is a vast system of 15 libraries and millions of books and resources. Where do you even begin when you have a paper to write? Which resources are available virtually and how do you access them? This workshop will focus on finding and selecting appropriate sources using the Franklin catalog on the Penn Libraries website. Join us to learn about strategies and tools for finding the information you need. Then learn about the many ways Learning Resources can support you through the writing process. This workshop will be co-facilitated by Learning Resources and Penn Libraries. |
Tuesday, February 2, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. EST Zoom Recording Passcode: .y#M9Kya |
Academic Listening and Note-Taking for Online CoursesInformation flies fast and furious in lectures and discussions. Are you taking notes on the right things? Do your notes make sense to you when you review them later? Come find out how to identify key information in lectures, maintain your focus and concentration in Zoom meetings and prerecorded lectures, and gain familiarity with a variety of note-taking styles and strategies. |
Wednesday, February 3, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. EST Zoom Recording Passcode: &J^k6!$q |
Additional Resources and Support
We also encourage you to explore our Resources for Online Learning and the Weingarten Center Blog for strategies and resources related to these topics. In addition, please feel free to schedule an individual consultation with one of our learning specialists through MyWLRC.