Hi! Thanks for clicking. Here is language you can cut/paste into Canvas or other communication to students for this fall semester, 2023.
Short version:
We have a learning center just for students in the College of Professional Studies & Fine Arts (PSFA) and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). It’s called the PSFA Academic Resource Center (PARC).
Make appointments for free, 1-hour tutoring sessions in art, communication, criminal justice, journalism, and music. Or attend a weekly, drop-in workshop for which appointments are not required.
Andmake appointments for free learning coaching, where we focus on the same areas you might with a sports coach: strength, flexibility, agility, and endurance--only, instead of working out your quads or biceps, in learning coaching you work out your brain! Develop strategies for reading, writing, note taking, studying and test taking; personalized organization skills; and more. Sessions are 1-hour long and can be virtual or face-to-face.
The PARC also has 2 study and recharge locations: North PARC (in PSFA 200) and South PARC (in Adams-Humanities 4231), and a Virtual Learning Center on Discord to log into from anywhere.
We have a learning center just for students in the College of Professional Studies & Fine Arts (PSFA) and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC)! It’s called the PSFA Academic Resource Center (PARC).
Make appointments for free tutoring sessions with trained PARC tutors, who are friendly, trained students. Sign up for 1-hour virtual or face-to-face sessions in any of the following subjects:
Art
Communication
Criminal Justice
Journalism
Music
Or attend a weekly, drop-in workshop with a tutor for which appointments are not required.
Andmake appointments for free learning coaching, where we focus on the same areas you might with a sports coach: strength, flexibility, agility, and endurance--only, instead of working out your quads or biceps, in learning coaching you work out your brain! Develop strategies for reading, writing, note taking, studying and test taking; personalized organization skills; and more. Sessions are 1-hour long and can be virtual or face-to-face.
The PARC also has 2 study and recharge locations where you can spend time, grab free snacks/groceries and school supplies, use the kitchenette (e.g. refrigerator, microwave, and hot pot), and charge your devices: North PARC (in PSFA 200) and South PARC (in Adams-Humanities 4231), and a Virtual Learning Center on Discord to log into from anywhere.
Incentives for Students to Attend PARC Sessions or Workshops
If you would like to offer an incentive, such as extra credit or a small assignment, we suggest you have them choose from attending a workshop, or one tutoring, or learning coaching session, not just seeing the study spaces. If you do this, we recommend that they be required to write a reflection that can be shared with the PARC team, which helps us as part of our feedback and assessment. Sample language for such an assignment is linked here.
Flyers
Here are PDF and PNG versions of Fall 2023 PARC flyers to share with your students:
If you would like members of our team to come your class to make a very brief announcement about the PARC, please fill out this super short Google form to tell us what days/times.
Become a PARC Partner
We LOVE faculty PARC-ners and there are a variety of ways you can collaborate with us–including some you’ve likely thought of that we haven’t yet! If you'd like to join us in offering a workshop for students to succeed in your discipline or class, help us develop learning handouts for your class, etc., or have your office hours in the PARC, for example, please fill out this form.
Metacognitive Strategies to Use in the Classroom
Some of you asked for simple things you can do in your teaching to assist in helping students with metacognition and learning how to learn.
A simple thing that takes no training and can have good results in student success is to use transparency when teaching, particularly about assignments, tasks, and readings. Essentially, this strategy entails explaining why you are asking students to do what you are asking and then showing or explaining effective or suggested ways to complete the reading or assignment.
Here's a list of metacognitive strategies you can utilize in your classroom. To get started, we recommend choosing one to try this semester.
Hours of Operation
**The PARC will be closed November 20-24, 2023 for Thanksgiving break!**
Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: Closed
We also have a virtual learning center on Discord that SDSU community members are welcome to join! On our Discord, students can hangout, get help making tutoring or coaching appointments from our welcome desk staff, and to ask quick questions of our tutors and learning coaches.
