The emphasis in this course will be on the major concerns of college students:  study skills, time management and college resources, as well as the differences between distance and on-campus learning.  Through exercises in the text, video tapes and individualized projects, we hope you will learn/improve the skills necessary to be a successful college student.  

If you do well in this course, you will be able to:

• apply techniques to your study habits which will help you to be successful in college.
• find the appropriate college resources for information you need. 
• understand that you are ultimately responsible for your success in college. 
• use several of the techniques for improving life skills.

The required textbook for this course is:

• Ellis, David B., Becoming A Master Student, Concise Edition, 11th ed., New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2006. 
• Northern Virginia Community College Catalog (available on-line) 
• Northern Virginia Community College Student Handbook (available on-line) 

For information on how to order your textbooks, go to http://eli.nvcc.edu/books/

Additional Materials:

This course includes viewing of a series of video programs, which may be accessed in several ways.  For details, see the ELI Telecourse Broadcast Schedule.

Grading is on a contractual basis where you determine the grade for which you will work.  You will notify me of your grade contract in your first assignment, the Introductory Letter. 

For a minimum "C" grade: complete #1-6 

For an average "B" grade: complete #1-7 

For a superior "A" grade: complete #1-8 

1. Introductory Letter, open e-mail account, e-mail message
2. Discovery Wheel, Learning Style Inventory, Journal Entries 5, 6, 7
3. Campus Visit, Library Tutorial, participation in student forum
4. Final Exam 
5. View all 11 videos and critique 4 on the Video Report Form. 
6. Discovery Wheel/Comparison/Course Evaluation
7. Complete the Video Report Form for 8 of 11 videos
8. Project 

There is 1 proctored exam in this course. You are expected to take your examinations at one of the NVCC campus Testing Centers. Be sure to allow enough time to complete your exam before the Testing Center closes; Testing Centers have specific policies relating to the administration of ELI exams. You will need to take a photo ID, your NovaConnect empl ID number, and the appropriate Exam Pass when you go to the Testing Center.  

For Testing Center locations, hours of operation and policies, click here.

For information on taking exams outside of the metropolitan area, click here.

I am here to help you succeed in this course. Occasionally questions or problems may arise. Here is how to contact me when they do:

E-mail : gcorradino@nvcc.edu
Telephone: (703) 323-3347

1. Use your web browser to connect to http://www.nvcc.edu/bbstart. Follow the directions to determine your email, Blackboard and VIVA account user names and passwords.
2. Access your email account and make sure you know how to use it; you will be required to use this account for all course-related email.
3. Log on to Blackboard at http://learn.vccs.edu.
4. Click on this course under "My Courses." Review the entire course to make sure you understand what will be required of you. Then start completing the assignments.

Please note that account generation takes approximately one week from the time of your paid registration. If you cannot log on after one week, contact the IT Help Desk. If you can log on to Blackboard, but your course isn't listed, please contact ELI or your instructor.