Monthly publication - October 2000 Issue

IN THIS ISSUE:

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Welcome to the LCN

Welcome to the October issue of the Learning Center Newsletter.   

This issue features the third installment of Frank's Christ Management Strategies and Tips.  Also featured this month is "Support Groups for Students with Learning Disabilities" by Daniel Berkowitz from Boston University.  Our Person of the Month Dr. Gene Kerstiens contributed an inspirational article on how fate helped him get into college.  Other subjects include speed reading web sites,  a great search engine, and an excellent FTP agent.

Hope you enjoy the new issue, and don't forget to share the LCN with your colleagues.

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Management Strategies & Tips

By Frank L. Christ 

Tip #4: Keep a Management Journal.

In my first two years as the director of the Learning Assistance Center at CSU Long Beach, I kept a detailed journal of all my activities and campus interactions related to the Center, its programs and services.  In this journal, I had a record for later review of every meeting or encounter with faculty, staff, and administration along with any commitments that I made, my comments on the meeting, and ideas for any action to be taken that might be considered for the good of the Center.  I then reviewed this journal at the end of every week, every month, and at the end of each semester to be aware of what I was doing as the Center Director and what results my interactions had on my staff, center  programs and services, its users and other university components.  I believe that much of the success of the Learning assistance Support System program was attributable to this journal activity.

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Person of the Month

Dr. Gene Kerstiens, Andragogy Associates, Torrance, CA

Dr. Kerstiens has been involved with learning centers, learning support systems, and developmental programs for about 40 years.  While working as a reading, writing, study skills, and literature instructor at El Camino College in 1968, Gene designed and developed what may be the earliest computer managed student assessment and placement program for a California Community college. At that time Gene realized that developmental courses were not sufficient to serve the growing number of students encountering difficulties in their classes. Consequently, as Associate Dean, Gene started a full facility learning assistance center, taking a semester off to become involved in a graduate program for developmental practitioners at Western Washington State University.  

Leaving El Camino 10 years later, Gene accepted an appointment as Acting Associate Director of the National Center for Developmental Education and a year later initiated a learning assistance center at Scottsdale Community College.  Later Gene returned to California to focus energy on student assessment as Director of Andragogy Associates, College/Adult Learning Specialists.  Gene has either visited or consulted at more than 200 learning centers in the nation “encountering islands of innovation and looking for ideas to steal.”

Dr. Kerstiens professional development experience includes the following:

Gene’s accomplishments lead to many honors and recognitions, including the Lifetime Achievement Awards from CRLA and from the Association for California Community College Tutoring and Learning Assistance.  Gene is also a Fellow of the American Council of Developmental Associations (ACDA)

When he was a student, Gene did not think he will be getting high degrees in education.  As a matter of fact, he didn't think he'll be going to college at all.  As he puts it "I have never entertained the notion of going to college.  Nor had anyone in my family."  So how did he end up graduating with high degrees and making a career as an educator?  Make sure to read Gene's article below for his inspiring story.  

Congratulations Gene on your many accomplishments.  We are glad to have you as our October's Person of the Month. 

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Whatever happened to Spritsma!

By Dr. Gene Kerstiens, Ed. D.

Like so many students, both then and now, I had never entertained the notion of going to college. Nor had anyone in my family. Nor, as far as I know, had any of my schoolmates. At least they never talked about it. I had learned that if one were to show up, look alert, and not cause too much trouble, he could get passing grades while not allowing school to interfere too much with important lifetime experiences. Other than a course in general science and four semesters in typing classes, I was unable to identify any instructional occurrence of significance while being schooled.

In 1943, I was attending my fourth high school, a small, parochial boys' school of 250 souls, where my mother thought my character might enjoy improvement. In Arizona, that a male high school senior would drink, smoke, chase girls, and play football was normal expectation. I majored in drinking and cutting classes, and proved to be a problem football player chiefly because the game was not suited to the ethical inclination of my personality. I'm a devout coward. But I made the second team and was playing regularly only because Louis Spritsma, first-string tackle and honor student, was injured. The day before the state championship game with Phoenix Union High School, the largest high school in the nation (10,000 students), Spritsma returned, hale and hardy. In a fit of understandable disgust and relief, the coach ordered me to turn in my suit.

Should you think I digress and meander, be assured this sketch has a thematic thread.

Now it's important to get the historical perspective. This game was a sports page hyped David-and-Goliath event that would be broadcast on radio statewide. In those days there was neither television nor were there transistor radios that stadium fans could listen to while observing the game. Consequently, even though I attended the game, I was oblivious to the radio account. And Spritsma's performance was epic. With broken nose and blood soaked uniform, he nevertheless performed spectacular sacks, countless tackles, any number of downfield blocks, and he recovered two fumbles. There was just one problem. On the radio announcer's program roster, the name of the left tackle had never been revised to reflect Spritsma's return.

[Read the rest of this article by clicking here]

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Support Groups for Students with Learning Disabilities

By Daniel J. Berkowitz, M.A.,  Boston University

An article that I wrote on Stress and Students with Learning Disabilties discusses stress factors that affect students with learning disabilities as they make the transition into postsecondary education. That article includes a study by Geisthardt & Munsch (1996) on the coping strategies of students both with and without learning disabilities, and concluded that organizing and maintaining a professionally led student support group may prove beneficial to students dealing with stress and other issues. The following article outlines further research in this area, along with some concrete strategies for facilitating a student support group.

Social support is known to directly enhance psychological well being and may buffer the effects of stress on students (Delworth and Hanson, 1989). Offering opportunities to meet in a small group atmosphere, with clear objectives, and positive leadership, may provide students both an outlet for their stress and the opportunity to share coping strategies with their peers.

Furthermore, since students with disabilities also experience greater pressure to adjust to the educational environment, this may place them at greater risk of dropping out of school. Therefore, support groups for these students may be one factor toward helping them complete their educational programs and thereby increase retention rates. Kroeger and Schuck (1993) point out that such support may be "as crucial for the success of students with disabilities as ensuring academic accommodations" (pg. 64).

In all likelihood, such a group will not spontaneously develop overnight, or at any point during the semester. It is you, the Service Provider, who will need to be the catalyst. The formation of a student support group can be a stressful experience unto itself. It can be frustrating to have the foresight that such a group would benefit students, and the understanding that they are probably reluctant to actively seek out other individuals and resources with which to form such a group.

[Read the rest of this article by clicking here]

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Do you Google?

Google is a powerful engine which like Yahoo and Excite, began as a Stanford University research project. 

Google delivers fast, comprehensive, and relevant information.  It's fast because it cashes the web pages it indexes.  It's comprehensive because it indexes more than one billion web pages.  The information is relevant thanks to complex search formulas that takes page popularity into consideration when determining relevance.

Google is easy to use.  All you need is type your search and click on a search button.  The  results page includes the page title, a description, the URL, a number representing the size of page text, a "Cashed" link, and a "Similar pages" link.  The description is actually an excerpt of the text that matches your query, with your search terms in bold.  The "Cashed" link is the snapshot of the page as it looked when Google visited it.  The "Similar pages" link runs another search for pages related to this result.

Here are some tips on using this excellent search engine:

1. If the site is down or no the page no longer exists, you can still view the page in Google's cash.
2. Your search terms are highlighted on the cached version, which makes easier to find what you seek.
3. The cashed version is faster than the direct link since it comes from Google's site.
   

Oh and if you're wondering the name came from the word "googol", a huge number: 10 to the power of 100.

You can find Google at:

    http://www.google.com/

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Internet Resource of the Month

Speed Reading on the Web

This month we feature links to speed reading resources on the web.  This includes courses, tips, and software for speed reading.

http://www.trans4mind.u-net.com/speed_reading/index.html

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http://www.roadtoreading.org/

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http://lc.ust.hk/~sac/advice/R1.htm

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http://www.mindtools.com/rdstratg.html

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http://www.studyhall.com/sread.htm

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http://www.epixmed.com/hunsocma/ReadRace/

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http://www.stepware.com/acereader.html

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FReader: or Efficient Reader is another computer program designed to improve reading skills.  You can download a free limited demo.

http://www.readingsoft.com/

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http://www.readingsoft.com/flinks.html

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http://www.selfgrowth.com/reading.html  

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Software Pick

FTP Voyager

FTP Voyager is a file transfer utility.  This

So why use an FTP client?  A common reason is to maintain web sites.  Another is to download large files from the Internet.  FTP file transfers are usually quicker and more reliable than http (web browser) transfers.  FTP offers other advantages such as the ability to resume interrupted downloads. 

There are many choices when it comes to FTP programs, but my favorite is FTP Voyager.  Here is why:

You can download a free 30-day evaluation version of FTP Voyager from its web site.  If you decide to keep it, the registration fee is $39.95.  FTP Voyager requires Windows 95 or higher.  For more info or to download, visit this web site:

    http://www.ftpvoyager.com/

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Conferences

NCLCA Fifteenth Annual Conference 
October 4-6, 2000 
Minneapolis, Minnesota

The National College Learning Center Association (NCLCA), founded in 1985, is a
professional organization dedicated to promoting excellence among learning assistance professionals. The association has membership throughout the United States and Canada, and welcomes anyone interested in assisting college and university students along the road to academic success. 

The Featured Speakers of this year's conference, "Guiding Success:  Learning Center Strategies for a New Age", are Martha Casazza & Sharon Silverman. 

For more information browse this web site:

    http://www.eiu.edu/~lrnasst/nclca/

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NACADA National Conference
October 5-8, 2000 
Orlando, Florida

The theme of the 24th national conference of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) is "Advising in the 21st Century: tradition, Innovation, and Vision".   Keynote speakers are Dr. Susan Komives and Dr. Wes Habley.  For detailed information visit the conference web site at:

        http://www.ksu.edu/nacada/Confs/links.htm    

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National Conference on Retaining Students of Color: A Higher Education Initiative 
October 26-28, 2000 
Charlotte, NC

This conference will take place in the Hilton Charlotte University Place, Charlotte, North Carolina.  For more information, contact Mike Thomas at 313-845-9690.

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National Conference on Students in Transition
November 1- 4, 2000
Cincinnati, OH

Attendees will hear about the latest efforts to change campus structures and programs to promote the learning, success, and retention of college students in transition. 

    http://www.sc.edu/fye/conferences/sit/index.htm

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NWCA 5th National Conference 
November 2-4, 2000 
Baltimore, MD 

The National Writing Centers Association (NWCA) conference’s goal is to provide a setting where all those who work in writing centers can exchange ideas and information.  For more information visit the conference web site at: 

    http://www.english.udel.edu/wc/mawca/nwcacon.html

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CRLA 33rd Annual Conference 
November 8-11, 20000
Reno, Nevada 

The College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) conference, "Research, Practice, Reflection for a new generation" key note speaker is Gary Soto.  Luncheon Speaker-Robert Sherfield.

    http://www.crla.net/2000_Conference.htm

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Windows Tips of the Month

Changing Application Associated with a File Type

One of the cool things about Windows is that it can automatically launch an application when you run one of its files.  For example, you can double click a document file in Windows Explorer or on your desktop, and Windows will launch your Word Processor application and load the file automatically.  

So how does Windows know which application to launch for each file type?  Applications register their associated file types when you install them.  For example, when you install MS Word, the installation program registers document files (*.doc) so when you run such a file Windows launches Word automatically.

What if you install more than one application for a certain file type?  Usually, the application installed last wins.  For example, if you install MS Word and then install WordPerfect, the doc association will change from Word to WordPerfect.  Luckily, Windows provide you with a utility for changing the association.  

Changing File Type Associations

Start by launching Windows Explorer and select "View" - "Folder Options".

Windows will show the "Folder Options" box.  Click on the "File Types" tab.  The list box at the top shows all the registered file types.  The box at the bottom shows the registration details for the selected item.  For example, you can scroll down to the "Text Document" type in the list box and click on it to highlight it.  You will see something like this:  

From the screenshot above you can see that text files (*.txt") are associated with Window's "Notepad".  This is the Windows default.  Suppose you want to change this so text files are opened with MS Word instead.  First highlight the "Text Document" item in the Registered file types list box, then click on the "Edit" button.  You will see the "Edit File Type" box. 

The first button allows you to change the icon associated with the file type.  The icon appears next to the file name in Windows Explorer and on your Desktop.  The "Actions" box shows commands associated with this file type.  The commands appear on the shortcut menu for the file type.  You will see the shortcut menu if you click on the file with the RIGHT mouse button in Windows Explorer.  To change the associated application with a file when you open (e.g. double click) on it, highlight the "open" item and click on the "Edit" button.  This will bring the edit action box.

As you can see from the screenshot above, the "open" action is associated with Notepad.  To change this association to Word, click on the "Browse" button and select the Word .exe file, then click on "Open".  The edit box will look like this:

Click on OK to save your changes.  Now each time you open a text file it will open in Word.  You can do the same to change the associations of other file type such as web document, image files, etc.

Next month we will show you a quicker way of changing the association between a file type and an application.  

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On the Lighter Side

From the Files of Computer Support Desks

So you think you're computer-illiterate? Check out the following excerpts from a Wall Street Journal article by Jim Carlton:

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Compaq is considering changing the command "Press Any Key" to "Press Return Key" because of the flood of calls asking where the "Any" key is.

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AST technical support had a caller complaining that her mouse was hard to control with the dust cover on. The cover turned out to be the plastic bag the mouse was packaged in.

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An AST customer was asked to send a copy of her defective diskettes. A few days later a letter arrived from the customer along with Xeroxed copies of the floppies.

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A Dell technician advised his customer to put his troubled floppy back in the drive and close the door. The customer asked the tech to hold on, and was heard putting the phone down, getting up and crossing the room to close the door to his room.

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Another Dell customer called to say he couldn't get his computer to fax anything. After 40 minutes of trouble-shooting, the technician discovered the man was trying to fax a piece of paper by holding it in front of the monitor screen and hitting the "send" key.

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Another Dell customer needed help setting up a new program, so a Dell tech suggested he go to the local Egghead. "Yeah, I got me a couple of friends, "the customer replied. When told Egghead was a software store, the man said, "Oh, I thought you meant for me to find a couple of geeks."

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An exasperated caller to Dell Computer Tech Support couldn't get her new Dell Computer to turn on. After ensuring the computer was plugged in, the technician asked her what happened when she pushed the power button. Her response, "I pushed and pushed on this foot pedal and nothing happens." The "foot pedal" turned out to be the computer's mouse.

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Another customer called Compaq tech support to say her brand-new computer wouldn't work. She said she unpacked the unit, plugged it in, and sat there for 20 minutes waiting for something to happen. When asked what happened when she pressed the power switch, she asked "What power switch?"

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True story from a Novell NetWire SysOp:

Caller: "Hello, is this Tech Support?"
Tech: "Yes, it is. How may I help you?"
Caller: "The cup holder on my PC is broken and I am within my warranty period. How do I go about getting that fixed?"
Tech: "I'm sorry, but did you say a cup holder?"
Caller: "Yes, it's attached to the front of my computer."
Tech: "Please excuse me if I seem a bit stumped, It's because I am. Did you receive this as part of a promotional, at a trade show? How did you get this cup holder?
Does it have any trademark on it?"
Caller: "It came with my computer, I don't know anything about a promotional. It just has '4X' on it."
At this point the Tech Rep realized the caller had been using the load drawer of the CD-ROM drive as a cup holder, and snapped it off the drive!

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Quotes

"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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"When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge."
Albert Einstein

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"It takes less time to do things right that to explain why you did it wrong."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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"If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it, even if I did not have the ability in the beginning."
Mahatma Gandhi

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"Any fact facing us is not as important as our attitude toward it, for that determines our success or failure." 
Norman Vincent Peale

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"Opportunity often comes disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat." Napoleon Hill

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"Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." 
Mark Twain

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Call for Submissions

Get involved in the learning-assistance community via The Learning Center Newsletter by:

Submitting your article will make you more famous and will help your colleagues worldwide!  E-mail your submissions to:

        newsletter@attendance-tracking.com

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Feedback

We certainly hope you find this newsletter useful and entertaining.  We welcome your suggestions and improvements ideas.  Also if you enjoy reading this newsletter, let us know.  We would like to hear from you, so e-mail us your feedback by clicking here.

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About the Authors

This newsletter is produced by Mon Nasser from Engineerica Systems, Inc.  My thanks to this month's contributors: Frank Christ, Daniel J. Berkowitz,  and Dr. Gene Kerstiens.

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Last Issue

The September issue of the Learning Center Newsletter featured:

To view the September issue, click here.

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