The Academic Achievement Center

The AAC Blog Has Moved

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 18:37:00 +0000

The Academic Achievement Center Blog has moved to a new location:

http://blogs.jccc.edu/aac/

After April 30, 2013, Posterous will cease operations, so the media links in this blog will no longer work.

Technical Challenges

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:25:00 +0000

Here is the trouble shooting guide that was given to students attending the Technical Challenges workshop yesterday.

We will present this workshop again for those who were unable to attend. And remember you can always drop in the AAC for technical help completing your class assignments.

Technical_Challenges_Guide.pdf Download this file

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

Information for New AAC Students Updated Spring 2013

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 20:09:00 +0000

general_information_2013.mp3 Listen on Posterous

General_Information_for_Prospective_Students_Spring_2013.pdf Download this file

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

Open for Business

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 00:28:00 +0000

Some pictures of the new Academic Achievement Center in OCB 304 open for students on the first day of classes.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

Getting Organized

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 03:37:00 +0000

We're in the process of organizing the new AAC. Here's what's been accomplished so far.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

Ready to Move

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 20:07:00 +0000

The AAC is all packed up and ready to move. We are moving to OCB 304 and the open computer lab will be moving into our old space in LIB 227.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

Early Medical Terminology Orientations to be Held before Classes Start

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:06:00 +0000

For the first time the Academic Achievement Center will be holding early orientations for students in AAC 130 Medical Terminology.

To stay on schedule, students should be prepared for the first test on or before Thursday
June 7. Because of this time pressure, the AAC is scheduling special early orientation sessions to help them get a head start:

Thursday May 24^th	12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
	5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Wednesday May 30th	9:00 am – 12:00 pm
	4:00 pm – 7:00 pm

The orientations are individualized and take approximately 1 hour. Students must bring their JCCC Student ID for admission to the AAC.

Interested students should RSVP to the June facilitatior Ann Williams at awilliam@jccc.edu so adequate staffing can be arranged; otherwise, the orientations will be held on a drop-in, first-come, first-served basis. All orientations will take place in the Academic Achievement Center in LIB 227.

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The End is Near

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:39:00 +0000

The end of the semester is fast approaching.

Next Monday May 7 is the deadline for study hours.
The study hours you have earned by the end of the day will be a determining factor in your grade.

Next Friday May 11 is the deadline for all testing, including notebooks and post-tests.
The AAC will close at 2:00 pm. No tests will be started after 1:15 pm.

The AAC will NOT be open Saturday May 12.
The AAC is NOT open during Final Exams.
Friday May 11 is the final deadline.

This Friday May 4 The AAC closes at 2:00 pm as usual.

This Saturday May 5 The AAC closes at 1:00 pm as usual.

Do not delay taking your last test(s) until the very end.
The AAC is always very busy, and, when the testing seats are filled, you will be required to wait.

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

Medical Terminology is moving to the Health Careers Department

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:38:00 +0000

If you are enrolling for the Fall 2012 semester and doing a class search for AAC 130 Medical Terminology, you will no longer find it.

In the fall, the medical terminology course will move from the Academic Achievement Center (AAC) to the Health Careers (HC) department.

To find it, search under its new prefix and name, HC 130 Medical Terminology for the Health Professions.

The class will no longer meet in the Academic Achievement Center. Instead it will be held in the Olathe Health Education Center (OHEC) located on the campus of the Olathe Medical Center.

The class format is also changing. Rather than being self-instructional with flexible scheduling, the class will be offered as a traditional lecture.

For more information, contact the new coordinator Jane Zaccardi

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

Second 8 Week Session Has Started

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:15:00 +0000

If you have enrolled in AAC 100 or AAC 120 Section 701, please stop by the Academic Achievement Center in LIB 227 for an orientation session as soon as possible so you can begin work on your class.

You may stop in anytime during regular operating hours. No appointment is necessary. Please bring your JCCC ID.

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

Spring Break Hours

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:36:00 +0000

The Academic Achievement Center will be open this week through Saturday March 10. The AAC will then close for Spring Break until Monday March 19.

Students in AAC 100 and 120 Sections 700 should complete their work by Saturday March 10.

Students in AAC 100 and 120 Sections 701 should visit the AAC the week of March 19 to begin work on their classes. Please check your JCCC email accounts for information.

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

More from Study Hacks on Achievement

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 17:52:00 +0000

Here is a link to another interesting article on the Study Hacks blog:

Study Hacks: "If Your're Busy Your're Doing Something Wrong"

Once again, the important point is this: it is not the amount of effort, but rather well-directed effort that determines success. Effort is the essential first step, but no amount of time spent on a task can overcome bad study strategies.

A point I would question is the implied value of "marathon" practice. The article states that 3.5 hours of practice a day, divided into two sessions, is enough for the elite achievers. While this may work for musicians (the subject of the article), I think this ignores the value of distributed practice-- studying several times a day, every day, but in short, directed sessions.

And again in this context I define studying as practicing the recall of information. This is a different activity from extracting new information through reading a textbook, attending class, or completing homework assignments, which does require significant blocks of time.

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

How to Get the Most Out of Studying Video Series

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 19:04:00 +0000

A colleague sent me a link to a series of videos created by a cognitive psychologist at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.

These videos are excellent because they focus on the mental activities necessary to learn something. Most students equate studying with "looking at something." This means mindlessly re-reading the textbook or their classroom notes over and over.

Studying really means engaging with and manipulating the content mentally so that new connections are made within the brain. While there are various ways to do this, the tried and true way is the "grunt" work of self-testing.

Cover up the notes and textbook pages and ask yourself a question about the topic. Then try to answer it verbally. Check your answer against your notes. Did you get it? No? Then do it again. And again... And again... And again... until you have perfect recall of the information.

Then do it all over again with another question. It's tedious. It's hard work. That's studying.

But it can also be rewarding. With mastery comes achievement and with achievement comes a buoyant feeling. "I did it!" "I really know this stuff!"

While all of the episodes are valuable, the most significant are Episodes 2, 3, and 4.

How to Get the Most Out of Studying

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Enrollment Information for AAC Classes

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:25:00 +0000

If you are interested in enrolling in an AAC class for the Spring 2012 semester, please follow this hyperlink for detailed information:

General Information for Prospective Students

If you are interested in our AAC 130 Medical Terminology class, please follow this link to some important information:

About AAC 130 Medical Terminology

If you have additional questions after reading or listening to this information, please contact Jeff Merritt via email: jmerritt@jccc.edu

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

Late Start AAC Classes

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:28:00 +0000

Students enrolled in AAC 100-701 Study Skills or AAC 120-701 Individualized Study must visit the AAC this week for an orientation session. For details check your JCCC student email account.

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

Study Tip #5: Perform an "autopsy" of graded tests to determine the source of each error. Use this to better prepare for the next test.

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:20:00 +0000

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

Study Tip #4: Plan frequent review sessions. Have you reviewed everything you've covered in your classes since August 22?

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:10:00 +0000

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

The case method of avoiding procrastination: Find someone successful to emulate. http://calnewport.com/blog/2011/07/30/from-to-do-to-will-do-using-the-case-method-to-defeat-procrastination/

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 03:15:00 +0000

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

The best students aren't the most busy; they are the most focused. http://calnewport.com/blog/2011/07/25/i-dont-know-another-science-student-less-stressed-than-me-a-case-for-simplicity/

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 22:52:00 +0000

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

jmerritt@jccc.edu sent you a link to content of interest

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:50:00 +0000

jmerritt@jccc.edu sent you a link to the following content:

The Procrastinating Caveman: What Human Evolution Teaches Us About Why We Put Off Work and How to Stop
http://calnewport.com/blog/2011/07/10/the-procrastinating-caveman-what-human-...

The sender also included this note:

An interesting perspective on procrastination

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

New AAC Students: Check Your JCCC Email for Class Information

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Tue, 31 May 2011 17:56:00 +0000

All JCCC students have student email accounts, but you need to activate your account by logging into MyJCCC. On the left-hand menu you should find a link "Activate your Google Account"

Your stumail account will be the primary way the college communicates with you.

Classes start next Monday June 6. You should now have an email from The Academic Achievement Center explaining how to get started in your class.

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

Medical Terminology Update Summer 2011

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Tue, 24 May 2011 17:09:00 +0000

Updated information about AAC 130 Medical Terminology for the Summer and Fall 2011 semesters

Medical_Terminology_Update_Summer_2011.mp3 Listen on Posterous

Medical_Terminology_Update_Summer_2011.pdf Download this file

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

General Information for Prospective Students Summer 2011

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Tue, 24 May 2011 17:07:00 +0000

Updated general information about the AAC for the Summer and Fall 2011 semesters

General_Information_for_Prospective_Students_Summer_2011.mp3 Listen on Posterous

General_Information_for_Prospective_Students_Summer_2011.pdf Download this file

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

Last Day to Withdraw from an AAC Class is April 15

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:48:00 +0000

Only five (5) weeks remain in the AAC semester. The last day to withdraw is next Friday April 15.

AAC students should have received a progress note from an AAC instructor in their folders as well as an email in their JCCC stumail accounts.

If you have any questions about your status in your course, please contact an AAC instructor or Jeff Merritt, the AAC Facilitator.

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)

Spring Break Hours

noreply@blogger.com (jmerritt) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:58:00 +0000

The AAC will be closed Monday March 14 - Saturday March 19 for Spring Break. (The AAC is always closed on Sundays).

The AAC will be open Saturday March 12 as usual from 9:00 - 1:00.

The AAC will then be closed until Monday March 21 when classes resume at the end of Spring Break.

This marks the halfway point of the semester, so all AAC students should complete 50% of their test and hour requirements by Saturday March 12.

AAC 130 students should complete Chapter 7 by Saturday March 12.

AAC 102 students should complete their Mid-Term exams by Saturday March 12.

Posted via email from The Academic Achievement Center (Posterous)