Show w Learning Center Provides Support for Struggling Students Fading are the old adages of of ofa a college student struggling until 3 am a.m. studying and cramming to understand understand understand un un- a math assignment Now students can be found in a friendly relaxed atmosphere working working working work work- ing with the help of a tutor or group to come up with solutions for homework problems As more colleges and universities understand understand understand under under- stand the need for helping students they have established learning cen cen- At Salt Lake Community College College Col Col- lege its it's no different Designed in 1989 with the assistance of a federal federal federal fed fed- eral grant to help students in vocational vocational vocational voca voca- subjects the Learning g Center Center Center Cen Cen- ter has expanded to better serve students needs' needs in courses ranging from automotive studies to chemis chemis- try During the past Fall Quarter the Center served more than student contacts according to Paula McBride Learning Center director Students use use th the Learning Center for a variety of reasons McBride said They come here tobe tobe to tobe be tutored in a subject to receive moral support and to use the facility facility facility facil facil- ity as a study hall for study groups McBride said that originally the Learning Center facility was designed designed designed de de- de- de signed for retention of students but now that scope has expanded Regularly scheduled student and faculty taught workshops are designed designed designed de de- de- de signed to help students not only in demanding demanding- Math 99 and and Chemistry but also in stress management and goal setting The Center serves to help students students students stu stu- stu- stu dents improve study habits and build self confidence Perhaps the biggest surprise and benefit of the Learning Center has been for forthe forthe forthe the student tutors McBride said Students who wish to be tutors not only need recommendation by faculty and a certain grade point average average av av- av- av they also are required to at attend attend attend at- at tend either a series of workshops or classes to learn how to tutor We stress to the tutors that they are there to help students do their work independently as well as learn how to learn she said adding that the tutoring services are certified by the College Reading Reading Reading Read Read- ing and Learning Association Tutors have demonstrated that they benefit by being able to teach and answer questions about a subject they've studied thus re reinforcing reinforcing reinforcing re- re what they have learned In addition they discover their abilities in communication teaching and people skills According to McBride there have been several cases where students students students stu stu- stu- stu dents after their tutoring experience experience ence have changed majors to include include include in in- in- in clude more human interaction or teaching skills The students have learned that they like working with people or teaching them skills and as a re result result result re- re sult changed the direction of their ambitions to reflect that she said The College also benefits from not only the students who come into the Center to attain a better grade but also from the tutors McBride said All these students are gaining a better grasp of learning and are becoming more connected t to the campus Its It's the human connections and self confidence that give students students students stu stu- stu- stu dents a better college e experience she said J JIn In addition to McBride the Learning Center also employs two other time full-time staff More than 70 tutors assist in the Center at each of the Colleges College's sites Redwood South and Sandy They are open College hours including Saturdays and students students students stu stu- stu- stu making making making mak mak- dents can receive help without ing appointments Besides helping students not only understand mathematics science and computer programs tutors work with students who study English as a second language The Center also offers computer-aided computer software programs programs pro pro- grams so students can learn mathematics mathematics mathematics mathe mathe- matics reading and writing skills on their own In addition tutors help coach writing in the Colleges College's Writing Center and assist in the Accounting Lab Tutors also can go to specific classrooms to help students on equipment only available at the certain si sites tes Most of the time when tutors are requested to go to a certain location its it's for the technical or trade areas We can serve students students students stu stu- dents in any of the fields all they need to do is ask McBride said Although successful in helping helping helping help help- ing students now the Learning Center has plans for expansion In time the Center will serve all of the Colleges College's satellite teaching centers as well as expand upon its present day locations on the campuses More computers and software will be added to the existing existing existing ex ex- ex- ex 40 personal computers as aswell aswell aswell well as adding more workshops tutoring services and final class reviews John division chair of continuing and community education education tion believes the facility and concept concept concept con con- has proved beneficial The Learning Center has really grown This wide college-wide effort has helped serve students and helped them be successful in classes tt The The Learning amil in room of the Technology Building of Redwood Campus and room of South City Campus Students can inquire for tutoring assistance assistance assistance as as- at the front desk at Sandy Center For more information about the Learning Cent Center r call |