Learning Links

Careers

Career inventories and advice for selecting a career path that builds on your interests and strengths. http://www.careerkey.org/english/you/

The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a nationally recognized source of career information, designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives. Revised every two years, the Handbook describes what workers do on the job, working conditions, the training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects in a wide range of occupations.
http://www.bls.gov/oco/

English as a Second Language

Online Learning Links for ESL Students

http://www.englishclub.com/

TOEFL
http://www.toefl.org/

The official Web site for Test of English as a Foreign Language programs and services. This English proficiency test, developed by the Educational Testing Service under the direction of the TOEFL Board, is available to international students planning to study worldwide, wherever English is used in an academic environment.

* This site has all the information needed for you to get a good sense of what the TOEFL is about, testing requirements and processes involved, tutorials, and multiple links to related resources. One such link is http://www.toefl.org/ which provides frequently asked questions about the computer-based test. Give yourself sufficient time to study and take practice tests before taking the TOEFL. Be prepared!

Self-guided Grammar Tutorials
http://www.englishgrammar101.com

Free English grammar tutorials for language arts classes, home schooling, adult study, and ESL courses. Created by a 35 year veteran teacher who wanted to make free access to a high-quality, comprehensive, self-guided study of English grammar available to anyone with access to the Internet.

Math
There are many sites out there – these are a few to get you started…

Research/Reference

www.unaids.org: A massive data base on the HIV/AIDS pandemic, international aid organizations, and so forth. It is for the serious student, researcher, and even journalists and health careers persons.

www.newscientist.com: As the name implies, it is geared to many science topics, some contemporary and some archival, such as global warming, population/demographics, medicine, archaeology, astromony, and so on. Very user friendly.

www.cnn.com/science: Actually quite good, clearly aims to deliver info on recent breakthroughs in medicine, biology, earth sciences, ... .

The Seven Steps of the Research Process from Cornell University’s Library
http://www.library.cornell.edu/okuref/research/skill1.htm

Online reference desk
http://www.refdesk.com/index.html

Boolean Searching on the Internet (for advanced database and search engine research)
http://library.albany.edu/internet/boolean.html

Don’t catch the Gullibility Virus! Learn how to critically analyze Internet resources.
http://bob.bob.bofh.org/~robm/manual/virus/gullibility.html

Evaluating Internet Research Sources - http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm

Check out Internet Hoaxes and Scams on this site sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/

Fathom.Com
http://www.fathom.com/

Fathom.Com is an archive provided by Columbia University which offers access to the complete range of free content developed for Fathom by its member institutions. Columbia encourages you to browse this archive of online learning resources, including lectures, articles, interviews, exhibits and free seminars. Wonderful source for research paper and essay ideas.

Facing History and Ourselves is based on the belief that education in a democracy must be what Alexis de Tocqueville called "an apprenticeship in liberty." Facing History helps students find meaning in the past and recognize the need for participation and responsible decision making. Interesting source for research paper ideas.
http://www.facinghistory.org/facing/fhao2.nsf

FirstGov.gov is the official U.S. gateway to all government information. Whatever you want or need from the U.S. government, it's here on FirstGov.gov. You'll find a rich treasure of online information, services and resources.
http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Facts.shtml

North Carolina Community College System home page
http://www.ncccs.cc.nc.us/

Studying / College Reading

College Study Skills:

Discover How To Study And Learn All The Skills You Need...
http://www.college-study-skills.com/

Purdue University's online writing lab
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

Learning Skills Services - Learning Skills counselors can teach you how to manage your time, prepare for exams, and improve your grades.
http://www.sdc.uwo.ca/learning/

Preparing college reading assignments -
http://www.garlikov.com/teaching/assignments.htm

Effective Study Skills: How to Study and Make the Most of Your Time
http://www.adprima.com/studyout.htm

Dartmouth College Academic Skills Center:
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~acskills/success/reading.html

Test Preparation - Your Study Smart Not Hard Solution:
http://www.test-preparation.ca/study-center/2006/12/07/tips-for-improving-college-study-skills/

What is Critical Reading?:
http://www.criticalreading.com/critical_reading.htm

Whole Language College Reading -
http://www.ci.swt.edu/Whole_Language.html

Provides information on whole language and/or constructivist philosophies of teaching reading in college developmental education.

*Highly recommended, especially for instructors. This site is a clearinghouse for whole language college reading. It describes the developmental reading program at Southwest Texas State University, addresses technology in developmental education, and provides references for further reading. Dr. David Caverly, co-author of the "TechTalk" series in Journal of Developmental Education, is Webmaster.

SQ3R -
http://www.iss.stthomas.edu/studyguides/texred2.htm

The SQ3R reading method consists of five steps to help you process and remember what you read: survey, question, read, recite, and review.

*A reader who knows how to actively approach and understand textual and graphic material is a happier reader! Knowing what SQ3R (or a variation of this 1940's classic) is one step; applying it well in an academic setting is another. To learn more, explore related sites such as http://www.arc.sbc.edu/sq3r.html.

Critical Reading: A Guide -
http://www.brocku.ca/english/jlye/criticalreading.html

Informative guide designed for 1st year college students in English courses to use in critically reading and analyzing literature, particularly poetry and fiction.

*John Lye's guide offers readers an easy-to-follow format with internal links. Topics include reasons for analyzing literature, processes involved in analyzing poetry, fiction, and prose in fiction, and direction in writing analytical essays.

Speed Reading -
http://www.turboread.com

TurboRead Speed Reading provides speed-reading and reading comprehension self-assessment checks, as well as slow reading and speed-reading "speed FAQ's."

*Try the on-line reading test. You might be surprised! It is divided into two parts: 1) easy-read selection, and 2) more technical, study-read selection. This is an informational site that you can enjoy and gain feedback from without feeling obligated to buy the offered product, Turbo Read Interactive Speed Reading CD-ROM.

Bloom's Cognitive Taxonomy -
http://www.kcmetro.cc.mo.us/longview/ctac/blooms.htm

Bloom's Taxonomy divides learning into three domains. Recognizing and using key words and questions stemming from the six levels of the cognitive domain promote critical thinking and questioning skills. These include knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.

*A handy reference when constructing guide questions in the SQ3R textbook reading process. To get an overall look at the questioning process based on Bloom's Cognitive Taxonomy, refer to the graphic, task-oriented, question-construction wheel at http://www.stedwards.edu/cte/bwheel.htm. Other sites related to questioning techniques include http://www.bucks.edu/~specpop/question.htm, http://www.gillmacmillan.ie/getintobusinesseuro/qs.htm. http://www.fno.org/nov97/toolkit.html, and http://www.nexus.edu.au/teachstud/gat/painter.htm.

Metacognition -
http://www.gse.buffalo.edu/fas/shuell/cep564/Metacog.htm

Metacognition, one of the latest buzzwords in educational psychology, refers to higher order thinking about and active control of mental processes involved in learning.

*If you are curious about a relatively new construct of thinking about thinking, learn about metacognition. We engage in it every day of our lives, and it especially impacts our success in an academic setting. Livingston provides an overview of this metacognitive theory (Flavell) which takes into consideration factors including personal, task-oriented, and strategies chosen to undertake tasks.

Graphic Organizers -
http://www.graphic.org

The Graphic Organizer is a site that features graphic organizers to aid visual thinking, learning, and writing, including webbing, concept mapping, matrices, and flow charts. It is a useful tool for preparing presentations.

*If you ever need to choose a graphic organizer that can best provide a condensed version of information in printed/textual form, this site is for you. Some examples follow: linear string to describe sequences, Venn diagram or comparison matrix to show relationships, hierarchy diagram to develop classifications, fishbone mapping to show causal interactions.

Teaching and Learning

A Brief Summary of the Best Practices in Teaching. Intended to Challenge the Professional Development of All Teachers.
http://northonline.sccd.ctc.edu/eceprog/bstprac.htm

Using questions effectively in teaching http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/teachtip.htm#questions

Community College Teaching: The View from Inside the Classroom
http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/ccs/digests/digest0307.htm

Ten Tips You Need to Survive College from the learning center at Middle Tennessee State University.
http://www.mtsu.edu/%7Estudskl/10tips.html

Techniques for reducing common school and life stressors. Check out the sections on Test Stress, Performance Stress, and Relaxation.
http://thestressoflife.com/index.html

An online guide to College Success by an instructor at Bridgewater State College.
http://webhost.bridgew.edu/jhayesboh/NOT13TH/not13th.htm

How to Read Essays You Must Analyze, from Virginia Tech.
http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/essays.html

Identifying the Argument in an Essay: A Tutorial in Critical Reasoning by a Humanities instructor at Metropolitan Community College, Omaha, Nebraska.
http://commhum.mccneb.edu/argument/summary.htm

Procrastination Research Group, sponsored by Carleton University, Canada.
http://www.carleton.ca/~tpychyl/#

Study Environment Analysis from the learning center at Virginia Tech.
http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/studydis.html

For Instructors: College Success, an On Course workshop by Skip Downing.
http://www.oncourseworkshop.com/Student%20Success%20Strategies.htm

This site is a companion to the PBS special Misunderstood Minds and profiles a variety of learning problems and expert opinions. It is designed to give teachers, students, and parents a better understanding of learning processes, insights into difficulties, and strategies for responding.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/misunderstoodminds/intro.html

For instructors: Helping students with learning disabilities become more efficient and effective learners by teaching them how to learn.
http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/teaching_techniques/strategies.html

Concept Mapping: Why and how.
http://www.coun.uvic.ca/learn/program/hndouts/map_ho.html

Metacognition: What is it? How can you use it?
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/students/learning/lr1metn.htm

Mind-mapping: A technique for activating your brain while you’re studying, taking notes, or brainstorming for an essay.
http://www.mind-mapping.co.uk/mind-maps-examples.htm

CampusBlues.com is designed to facilitate student awareness and use of college resources. CampusBlues.com is a subsidiary of ReconnectingU.com, a resource for working adults who are trying to juggle college, family, and career. Wonderful source for study skills and coping strategies.
http://www.campusblues.com/

For Instructors: Role of media literacy in a well-rounded education
http://www.medialit.org/

Medical Terminology website of the English Centre, designed primarily for students majoring in dentistry, medicine, and nursing.
http://ec.hku.hk/mt/

Health Occupations Aptitude Exam: Link to text written by an SCC R.N. program alumna.
http://www.hoae-test.com/

For Instructors: Using Cooperative Learning in the college classroom by professor Ted Panitz at Cape Cod Community College.
http://home.capecod.net/~tpanitz/

Grade Point Average calculator
http://www.clt.astate.edu/advising/Students/Jill%20Calc.html

For Instructors: National Learning Communities Project home page
http://learningcommons.evergreen.edu/home.asp

For Instructors: Teaching Tips from faculty at Honolulu Community College
http://www.hcc.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/teachtip.htm

MS Office Templates for students and instructors, including resumes, reports, grade spreadsheets, and many more.
http://office.microsoft.com/templates/default.aspx

Vocabulary

http://englishpage.com (This site is excellent in terms of interactive games and what not)

http://aliscot.com/bigdog (great for vocabulary, sentence structure, and composition structure)

http://angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner (also an excellent site for interactive learning)

http://www.visualthesaurus.com (excellent)

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/6720 (excellent)

http://home.earthlink.net/~ruthpett/safari/index.htm (excellent)

www.m-w.com

www.vocabulary.com

www.edhelper.com/vocabulary/htm (has grades 1-12 at top; at the bottom, however, you can build vocabulary puzzles/games with own set of words--great resource for teachers)

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/vocabulary.htm (advice for building vocabulary and other grammar issues--from a drop-down menu)

http://englishpage.com

http://aliscot.com/bigdog

http://www.ego4u.com

http://angelfire.com/wi3/englishcorner (includes vocabulary games)

http://englishclub.com (ton of vocab links)

Word Safari: Vocabulary Expeditions -
http://home.earthlink.net/~ruthpett/safari/index.htm

A word guessing game that helps you expand your vocabulary while exploring remote cyber trails to other Web sites.

*Excellent resource to enhance vocabulary in an entertaining Safari setting. Guess a word correctly and track it via Fresh Tracks linking into the World Wide Wilderness and other contexts. Expedition Gear (other sites devoted to words) includes dictionary, thesaurus, word pitfalls and notorious confusables, and a spelling test. Selected as one of Writer's Digest's 101 Best Web Sites for Writers.

Plumb Design Visual Thesaurus -
http://www.visualthesaurus.com

Explore words and their various threads of meaning relationships within the English language by creating a spatial map of linguistic associations.

*A must for anyone who prefers information presented spatially. Search word synonyms either from a 2-D or 3-D perspective by selecting words and setting the map in motion. Then observe the automatic linking of words to related words. Built with data-animation technology, this site is a refreshing alternative to Roget's classic thesaurus.

Idioms -
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/6720

The Idiom Connection is a collection of English idioms and quizzes, arranged either alphabetically or topically. For instance, you can scroll through the alphabetized categories to browse through the information, or you can choose a particular area of interest, such as color idioms, food idioms, medical idioms, or number idioms.

*So you think you understand the English language! This site is sure to enlighten and to entertain you. Each idiom is defined and then used in the context of a sentence. Another useful site is http://dictionary.cambridge.org, Cambridge Dictionaries Online, which provides a dictionary of idioms. Type in a particular idiom to go to the phrase listed alongside other idioms using the same key word (ex. bird in bush, eat like a bird, etc.), its definition, and its use in a sentence.

Merriam-Webster Online Language Center -
http://www.m-w.com

Quick access to an online dictionary and thesaurus. To have fun while building your vocabulary, play some of the word games and sign up for the Word of the Day.

Writing

Western Carolina University's Writing Lab - http://www.wcu.edu/WritingCenter/

The Purdue University OWL (Online Writing Lab) - http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

Essay Writing -
http://members.tripod.com/~lklivingston/essay

This site, Guide to Writing a Basic Essay, guides you through the process of essay writing by following a commonly used format with easy to follow instructions. A sample essay is provided as a model. Link to a variety of writing, research, and grammar resources to enrich your writing experiences.

*An excellent site to use as a step-by-step guide in writing an essay, regardless of its purpose. An option to download instructions is also provided.

Literacy Education Online -
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu

Online writing lab offering quick reference guides to common writing concerns such as writing and documenting a research paper, editing advice for native and non-native speakers of English, business and technical writing suggestions, and academic essay writing tips.