Student Success Workshops enhance the successful transition process students undergo in pursuing their goals. This transition is achieved by connecting skills and strategies to their learning. The sessions listed below allow for candid discussions to take place and for students to articulate their experiences by formulating strategies together. The balance between learning and relationship building provides a richer experience that validates the perspectives of everyone involved as a part of the process. The Workshop series enables students to engage with faculty, students and staff in a high-quality co-curricular relationship. The goal is to allow students to explore how to talk to professors, understand learning styles, time management/prioritization and identify and manage stress. These goals are achieved by providing students with the opportunity to think critically about their non-cognitive abilities and identify existing gaps.

Dates and Topics: (all workshops are held in a flex/hybrid format, click on the link to join via Zoom or join us in room 2440 at the Des Plaines Campus) 

• Wednesday, August 23 at 3 p.m.- Strategies for Getting the Most Out of a Flexible Learning Environment: Discover ways to adapt to learning in a remote environment, including practices for learning online, creating academic goals, and accomplishing tasks.
• Thursday, August 31 at 1 p.m.- Using Your Syllabus to Succeed:  Understand college instructors’ expectations, classroom management and teaching styles, grading systems and manage multiple deadline dates.
• Wednesday, September 13 at 3 p.m.- Library Virtual Library Walk Through: Discover Oakton Library Services! Get ready for the fall semester and learn about the many resources that can help you succeed in your classes.
• Thursday, September 21 at 1 p.m.- Using Assessments for Majors, Careers, and Learning: Identify assessments that may help you decide on a major, career path and methods to improve learning strategies.
• Wednesday, September 27 at 3 p.m.- Effective Communication:  Plan a three-question discussion with your instructor. Bring your impressions of your syllabi.
• Wednesday, October 4 at 3 p.m.- Strategies for Getting the Most Out of a Flexible Learning Environment: Discover ways to adapt to learning in a remote environment, including practices for learning online, creating academic goals and accomplishing tasks.
• Thursday, October 12 at 1 p.m.- Critical Thinking: Discuss examples of evaluating concepts and applying critical thinking in your courses to use on tests, essays and projects.
• Wednesday, October 18 at 3 p.m.- Budgeting Your Study Time: List course learning objectives and practice time management tools to study more effectively and apply what you learn.
• Thursday, November 2 at 1 p.m.- Test-Taking Strategies: Learn how to cycle through a test and establish an effective routine that keeps you calm and collected during exams.
• Wednesday, November 8 at 3 p.m. – Zotero & Citations: Keeping track of all your sources can be frustrating and overwhelming, but managing sources can be a breeze with a little organization. Zotero is a powerful, easy-to-use research tool that helps you gather, organize and analyze sources and then share the results of your research.
• Thursday, November 16 at 1 p.m.- Applying Skills for Career and Transfer: Join us to discuss leveraging the skills and competencies you have learned at Oakton to transfer to a four-year institution.
• Wednesday, November 29 at 3 p.m.- Stress Management and Self-Care: Explore healthy options for managing stress and practice health and wellness strategies as suggested by counselors from the Wellness Center.

Please visit Oakton College's Learning Center and TRIO Student Support for additional information.