UWindsor Annual Report 2007/2008

(courtesy: The Windsor Star)

Carly Hunt says she remembers what it was like in her first year, returning to the University of Windsor after a holiday break and being shocked by less-than-stellar exam marks from the previous semester.

Hunt studied. She just didn't study effectively.

"I look back now and remember studying every word the professor said, but going into the exam still not knowing what to expect," she said.
Finals in university are unfamiliar territory to most first-year students.

"It's an experience many first-years face," she said. "That fear and uncertainty... (they) don't know if they've done enough."

In January, many UWindsor first-year students experience the same sting as they receive their exam grades. But they now have the opportunity to bounce back with the help of workshops hosted by the University's Educational Development Centre, as part of the Campus Lifeline program. The program has garnered more attention because of better promotions, said Danielle Handsor, an intern at the Centre.

One workshop educated students on what their academic standing means and what they can do to improve it.

Handsor said first-year students can have setbacks because of inexperience. "For many, they're coming out of high school; it's their first final exam," she said. "They don't know how to go about studying, or they're not good at time management."

Many of the students don't know what steps they can take after they get a bad mark. The workshop explained what it means to be put on "academic probation" -- a student's mark is below C minus -- and what can be done to fix it, such as retaking a course, said Handsor. "It explains how to get back on track and it increases motivation," she said.

In addition to the technical grade explanations, the workshop featured tips such as reviewing notes after lectures and how short reviews are better in the long run than a giant cram session. Handsor also instructed students on how to read actively, instead of constantly asking, "How many pages do I have left?"

The 15 students attending the workshop shared their feelings about exams and a discussion emerged on what they felt they could do differently the next time.

It is the mix of formal information, practical advice and interaction that gives students the tools they need to move forward to the test.
Hunt, 20, a third-year psychology student, said that although she's now in good academic standing, she still finds the workshops beneficial because learning to study well is a process. "It's a constant state of improvement," she said.

The workshops are free to students, and last only 30 minutes. If students complete two workshops, they receive a certificate signed by the director of student development and support, said Brooke White, Director, Student Development and Support. The certificate is helpful for students looking to build a portfolio because it shows they are involved on campus, said Handsor.