Don't Get Lost In Your Online Classroom

The best thing to do when you are lost, driving in an unfamiliar area without GPS, is to pull over and ask for directions so why not have the same mindset in your online classroom. If you are feeling lost and confused, do not hesitate to take time to reach out and seek direction from your instructor.
 
Learning how to ask detailed questions and communicate them to your instructor, in the online environment, is one of the most important skills you need to be successful in your courses.  Since you are not face to face with your instructors, as in a traditional classroom, maintaining communication with your instructor is essential. 

Recommendations to promote communication with your online instructor:

Email: Do not hesitate or put off contacting your instructor.  Your instructor is there to help you and to promote your success.  You can send an email anytime.  Please Note: Always use your NOVA email address when communicating via email.  Instructors are unable to reply to a non-NOVA email address. Some instructors teach several courses, so please begin your email with your name, student ID and the course and section that you are enrolled in.

Office Hours: If you prefer one-on-one communication, consider contacting your instructor during their office hours, which are posted in your course syllabus.  Office hours are an excellent resource to get the extra help you may need.

Course Discussion Boards/Student Lounge: Discussion board forums, located in your course Bb, are another way to contact your instructor.  Some instructors may even setup a Student Lounge just for questions about the class, which they check regularly. This is an excellent forum to ask questions about assignments, concepts, theories, as well as to clarify policy and due dates. You would not want to use this forum to ask a personal question.

Course Chat: Some instructors hold regular chat sessions at specific times.  This is another excellent setting to get your concerns/questions addressed.

Expressing Your Question: When you are writing or asking a question, be sure that your question/concern is clearly stated. It can be confusing for an instructor to receive an email stating, “I don’t understand the week one assignment”.  It’s better to write, “I need some clarification about the week one assignment titled, ‘xx’.  I’ve downloaded the template that contains the exercises for week one but I’m having trouble answering question two and three.  I did the reading and took notes but I’m still not grasping the concepts in regards to the Freudian theory. I would appreciate any assistance you can provide”.  If your question is clearly stated, your instructor will be able to better address your concern.  Finally, always include the title and section number for your course in the subject line of your email. 

Responses: If your instructor does not reply to your email in a timely manner, check to be sure that your email was sent from your NOVA email, consider contacting your instructor during office hours or through the discussion board (if it is not a personal concern).  You can also try resending your email indicating, ‘Time Sensitive’ in the subject line.  In the body, write, ‘I am writing to follow through on the email referenced below."

Do no get lost in your class….if you are feeling ‘lost’ or confused with an assignment, lesson, or concept, contact your instructor right away!  For additional assistance in your online classes, feel free to contact the ELI Success Coaches.  They can assist you with time management, academic resources or study strategies to include free online tutoring for ELI Students. Please contact your ELI Success Coach at ELISuccess@nvcc.edu or call 703.764.5076.

Tips to Promote a Successful Semester

If you are new to ELI or a seasoned online learner, the ELI Success Coaches would like to provide some tips to promote a successful semester!   

Attend an ELI Online Orientation Webinar: The ELI Orientation webinar is a live, one hour online instruction session that focuses on getting started in your ELI courses, navigating your Blackboard course site, identifying tips for success, and highlighting student support services. During the online webinar, you will have opportunities to ask any questions. To register or request a recording, please click here.  

Review your Syllabus Thoroughly: Visit your Blackboard and review your syllabus on the first day of class.  Record assignments, quizzes and exams in your paper planner or enter them in your online planning system.  Also, be sure to note when you need to post to the class discussion board and how often.  If possible, try to plan not to wait until the last day to take your exams.  

Assignment Due Dates: It is important to complete your first assignment prior to the Census Date.   The Census date is the last day you can submit your first assignment to avoid being dropped from your class without a tuition refund.  This date is listed in your Syllabus and/or Course Assignments Tab.  

Communicate with your Professor: Do not hesitate to communicate with your professor.  Most professors reference their office hours in the Syllabus.  Feel free to contact s/he during office hours or send an email anytime.  Also, most of our online courses have a discussion forum.  If you have a general question, you can post it to the discussion forum.  Do not hesitate to contact your professor if you have any questions regarding assignment due dates or need any clarification.  They are here to help promote your success.   

Email: Be sure to check your NOVA email regularly.  There are many important announcements sent by the College, ELI and your professor(s).  When you are communicating with your professor or any NOVA associate, be sure to use your NOVA email.  

Develop a Study Schedule and Create a Workspace: Time goes by quickly, be sure to develop a daily study schedule along with a quiet, distraction-free environment to optimize concentration and productivity. 

Get Involved: ELI offers many resources and tips through our NovaELIfe social media channels to help you get involved.  For links to our informational blogs, academic resources, Virtual Student Union, Facebook and Twitter, please click here. 

Contact Your Success Coach: If you have questions or concerns about your courses or would benefit from academic resources such as webinars, workshops and free online tutoring, your ELI Success Coach can provide resources to help you out and promote your academic success.  To connect with your Coach, contact elisuccess@nvcc.edu or call 703.764.5076.  

Take these steps today and promote your success!

Free Tutoring to Promote Your Success in Your ELI Courses

To help with your study plan, ELI offers free online tutoring through Smarthinking, to help you succeed in your online courses. Subjects offered include math, accounting, biology, anatomy & physiology, chemistry, statistics, physics, and more!   

The tutoring service also offers additional resources such as an opportunity to submit a question without having to wait for a tutoring session.  They also offer academic resources such as an accounting glossary, Writers and ESL Writers Handbook, links to sites that provide support for mathematics and links to sites that provide support for mathematics.  Best of all when you are using the one-on-one tutoring servcies, many subjects have tutors available 24/7!  

If that is not enough, Smarthinking also offers an Online Writing Lab which provides students with the ability to receive a detailed, personalized critique of any written assignment through a formal critique process.  

To learn more or to request tutoring services through Smarthinking, please visit our website.  It is recommended that you sign up early.  The tutoring is well-received so please allow plenty of time to set up an appointment. Beginning in the spring 2014 semester, please access Smarthinking through your course Blackboard.

For questions or other academic resources, please contact your ELI Student Success Coach today at elisuccess@nvcc.edu or by calling 703.764.0120.

Attendance and Participation Aren't Just Important, They Are Required!

As your ELI course(s) begin, it is important to keep in mind attendance and participation in your ELI courses are very important. In fact your attendance and participation are not just important, they are required. Students who have not attended and completed their first assignments by the Census Date will be administratively withdrawn from the course by their instructor.  This has several consequences including:

Reduction in class load and possible change from full time to part time status (both potentially affecting financial aid)

Loss of tuition (yes, an administrative withdrawal will cause you to lose the money paid as tuition for this course)

No record of the class or letter grade on your transcript

As soon as your class begins, log into Blackboard and explore your course Blackboard. Use this opportunity to locate and review the course syllabus and assignments tab. This will give you a chance to see what you will be responsible for throughout the semester. In addition, this will also allow you sufficient time to plan your time appropriately, making certain you will be able to complete your readings, assignments, projects and tests in time for their specified due dates. Again, it is crucial to ensure you have completed and submitted your first assignment prior to the Census Date to avoid being administratively withdrawn from your course.

Logging into Blackboard as soon as the semester begins will also give you the opportunity to identify any unexpected issues and provide ample time to ask any questions you might have. ELI has a comprehensive array of student services to support our distance learners.

If you have any questions or you are not sure where to start, you can always contact the Success Coaching Team at elisuccess@nvcc.edu or by calling 703-764-5076. They are more than happy to answer your questions, as well as refer you to useful resources and services that will support your online learning experience.

StudentLingo: A Student-Friendly Success Resource

If you are searching for easy access to academic success tips dealing with time management, reading/writing strategies, discovering your learning style, mastering the job interview and other topics that relate to being a successful student, search no further!

Student Lingo is a website available to NOVA students that offers free online workshops on a variety of success topics. The workshops are facilitated by collegiate professionals in a PowerPoint type of presentation format. Student Lingo will help you discover new information that will promote your success! 

Due to the format, the workshops are interesting, fun and engaging.  The speakers’ motivating and down-to-earth presentation-style goes a long way in speaking to the concerns of college students as they consider issues like setting goals to honing their resume writing and interviewing skills to finding time to juggle academic, career and let’s face it – everyday living demands.

With that said, if you are reeling over how to get over that procrastination barrier, pay your bills on time, write a better paper and ace that interview, consider exploring this resource to get you on the fast track to building your success arsenal! Simply visit the following link and type in your name and institution in the fields provided: www.studentlingo.com/nvcc.

For additional academic success tips, please contact your ELI Success Coach today at elisuccess@nvcc.edu or 703.764.5076.

Tips for Online Success: Communicating with your Instructor

To be highly successful in online classes, develop the habit of quickly letting your teacher know that you are confused and need clarification. In a classroom based course, your teacher has several ways to tell how well you are understanding the material. One of the most obvious ways is to scan the room, looking to see whether you or your classmates look confused. If the student looks confused, the teacher can try explaining the concept again in a different way, or give more examples until things seem clearer. In an online class, this quick visual check for understanding isn't available to your teacher. Because of this, students in an online class have to be more deliberate and active in communicating confusion to their instructors.

In the online environment, emailing your teacher and posting responses on a discussion board are much more important than they would be if you were taking the class on a campus, because that is the quickest way for your teacher to tell how well you grasp the concepts you are learning.  If you send an email to your teacher, or make a post on the forums, and your teacher doesn’t respond within a couple days, it is perfectly acceptable to send them an email asking if they saw it. Make it a point to communicate actively and frequently in both discussion boards and by email!

For additional references, check out, What It Takes To Be A Successful Student, an ELI online workshop offered through Studentlingo. If you have further questions about communicating with your instructor, you are encouraged to contact your ELI Student Success Coach or call 703.764.5076.  We are here to help you achieve your academic goals! 

Tools for Success: Sign Up Now for an ELI Online Orientation

   Join us online for ELI Orientation

We have a Saturday session tomorrow!  Sign up Now….

 

Are you enrolled in your first distance learning course? Or, have you taken an online course previously and want to ensure that you are headed in the right direction? Do you have any questions about using Blackboard to complete your ELI course? A great place to start is with the ELI Orientation webinar.

A webinar is a live, online instruction session. You can participate in a webinar from any computer with Internet access and speakers. A microphone is not required as we will use a text chat for all questions. Participation in all webinars offered through ELI is free, but registration is required. Prior to the webinar, all students registered will receive an email with information about how to join the webinar live. You can view the ELI Webinar schedule and registration process here.  

You will need the ability to run JAVA to load Blackboard Collaborate, the web conferencing tool we use for the orientation webinar. You can test your connection ability ahead of time by visiting http://support.blackboardcollaborate.com and clicking on "First Time Users -- Blackboard Collaborate web conferencing".

The ELI Orientation webinar is a live, one hour online instruction session that focuses on getting started in your ELI courses, navigating your Blackboard course site, identifying tips for success, and highlighting student support services. During the webinar, you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you have before you start your course.

Upcoming Orientation sessions:

• Saturday, August 17 10:30-11:30 am
• Monday, August 19 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
• Wednesday, August 21 12:15-1:15 pm

Plan to attend and promote your success!

Connect with ELI on Facebook, Twitter & join fellow ELI students in the Virtual Student Union. 

Interested in working in IT?

ELI Registration: Getting Ready for Your Next Semester

If you are planning to enroll in summer or fall semester classes, ELI invites you to attend our webinar, Getting Ready for Your Next Semester.  This 45 minute webinar for NOVA students will focus on answering key questions you may have about preparing for your next semester.  Topics covered will include program identification, course selection, college resources, schedule planning, and registration/payment tips.

This informative online webinar is scheduled for the following dates and times:

·       Wednesday, April 10, 2013, 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm

·       Thursday, April 11, 2013, 7:00 pm – 7:45 pm

·       Wednesday, April 17, 2013, 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm

·       Tuesday, April 30, 2013, 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm

Sign up today -- students must register in advance.  For more information or to register, please click here.  Next, please click on the webinar date that you plan to attend and enter your name and other requested information. 

If you have questions or if you are looking for resources to help promote ypur academic success, the ELI Student Success Coaches are also here to help you.  Your success coach can help with study strategies and academic resources to include time management, free online success workshops, study skills and more.  To contact your Success Coach, please send an email to ELISuccess@nvcc.edu or please call 703.764.5076.

ELI Registration: Getting Ready for Your Next Semester

If you are planning to enroll in summer or fall semester classes, ELI invites you to attend our webinar, Getting Ready for Your Next Semester.  This 45 minute webinar for NOVA students will focus on answering key questions you may have about preparing for your next semester.  Topics covered will include program identification, course selection, college resources, schedule planning, and registration/payment tips. 

This informative webinar is scheduled for the following dates and times:

·       Tuesday, March 26, 2013, 12:15 pm- 1:00 pm

·       Wednesday, April 10, 2013, 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm

·       Thursday, April 11, 2013, 7:00 pm – 7:45 pm

·       Wednesday, April 17, 2013, 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm

·       Tuesday, April 30, 2013, 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm

 Sign up today -- students must register in advance.  For more information or to register, please click here.  Next, please click on the webinar date that you plan to attend and enter your name and other requested information. 

If you have questions or if you are looking for resources to help promote ypur academic success, the ELI Student Success Coaches are also here to help you.  Your success coach can help with study strategies and academic resources to include time management, free online success workshops, study skills and more.  To contact your Success Coach, please send an email to ELISuccess@nvcc.edu or please call 703.764.5076.

A Green Calendar

The days of physical day planners and desk calendars are quickly fading.  Thinking Green and operating technology to stay organized has never been more popular than it is today.  Although some still prefer to use paper notebooks to stay organized, digital innovation is constantly on the rise.  

Students and working professionals are able to access their planners from their phone, tablet or computer at any time.  Online planners also make it simple to adjust due dates and view reminders of upcoming events.

Sign up for a Free Online Planner at https://www.mystudylife.com/ .  

To read more about Online Calendars visit our Blog .  

Managing Your Time: Online Calendars

Tired of flipping through the pages of a paper planner?  Although paper planners are a valuable tool to organize your appointments, assignments, and life, if you prefer technology, you may want to consider using an online calendar.  If you are struggling with time management or organizing appointments, assignments, quizzes and tests, you may find that an online calendar is just what you need to get organized and stay ahead of course due dates!   

Online calendars are a great way to organize your work.  If you have an important test or assignment approaching, set reminders a few days in advance and receive a text reminder.  Online calendars will even help you organize your group project and enable you to create a special Yahoo! account for group projects. 

 

To learn more about online calendars, take time to explore and review the five referenced below and see which format will work best for your needs. 

Google Calendar:  Easy to Use and Share

Zoho Calendar:  Many options as simple or as detailed as you desire

Cozi Family Organizer: Shared family calendar enables you to snyc family activities

Jibidee Free Online Calendar: Manage an address book, photos, lists, and documents

Keep and Share Online Calendar: Share files, make to do lists, and even keep online databases

Once you get comfortable using your calendar (online or paper copy), you will develop the habit of checking and adding to your calendar daily, and you will be in control!  For additional information on organizing and managing your assignments via online or paper calendar, click here. 

If you are using or switch to an online calendar, remember to back up your information!

Preparing for an 8-Week course

I’m taking my first eight-week long course this semester. This got me thinking about how it might be different from the sixteen-week format I am more used to. Succeeding in an online course always requires good management of time. I must carefully balance school, work, and personal responsibilities. When the online class is an eight week or six week course, I am thinking that managing these elements will become much more critical.

Since an online sixteen week course should take three hours of coursework per credit each week, an Eight-week online course should take six hours of coursework per credit each week. For a three credit class, that works out to as much as an 18-hour a week part time job! Because of this, I decided to take only one class at a time until I see how I can integrate this workload with my work and social schedule.

I expect that the deadlines will also come much faster. Just eight days into my course, I will already be at the refund deadline, forcing me to decide whether or not I can handle the workload and get the grade I want or to drop the course and try the longer format in the Fall.

Because of this, I’m planning on checking into the course as early as possible and completing the first assignment quickly. I’ll also need to look over the assignments and syllabus and see if I have any questions. Usually, I think for two or three days before I email my instructor, but with this class, I expect that if I have questions, I’ll need to write the professor immediately—procrastinating even a few days would probably not be a good idea.

I’m really looking forward to the pleasant feel completing the course more quickly. I’ll get to feel the sense of accomplishment which keeps me motivated that much faster. I’m also telling myself I can deal with almost any schedule for two months—so it actually feels much more flexible than the traditional four-month courses. I’ll let you know if my opinion changes once the course actually starts.

So how many of you have already taken a six or eight week course? Do you have any advice for me? I would love to know a little more about what to expect!

Quizlet: A new way to study on the go.

Are there times where you are waiting in line or sitting on the Metro and wish you had your study materials to cram in just a few minutes of study time? As a student, your time is precious. You might feel like finding the opportunity to get in quality study time is difficult. Quizlet can help you squeeze in quality study time any time you have a chance!

Quizlet is an online learning tool that takes electronic flash cards and studying to a whole new level. You can create your own flash cards or access more than 6 million user generated flashcards in just about every subject imaginable. Finding what you are looking for is easy, browse by subject or enter your keywords into the search box.

There are several different ways to study with Quizlet. Flashcard Mode allows you to study your material like you would with traditional flashcards but Quizlet allows you to take advantage of the option of having the term and definition on the front or split front and back. You can also shuffle, randomize or listen to your flashcards with audio. Speller Mode tests your memory by having you type the word as you hear it. Learn Mode allows you to type in the term when challenged with the definition. It also keeps track of your correct and incorrect answers and will retest you on those that you’ve missed. Take advantage of Test Mode's self generating random tests complete with true and false, fill in the blank and matching sections to challenge your knowledge. You can also use the competitive games Quizlet offers to help you learn and retain your material. Scatter and Space Race will make it easy for you to study and hard for you to stop!

Another exciting feature is the text to audio capability. By pressing the speaker icon the term or definition will be read aloud. This is great for auditory learners and an amazing study aid for those learning a foreign language. Quizlet currently offers text to audio in 18 languages ranging from Chinese to Romanian.

Being an online student can make arranging study groups a challenge. Quizlet allows you to create groups to share and discuss flashcards. No more trying to coordinate with 8 different people to find a day and time to study that works for everyone.

There are more than 50 mobile apps for Quizlet for nearly every type of SMART phone. Quizlet makes studying fun and accessbile nearly anywhere. This quick demo video will show you all Quizlet has to offer. Give Quizlet a try and let us know what you think!

Success Webinar

Would you like to learn some tips and strategies for being successful in distance learning courses?  If you answered yes to this question you may be interested in participating in the following webinar:

Strategies for Success in Distance Learning Courses Webinar, Wednesday, February 8,  12:15 pm – 1:00 pm.

This 45 minute webinar for NOVA students will focus on strategies for success in distance learning courses offered through ELI.  Topics covered will include study skills, tutoring/support services, and time management.  The webinar is free, but registration is required.  Register online at http://bit.ly/A0gdBz. 

How Optimistic Are You?

Optimism is key to bouncing back from adversity and preventing depression. It's even good for fighting off colds and heart attacks Take the quiz to find out your optimism quotient, and then learn how simple changes in your thinking patterns can help you become more positive.

Nutrition and Exercise Tips for the New Year

If you are determined to adopt and maintain a healthy eating and exercise program in 2012, below are some strategies for getting healthy and fit for the year ahead:

• Be mindful of getting enough protein. Studies have shown that high protein meals (as opposed to high carb) are more satiating and easy to maintain. Lean meats such as chicken, salmon and low fat yogurt or cheeses are great choices. If you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, beans and different varieties of nuts contain protein. Getting enough protein also gives you the amino acids that help rebuild tissues and keep your immune system strong.

• Build strength training exercises into your weekly exercise routine to keep your metabolism efficient and in check. Studies show that for each pound of muscle mass, you burn 5-10 more calories per day. Weight lifting, resistance training and muscle toning work are some examples of ways to incorporate these into your daily routine. You can even set aside 5-10 minute intervals throughout your day during your lunch break and before or after work to squeeze these exercises in; carrying a pair of light hand weights in your car is a good idea so you can work these exercises in whenever you have free time and feel like a short workout!

• Increase the amount of sleep you get by aiming for 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Sufficient sleep is known to help weight loss and improve longevity. In a recent study, people who slept for 5 hours a night or less increased the amount of a hunger inducing hormone and decreased a hunger-suppressing one. So, for your metabolism and to feel rested, 7-8 hours of sleep is a good number to strive for!

• Avoid sugary drinks and concentrated alcohol beverages and stick to lighter choices like seltzer water, unsweetened or lightly sweetened tea, or coffee beverages that do not contain extra fillers or sweeteners. The body can store excess sugar as fat, thereby increasing weight gain, not to mention post sugar fatigue that can leave you feeling drained later on.

• Engage in healthy food games via mobile apps for your mobile device. Yup, believe it or not, research has shown that individuals who engage in these healthy-food games were more likely to make healthier food choices and discuss healthy eating habits with friends. Six-pack abs and Authentic Yoga are two examples that you can find on itunes.

• Set up a small home gym with just a few pieces of portable equipment like an exercise ball that you can use for resistance exercising and balancing; a resistance tube and/or small hand weights. All are relatively inexpensive and you do not have to get them all at once. Set attainable goals; remember, you don’t necessarily need to do a 2-hour workout, but brief bursts of exercise throughout the day are known to boost energy and metabolism; a little can go a long way.

As a suggestion, to remain super-committed to meeting your fitness and dietary goals, record in a journal at the beginning of the day what your goal will be for that day and then, revisit it at the end of your day to track your progress. Remember to incorporate small rewards here and there to celebrate your accomplishments. For more information on this topic, visit this link.

Staying Determined with Your New Year’s Resolutions

As a follow up for an earlier post regarding strategies for sticking to your New Year’s Resolutions, now that we are moving steadily through January, below are some additional quick tips for staying on the fast track to meeting your goals this year:

• Continue to provide yourself with small rewards for every step you take toward achieving your goal. For example, if you are trying to improve your finances, for every bill that you successfully pay off, treat yourself to a lunch at your choice of restaurant (preferably an inexpensive one!). Or, if your goal is to lose weight, for every 3 pounds lost, you might treat yourself to a healthy and tasty new recipe that is fun to prepare.

• Apply the Buddy System by teaming up with a friend, co-worker or relative to help you maintain your staying power with the resolution. If your goal is to exercise for at least one hour a day, even if you can pick two to three days out of the week to go on a brisk walk with a friend, and talk about your resolution together, this team approach will help you stay focused and encouraged.

• Set a long term reinforcer for December 31st of next year such as re-decorating or renovating your home to reflect the new you that has emerged from maintaining your resolution goals. Perhaps you will get that set of cookware that you have been thinking about or paint the walls red, or whatever you choose to celebrate your newfound success!

• Add variety into your resolution plans to avoid burnout. For instance, if your goal is to stick to a minimum calorie intake, yet you are eating boring old salads to maintain that calorie count, don’t hesitate to mix it up a bit by adding a sweet treat here and there or enjoying a new, exotic dish with a variety of flavors such as an Indian or Thai noodle dish. Remember, sweets can also be beneficial to your diet if they offer something extra such as the fiber that a couple of figs or oatmeal cookies can provide.

• This is a new one and kind of trendy, but wearing something symbolic to remind you of your end destination in sticking to your goal can serve as additional inspiration and of course, every little bit helps. So, even if you make your own necklace or bracelet out of beads and rhinestones and attach a meaningful phrase to it such as, “this is a reminder of my inner guidance that will carry me toward my destination resolution and help me maintain positive progress along the way” can help you stay on track in your efforts to meet your resolution steps and deadlines.

So, if you start getting frustrated or suffer a setback in your efforts to achieve your New Year’s Resolutions effectively, refer to these techniques to keep you on the straight and narrow. For more information on this topic, visit this link.

Remember WHY You Are Taking Classes

During every semester life will have its challenging moments.  Your car might break down on the way to the testing center or proctor.  You might get sick for a week or two and have both work to make up in your job and work to make up in your class all at the same time.  Someone in your family might get ill, placing greater responsibility and more stress and emotional highs and lows on your shoulder.  Or sometimes, two or three major assignments may all come due in the same week and it might seem like you don’t have the time to do everything.  Some students weather circumstances like these resiliently.  For others, they seem like insurmountable obstacles.  Often, the difference in whether you can push through difficulties to finish your classes successfully depend on you having a clear idea of exactly why you are taking them.  It is good to plan for challenges by writing statements that answer these questions:

Why am I taking this course?

Why am I pursuing my degree?

How does what I’m learning in this class connect to my life?

What will I gain professionally from completing the course?

How will this help me achieve my goals for the next 5-10 years?

How is completing this course making my life better?

Remember that the benefit of completing some courses include meeting the requirements of a degree or transfer requirement you want.  Don’t discount a course that isn’t inherently interesting to you if it takes you a step closer to your degree.  Completing each step towards a program can be a very satisfying accomplishment!

Once you have answered these questions with strong statements that express your current motivations, write them on index cards or post-it notes and place them in locations where you can see them regularly.  If you get discouraged or frustrated during the semester, these notes will help you remember why all the trouble of completing your coursework is worth the effort!

Advising Week, October 31 – November 4

What are your long-term educational goals? Do you know what your career goals are? Do you have a defined path planned out to achieve those goals?

If you answered, “No” to any of these questions, please note that Advising Week at NOVA starts next week!

We are happy to report that there will be multiple opportunities for advising in preparation for the spring semester. We strongly recommend that you plan ahead and explore these resources early so you will be on track when spring semester begins. Campuses are organizing a variety of activities to support Advising Week. Also, as an ELI student, we have five on-site counselors who can help you virtually from 8:30 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday. ELI Counselors can be contacted via email or phone at ELICounselors@nvcc.edu or (703) 323-2425.

Advising week immediately precedes the start of Priority Registration for the Spring 2012 semester. More information regarding career exploration, choosing a program of study, how to prepare to transfer to a four-year institution, and so much more can be found on the Counseling and Advising page of NOVA’s website.

Good luck on your journey to academic success!