Get Savvy 2008 Student Workshops, sponsored by Academic Learning Services, will feature 10 workshops in the EMU Alsea and Metolius Rooms today between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Nine workshops focused on developing students’ study habits and skills also took place yesterday, some of which will be repeated today.
“(The workshops) are an opportunity for students to get guidance and information on a variety of study skills,” said Jen Strong, ALS staff member.
Tim McMahon, a former ALS staff member, said the two-day event was founded eight years ago by Amy Nuetzman, ALS interim assistant director.
McMahon, a professional development specialist at the Center on Diversity and Community, will teach a workshop titled “Brain Rules” for the first time. He said the workshop is based on a recently published book, “Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School,” by John Medina.
He said the workshop, which will be held this afternoon from 2 to 2:50 p.m. in the Alsea Room, is designed to facilitate student discussion about the validity and usefulness of the book’s information based on students’ life experiences.
“A lot of (the information) is common sense,” McMahon said. “It’s important to monitor stress levels, get some exercise and develop a sleep pattern.”
Paul Carlile, assistant director at the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, will teach a workshop focused on teaching students how to “make sound financial decisions at the University and beyond,” according to the ALS Web site.
This is Carlile’s first year participating in Get Savvy, but he said the workshop is based on a 10-week ALS course he began teaching last year. The class and workshop share the title “Money Matters.”
“The goal of the class is to show students what tools they can use to track their income and spending, how to develop target spending limits,” Carlile said. “They go over the credit reports they obtain, and talk about debt re-payment strategies.”
Carlile is hosting the workshop twice this week; the first took place yesterday.
He said the seven students who attended yesterday primarily asked about software that could be used to track spending and income, and how credit cards could affect a person’s credit report.
“Credit cards can help in establishing a strong credit report,” Carlile said.
The workshops are each 50 minutes long, free, and open to all University students and faculty to attend, Strong said.
Other workshops will feature information on note-taking, essay writing, public speaking and even speed-reading. A list of workshops and times is available on the ALS Web site.