Skills Labs
You have many options to complete the four Skills Labs to earn credit in the Skills 232/233 course. You can choose what you want to learn and how you want to learn it!
- Skills Workshops (on campus--best option, if your schedule allows it)
- Internet Resources, such as videos or articles (listed in Canvas)
- Special/Custom lab options are available for repeaters or those interested in being considered as future group leaders. Please speak to your group leader, Skills Coordinator, or Instructor for approval. Visit http://www.deanza.edu/studentsuccess/academicskills/specializedlabs.html to download PDF handouts.
Whether you choose to do your labs on campus or online, you must submit your four labs in Canvas by Friday of Week 8, 11:55 pm. Please do not wait until the last minute! Do the labs early, so you can benefit from what you learn and avoid last minute rush and technical problems.
Instructions
Choose the topic you want to learn about.
The Study Skills Inventory you completed during the Online Orientation shows specific areas you might want to improve. Skills Lab topics include Anti-Procrastination, Goal Setting, Motivation, Time Management, Note Taking, Test Taking, Stress, Textbook Reading, and many more.
Choose the format that works for you.
We recommend attending an on-campus workshop if you possibly can. You can also learn about the topic online by reading an article or watching the videos listed. Take notes so you don't forget the content.
After you have learned about the topic, write your Lab Journal.
The Lab Journal is a specific PERSONAL description of how you will use the information you learned to enhance your college success. Your journal should not look like anyone else's--make it unique!
We must be able to read and understand what you write, but format, grammar and spelling is not as important as the detailed, personal, and specific content you put into your journal.
We recommend that you write your journal as a separate document and save it to your files. You may compose in Canvas, but you risk losing your work if you close the window.
Requirements for Lab Journal:
- 250 words minimum.
- Title should include details on the option you chose--the date and leader's name if you attended an on campus workshop, the title of the article you read, or the title of the video you watched.
- Describe at least two ways you will apply the strategy you learned about help with specific classes or challenges in your own life.
- If appropriate, described what you learned that you will share with someone else. When you talk about a habit or skill, you are more likely to change
and improve it.
The journal may be one long paragraph or several shorter ones. See the LAB OVERVIEW page in Canvas for sample lab journals.
Submit your Lab Journal in Canvas by the deadline.
Find the topic of your lab, then click on the Submit link. Paste or write your journal (Note: The submission process uses Turn It In to detect plagiarism. If you use someone else's words, be sure to use quotes and name the source.)
You must submit four labs by 11:55 pm Friday of Week 8, to pass SKIL 232/233. Submit early for best results! Please do not wait until the last minute, in case you have technical difficulties.
Grading
- Labs are graded on a scale from 0-25 points.
- Grades are based on word count and quality of ideas. The more specific and personal you are, the better! The writing should be clear and represent your best work, but we do not grade down for grammar errors.
- Click on the "Grades" link on the left of the screen to see your results.
- Labs will be usually be graded within one week after the final lab deadline (end of Week 8.)
If you have a question about the lab or your grade, please contact the Skills Center:
Diana Alves de Lima, Instructor and SSC Co-Director
alvesdelimadiana@fhda.edu 408-864-8485 ATC 309a
Stephanie Pham, Program Coordinator
phamstephanie@fhda.edu 408-864-8253 ATC 302
Computer Lab:
Students registered in a SKILLS course may use the Academic Skills Center during office hours to complete the online orientation and labs in a quiet study area. Students can complete online work from any location with Internet access. Printing is not available in the Skills Center.