Preparatory Skills Development

Curriculum guideline

Effective Date:
Course
Discontinued
No
Course code
CPHI 0200
Descriptive
Preparatory Skills Development
Department
Centre for Students with Disabilities
Faculty
Student Affairs and Services
Credits
9.00
Start date
End term
201330
PLAR
No
Semester length
15
Max class size
6
Contact hours
15 hrs/week *Will depend on individual student needs and may vary during the semester.
Learning activities

Instruction will be modified to meet the needs of the individual learner and may include:

  1. instructor presentations
  2. small group workshops
  3. class discussions
  4. teacher-directed learning
  5. tutorials
  6. individual study/reading and writing assignments
  7. utilization of adaptive equipment and computer programs
  8. visits to classes at Douglas College; “sitting in” on other classes – academic, career and upgrading
  9. videos/films/audio tapes
  10. guest speakers
  11. use of Library and Career Resource Centre at Douglas College
  12. role play
  13. self-awareness exercises
  14. field trips and on-campus visits
Course description
This course will assist the student in developing the skills necessary to be a successful student in post-secondary education. It provides instruction for individual skill development, assistance in setting realistic educational goals and facilitating the development of an individualized learning plan to be utilized by the student in future educational programs.
Course content
  1. Learning Skills Development

-          notetaking

-          organizing of notes and other materials usually required in a college course

-          test-taking strategies

-          memory techniques

-          listening skills

-          reading skills for comprehension

-          communication skills

  1. Personal Skills Development

-          time management

-          stress management

-          communication skills

-          problem-solving for classroom and college life

-          management of test anxiety

-          management of emotions at an acceptable level for success in a college setting

-          development of personal short-term and long-term goals

  1. Development of Higher Order Thinking Skills

-          making inferences

-          comparing and contrasting

-          drawing conclusions

-          summarizing

-          determining the main idea

-          differentiating fact and opinion

  1. Post-Secondary Orientation Strategies

-          understanding role and function of the Assessment Centre, Counsellors, Services for Students with Disabilities, Access Aides, Registrar, Library Services

-          using and making maps

-          understanding teacher expectations in a post-secondary institution

Learning outcomes
  1. To develop study skills appropriate for success at post-secondary institutions with emphasis on those skills generally needed by adults with a head injury.
  2. To develop self-management skills.
  3. To develop higher order/critical thinking skills.
  4. To learn how to transfer skills learned in this program to course work in other classes at Douglas College or other post-secondary institutions.
  5. To familiarize students with post-secondary expectations and procedures, teacher expectations, applications, registrations and other procedures.
  6. To set realistic educational goals and to develop an individualized learning plan for future use by the student.
Means of assessment

A mastery model of on-going evaluation will be used.  A student will have completed the course when he/she has demonstrated through satisfactory completion of exercises and assignments that the course objectives have been achieved.  Where formal tests are used, mastery will be defined as a score of 80% or more.

Progress will be monitored on a regular basis by the instructor in consultation with each student.  The student will be expected to maintain regular attendance, actively participate in all classroom activities, and complete assignments as directed.

Prerequisites