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Notre Dame College • Academic Support Center Summertime has a different feel for students in the ASC. The work is more intense and the pace is faster. You can focus on just one class, but you have to work harder since there are fewer class periods covering the same material. Some classes are held in a different manner as well. Usually the ASC hosts staff and students, but this summer Sr. Jeanne Moenk can be found here in the ASC on Monday and Wednesday mornings working on a directed study class in math with Kimberly Krozser. This is a first at the ASC. Kimberly is visually impaired and has been part of the ASC for the last two years. Our staff assists Kimberly with tutoring for her classes and also helps with the logistics of moving between classes. The math class, however, was posing a particular problem. She is required to complete a math course but her braille machine does not handle the special symbols you find in math. Since technology prevents Kimberly from participating in math classes that were offered, an alternative had to be arranged. Thanks to a number of staff and faculty working together a directed study in mathematics was put in place. Sr. Jeanne is working one on one with Kimberly throughout the summer to complete a Math History class that will fulfill Kimberly’s math requirement. It is difficult to make math visual to a blind student, but Sr. Jeanne comes to each class prepared with a variety of manipulatives, which she uses to help visualize the math concepts! Wooden models of platonic solids, foam cut outs of different shapes and wiki sticks to represent the Egyptian hieroglyphs all add to making math visual to Kimberly’s fingers. Sr. Jeanne is very knowledgeable and can work math into any discussion. When she comes to class the historical figures come alive! Imagine discussing Greek mathematicians and learning that Archimedes, after discovering the concept of displacement (how the water level rises when you get into the tub) while taking a bath, leapt out of the tub and went streaking down the streets of Syracuse, Italy yelling “Eureka!” Who would have thought that mathematicians started the “streaking” fad! So, if you stop by to visit the ASC this summer, check out the Main Room table and know that the materials there are all helping Sr. Jeanne make math come alive for Kimberly! Who knows what may be on the table once we get to the Chinese and the French! In the Spotlight … Sr. Jeanne, Kimberly and summer math! Instructional Advisor Carolyn Apperson Any given Saturday in the fall, dressed in blue and orange, you may find Carolyn Apperson in front of the television, periodically waving her arms frantically in a move called the “Gator chomp.” Yes, one of our newest Instructional Advisors is a die-hard Florida Gators fan! She started out as a classically trained soprano, discovered that math was her passion and became a middle school math teacher. She lived and worked in Florida, then Virginia, until she finally settled here in Cleveland more than 15 years ago. Carolyn, by day, is a statistician and aids doctors in analyzing the results of experiments, first at the Cleveland Clinic and now at Case Western Reserve University. She also coordinates the awarding of grant money to doctors starting out new research projects. Carolyn started with the Academic Support Center this spring when our computer and upper level math tutor was called away. She agreed to come in one evening a week and is able to tutor a number of math and computer classes. In addition, she is able to tutor music and theology! She is a trained and Diocesan certified pastoral associate, working in religious education at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Check out Carolyn’s availability on tutor track this fall, and come on in – she is willing to help students with just about anything. Who knows, maybe you will be able to spot her with some Falcon gear on this fall at a home football game! Courtesy of The Cleveland Clinic, Transfer to Action Program AN ASSERTIVE PERSON IS: • Direct • Calm, clear, and concrete • Expresses personal opinions, thoughts, and feelings • Non-verbal and verbal messages are congruent • Considers rights of self and rights of others • Honest and tactful, respectful • Confident • Makes eye contact • Uses “I” statements • Takes responsibility for their own choices and allows others self-responsibility for theirs • Has healthy self esteem • I’m ok, you’re ok • Sometimes the assertive person’s needs get met and sometimes the other person’s needs get met. A compromise or collaboration may be necessary. Whether their direct needs get met or not, every time assertive individuals express themselves honestly, they validate themselves. The key difference between assertive communication and the other three styles is that assertive communication is direct (clear, concise and to the point), while the others are indirect (hinting, mixed messages and avoiding the point). Also, the assertive person tends to have healthy self-esteem while the other three have low self-esteem. Yes, even the aggressive person has low self-esteem although they may appear confident. Think of it this way, why would someone have to control and put down someone else if they felt good about themselves? Being assertive means being direct, expressing our feelings, thoughts and needs without hinting, playing games, blaming, shaming, or being silent and hoping the other person reads our mind. We ask for what we want. We state it clearly and concisely. We say it in a respectful way believing that we can deal with the consequences whatever they may be. We don’t beat around the bush. We don’t numb our feelings by eating or drinking when we are upset. Instead we express our feelings. Notes on Taking Notes! (Courtesy of ADDitude Magazine) ✓ DATE every page of your notes ✓ FOLD THE LEFT-ONE THIRD of your notebook paper. ✓ WRITE DOWN NOTES WHENEVER YOUR PROFESSOR SAYS, “this will be on the test” ✓ KEEP THE BACK PAGES OF THE NOTEBOOK PAPER OPEN for adding additional information. ✓ KEEP IT SHORT, but use as much space as you need. ✓ REVIEW ALL NEW NOTES within 24 hours of class. ✓ RECORD ANY INFORMATION OR VISUALS you remember from class. ✓ Review your notes by READING THEM OUT LOUD. ✓ Use ADDITIONAL FORMATS for note taking. Meriah Duncan was with the Academic Support Center over the summer to teach the Summer Springboard class. Meriah is an exceptional teacher, who keeps the class moving and guides each student to work within their learning style. Thank you, Meriah! CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED MENTION AT THE NOTRE DAME COLLEGE HONORS CONVOCATION! ART SHOW HONORS 3D Design First Place Daniel Breitenbach THE HOOVER/TAKACS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ENGLISH Robert Harris WHO’S WHO AMONG STUDENTS IN AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES Mackenzie Brown
