The concise length, tight focus, and emphasis on self-development are keys to this text's appeal. Written in a positive, motivational style,On Course empowers students with tools they need to take charge of their success in college and life. Downing's distinctive guided journal entries help students develop essential life skills by encouraging exploration of personal responsibility, self-motivation, interdependence, and self-esteem. Extensive coverage of study skills?reading, note taking, memorizing, and test taking?provided in the "Wise Choices in College" sections help students excel in all of their college courses.
- New! "One Student's Story" student essays provide insight on which On Course strategies worked for them and how they applied these strategies to their life.
- The "Choices of Successful Students" chart on the inside front cover shows eight key choices that successful students make in determining their own success. These choices are revisited at the beginning of each chapter.
- An end-of-chapter study skills feature, "Wise Choices in College," covers reading, note taking, studying, memorizing, test taking, writing, and researching. This feature is highlighted in the Table of Contents.
- New! An end-of-chapter applications exercise, "Embracing Change: Do one thing different this week," appears after "Wise Choices in College." This exercise lists beliefs and behaviors related to the chapter topic, and asks students to select one they would like to experiment with for one week. After the week, students can assess their results to determine if their outcomes and experiences improve.
- "On Course Principles at Work" show how important the On Course success strategies are for choosing the right career, getting hired, and succeeding in the work world.
- "Case Study in Critical Thinking," now moved to the beginning of every chapter, includes topics such as procrastination and collaborative work and encourage students to think critically and creatively.
- New! Eduspace course provides students with a place to interact with the textbook by completing journal entries and technology exercises, and participating in discussion groups. Video Skillbuilders for Student Success provide supplemental materials to expand lessons in time management, note-taking, reducing test anxiety, health and wellness, and decision-making.
Skip Downing is an international consultant in the field of faculty development and student success strategies. Dr. Downing has earned degrees from Princeton University, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Santa Monica, and Carnegie Mellon University. He holds advanced degrees in both English and counseling psychology. He was professor of English at Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) for 32 years. In addition to his role as an academic instructor, Dr. Downing created and coordinated BCCC's Student Success and Learning Community Programs. These programs teach students how to apply proven success strategies to achieve their full potential in college and in life. The College Success Program resulted in a significant increase in both student academic success and retention. Dr. Downing has made numerous presentations at national conferences and conducted faculty development workshops at many two- and four-year colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and the Virgin Islands. Dr. Downing's teaching, writing, and consulting are all guided by his belief that the greatest mission of any educational institution is to empower its students to live rich, fulfilling lives. Since 1996, he has facilitated the On Course Workshops, intensive four-day retreats for college educators focusing on proven strategies for helping students become active, responsible partners in their education and achieve greater success in college and in life.
