Study Skills Workshop

When:  Monday, Feb 8th 12-1

Where: Lynch 125

What:  Study Skills Help!  Have you ever wondered which is the best choice, A, B, or C if you have to guess blindly on a multiple choice exam?  Do you have trouble managing your time while taking a test?  Do you need help narrowing down your choices when making educated guesses?

Why:  If you are taking the Praxis exam for teacher certification, or if you are taking multiple choice or essay exams in your classes this semester, you can’t afford to miss this workshop.

We hope to see you there!

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Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is an effective tool in developing one’s learning skills. This concept was introduced to me by a biology professor who is allowing me to facilitate constructing one in class today. It is a good study method, so I wanted to share it online.  Take a look at my presentation, and see if you can adapt to subjects you are currently learning. I have a good idea for applying it to anatomy, but more on that later….

The subject for today’s presentation is Population ecology: Density.

Density describes the number of organisms within a given area. A species density is regulated by density- independent factors, and density- dependant factors. I have organized these factors through a mind map attached to this post. I start quite general:

Density is regulated by two factors listed as…

Then, I move on into specifics as the map grows in content:

For example, toxic waste accumulation is an example of a density dependant factor…

 As the population density of an organism increases, the concentration of waste products excreted into habitats also grows. Perhaps disgusting, but think of house-training a puppy. A household has one puppy. While learning to ”do his business outside” the dog is likely to have a few accidents inside. As a consequence, the household may develop a particular odor. Now, imagine house-training 12 new puppies. Would one expect that house to become more smelly on account of increased inside urination incidents? Ekk, yes. If bacteria live among their own waste products they risk poisoning and death. This risk increases when more bacteria are around to create waste.

This is a good way to learn. Define and categorize. Once that is complete, attach meaning to a concept to increase your chance of remembering it. Look at my mind map. Under density-dependant factors toxic waste accumulation is listed. To further develop this thought I placed yeast and ethanol within the flow of arrows. Yeast undergoes fermentation to create ethanol during the production of beer. However, when one pops open a bottle of bud live yeast are not consumed. Why is that? The ethanol produced by these organisms accumulated and led to the creators’ deaths!

Notice how I connect two sub-categories of the two main categories (Density independent/dependant factors). Under either cause I  listed limitation of food resources. Distinguish between the two given examples. Densities of deer may go down in the winter time due to low availability of food. One family member may not get seconds at the dinner table, and leave for bed hungry because of a lower availability of food. What is the difference between the two? For the deer, winter may wipe out food resources (i.e. plants). Some animals may starve to death, thus decreasing population density. Climate is not aggravated by a large number of deer. A climate will do what it wanrws regardless of how mant deer are present. A big family, however,  leaves less food for seconds. How far do you think a single pie would go in family of seven versus one of three?  One factor is density independent, while the other is density dependant.

Practice this method of visual learning. Define something, categorize it, sub-categorize it, attached meanings, and make connections and distinctions. 

Cheers!

Melissa R.

Content Tutoring Starts Today!

Just in time for those upcoming exams and papers, content tutors are ready to meet with you starting today, Feb. 1st.  We have tutors in Chemistry, Biology, Math, English, History, Psychology, Fine Arts, Accounting & Management, and Nursing!  Come see us once and you’ll quickly become a regular!  SJC students, call 860.231.5514 for an appointment.

Theatre By the Students, For the Students (April 20-25)

Theatre By the Students, For the Students (April 20-25)

By Courtney Hebert

Every semester, the Queenes Companye offers the Saint Joseph College community a play that is relevant to the student body and displays current issues we face in the world today. In recent semesters we’ve performed plays having to do with capital punishment, war, feminism, family drama, and a variety of other topics. This spring’s production of Masters and Novices: Plays Old and New from Page to Stage features more involvement and creative control by students than ever before.

Under the guidance of Dr. Mark Zelinsky, this week-long festival of one-acts will present 8 student-directed plays, featuring student actors as well as guest artists from outside the school. A by among such beloved playwrights as Edward Albee and Tennessee Williams, audiences will also be able to enjoy the world premieres of four original plays written by students from Dr. Zelinsky’s play-writing class last semester. These originals deal with subjects ranging from sexual orientation to satirical portrayals of negative cultural stereotypes, and so much more. These are the plays that will be performed:

Night A

As He Was by Kim Kim’s (SJC grad student) – The main character Chris comes out to his family as transgender on Thanksgiving.

Bittergirl by Lawrence & Moore – Women learn about getting over getting dumped.

Finder’s Keepers by Cori Sheehan (SJC student) – Four easily recognized types argue over money that is not theirs.

A Perfect Analysis Given by a Parrot by Tennessee Williams – A prophecy by from an unlikely source becomes self-fullfilling.

Night B

Cold Coffee Heart by Ashley Nelson (SJC student) – This play deals with isolation and the misperceptions people have of one another.

A Late Lunch by G.L. Horton – Two old friends try to find common ground in spite of the different directions their lives have taken since one of them became a mother.

Leaves of the Fall by Jill M. Scott (SJC alum) – Ginny’s  wife, ex-husband, and daughter deal with unresolved issues at Ginny’s funeral, as she watches unseen.

The Zoo Story by Edward Albee – A dark comedy that explores themes of isolation, loneliness, social disparity and dehumanization in a commercial world.

Week night performances begin at 7:30 pm the week of April 20, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for the general public. Each night will feature 4 of the total 8 plays, so check with the box office or on posters around campus for which days have which plays. SEE ALL 8 PLAYS AT A SPECIAL PRICE ON SATURDAY, APRIL 25 AT 3PM when we run them back-to-back with complimentary snacks and beverages served at a long intermission.  Tickets for this special Saturday event are $7.50 for SJC students and $15 for all others. The plays are for mature audiences only due to language, sexual behavior, and brief nudity.  All shows will be held in the Bruyette Auditorium.  Please contact the Driscoll Box Office at 860-231-5555 for tickets (which may also be purchased at the door) or for further information about the productions please contact Mark Zelinsky, Director of the Queenes Companye, at 860-231-5252 or mzelinsky@sjc.edu