Lots of content doesn’t have to mean lots of stress

Whether you are new to university or finishing up your degree, high-volume or content-heavy courses – ones that involve detail-filled lectures, extensive course readings, and/or time-intensive labs – can feel overwhelming.

Luckily, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) offers a variety of free resources aimed at helping students find success in their studies.

For some of the University of Manitoba’s notoriously challenging courses, peer leaders (students who have previously completed these courses) guide students through free weekly Supplemental Instruction (SI) sessions. Noor Imran, a Faculty of Science student, SI leader, and content tutor, shared that, “these sessions […] helped me stay on top of the course material and identify knowledge gaps so I could address them more effectively. It was also a great opportunity to connect with people and see the thought process of my peers.” Other past participants have shared similarly positive experiences from these sessions, including SI’s value for test preparation and improving problem-solving capacity.  As an SI leader, Noor further noted that these sessions can help students better understand how to approach their courses, and university studies more generally, and build valuable study habits and time-management skills.

Content and study skills tutors are available both in-person and online for free one-to-one appointments. These peer tutors can help students address a variety of concerns related to learning and studying. Noor shared that, “Some of the most common things that students talk about are time management, content help, exam preparation, note-taking strategies and additional resources for academic support.” She also explained that “there are students who are not sure why they are not succeeding in their courses. In those cases, our appointments are almost a diagnostic session where I help them discover shortcomings in their study style/strategies that they might need to improve or change completely. I find that those appointments are fulfilling for the students since they end up with a concrete plan on how to improve their strategies.”

The ALC also offers a variety of other resources and workshops designed to help you hone your skills and gain confidence in your learning.

There are many other supports available across campus, too. Noor explained that “The Science Students’ Association (SSA) has a tutoring program… Student clubs like Undergraduate Microbiology Students’ Club (MiSC) and Chem Club provide academic services for students like exam banks and study nights. For help with mathematics-based courses, the Math Help Centre and the Stats Help Centre are also very useful resources.” Try reaching out to your department, faculty, instructors or student group(s) to see what other resources might be available to you.

There are also many strategies you can explore on your own. Noor recommended making a study schedule, finding a study group and trying out some different study strategies. “I recommend the ‘study guide method’ to students, which is something that works for me. The method allows me to re-explain the concepts to myself through re-writing my notes and customize my study guides in a way that will help me remember and connect concepts (e.g. drawing diagrams, making tables for compare and contrast purposes, making flowcharts for mechanism, etc.). I find this method to be more effective and explanatory than making flashcards or passively copying down the slide’s text,” Noor explained.  As you continue on your learning journey, just know that one size does not fit all; it can be challenging, but taking the time to find the strategies that work for you is very worthwhile!

Make sure to take some time to care for yourself while you attend to your studies. Along with the resources for learning and studying, UM offers resources and services aimed at promoting and fostering student well-being. You can find more information at the Student Wellness website.

Mikala Epp, Student Writer, Student Affairs