Workshops and Programs

Maximizing the Benefits of Hudson Valley’s Computing Environment
This workshop will introduce you to computing at Hudson Valley Community College. Students will log on to a student computer and take a hands-on tour. Topics include: access to student computer systems; use and maintenance of student file storage space (H: drive); remote access to H: drive; print services – on campus, off campus and wireless; wireless connection for laptop and mobile devices. The goal of this workshop is to familiarize you with all that the college’s computing environment has to offer allowing you to utilize it to its fullest potential while at Hudson Valley Community College.

Managing H: Drive (Your Electronic Storage Space)
This workshop will introduce you to the hierarchical structure of files, folders and drives in a Windows environment – specifically on your H: drive. Students will learn how to create folders, move and/or copy files or folders, change the name of a file or folder and delete a file or folder.

Using Microsoft Word to Format Academic Papers
This workshop will demonstrate options in Microsoft Word appropriate to formatting academic papers. You will learn to set margins, apply line spacing, insert page numbers and use a hanging indent, among other word processing options.

Using PowerPoint to Enhance Oral Presentations
This workshop will introduce you to presentation software, specifically PowerPoint, and its value as a visual and organizational aid to enhance oral presentations. You will learn the basics of slide organization, layout and design as well as how to map out a presentation, choose an appropriate slide layout and format slides.

Curve Sketching
This detailed workshop includes: domain of a function, X -intercept(s) and y-intercept; symmetry; horizontal and vertical asymptotes; relative extrema and points of inflection; intervals where the function is increasing or decreasing using the first derivative test; intervals where the function is concave up or concave down; and sketching the function.

Factoring
This detailed workshop includes: greatest common factoring; factoring by grouping; factoring of special cases (perfect square trinomials and difference of squares and trinomial factoring). Trinomial factoring is explained using three different methods: trial and error, grouping and the slide method.

Fun With Functions
This workshop includes: identifying functions analytically, graphically and numerically; function notation; domain; range; evaluating a function; composition of functions; and inverse of a function.

Graphing Lines
This workshop includes: identifying the parts of the coordinate plane; plotting a point in the plane; recognizing a linear equation in two variables; as well as graphing a line by using one of three methods - finding x and y intercepts, making a table of values for x and y, and using slope and y - intercept.

Integration Techniques for Calculus I
This workshop includes: proper integration rule to use; substitution; special cases; and how to manipulate the integrand to fit one of the basic integration rules.

Introduction to Trigonometry
This workshop includes: labeling the parts of a right triangle; relationship between the angles and the sides of a right triangle; the six trigonometric functions; calculating the sine, cosine, and tangent of an angle; solving the right triangle; and application problems.

Logarithm - Have You Got the Power?
This workshop includes: changing exponential equations to logarithmic equations and vice-versa; evaluating logarithmic expression; logarithmic properties; solving logarithmic equations and exponential equations; and changing base formula to evaluate a logarithm.

Math Study Skills
This workshop will discuss the correct approach to the "study" of math and the skills needed to help you organize and maximize your study and learning of mathematics. Five topics will be presented in relation to their place in a math course: listening in the classroom, using a math textbook, taking notes in math, doing homework correctly, and preparing for the math test. You will leave this workshop with tips for organizing your notebooks and, most importantly, the ability to combine classroom notes with textbook reading when doing homework in a manner that improves test preparation.

Sequences and Series
This workshop includes: distinguishing between a sequence and a series; finding the nth term of a sequence; determining when a sequence is convergent or divergent and the most efficient way to test a series for convergence or divergence; examining a series for absolute convergence or conditional convergence; finding the radius and the interval of convergence for a power series; constructing the power series for the derivative and integral of a given power series; and identifying the interval of convergence.

Strategies for Integration for Calculus II
This workshop includes: appropriate strategy to use for integration using one of three methods by Parts, trigonometric substitution, and partial fractions. The substitution method will also be reviewed.

The Language of Math
Canceling versus reducing, "less than," what is the difference between monomials and binomials. What do these words mean and why are they important to know? Too many people develop a fear of mathematics because of words and phrases like those above. This workshop will introduce you to the language of math. We will explore what these words mean in an effort to make reading and learning easier. Once you have a handle on the language, the skills become easier to develop. So, if a math course is in your future, come to this workshop to help you get a positive start!

Trigonometry Using a Calculator
This workshop includes: changing the mode between degrees and radians; finding the sine, cosine, tangent, cosecant, secant and cotangent of an angle; finding the angle in degrees or radians when the sine, cosine, tangent, cosecant, secant, or cotangent is given.

Using Your Calculator
This workshop will familiarize you with the four basic operations, exponents, reciprocal, square root, parentheses, fraction key, positive and negative key, and scientific notation. Other topics will be explained as time permits.

Be An Active Learner
To be an active learner, you must participate in the learning process. This workshop will demonstrate "active" behaviors such as marking-up lecture notes during and after lectures with notations that identify main ideas, information that will be on the next test, and information that needs further explanation or follow-up. You will be shown how to make tapes from lecture notes that will enable you to recite, review and ultimately store information in your long term memory. Additionally, methods for categorizing major and minor details, creating charts, diagrams or flow charts to organize information from textbooks or lectures, and annotating and outlining text will be demonstrated.

Getting Organized For Academic Success
This workshop will help you develop an organized approach to learning in the higher education environment. The college catalog and student handbook will be used to identify what you need to do to be successful. Introductions to note taking, time management and textbook reading systems will give you the tools to learn at the college level.

Getting The Most From Your Textbooks
This workshop provides strategies for getting the best value from your textbooks. A five-step process will assist you in selecting the important information from a text and recalling it for class discussions and tests. The SQ3R method and textbook marking guidelines are presented to make review of material much easier and more effective.

How To Break Down A Journal Article And Understand It
This workshop teaches you how to identify the key components of any journal article. In addition, you will learn critical thinking skills that will enable you to critique journal articles. We will practice developing a summary and a critique of an article.

How To Get The Most From Your Class Time
In this course, we will look at different types of teaching styles and adjustments we can make to succeed in particular instructional settings. You will review typical course assignments to gain a better understanding of what is expected.

I'm Late: Is It Procrastination?
This workshop ill help you recognize procrastination as a potential problem to your studies. Strategies will be provided on how to prevent procrastination from forming and correcting it before it gets "out of hand." We want you to become an active force in your ability to succeed. "Don't put if off any longer!"

Improving Your Memory
This memory improvement workshop offers an overview of how the memory works and presents eight tried and true systems that will make recall easier. The use of lists, mnemonics and associations will be practiced to help you find the methods that work for you personally.

Lecture Note-Taking
This workshop reviews the listening skills and note-taking techniques needed to record important lecture information. You will be shown how to identify the main ideas of a lecture, differentiate between major and minor details, compare and contrast ideas, use abbreviations, white space, and configurations to record notes. A double entry note-taking system, which shows you not only what to record during the lecture but also how to make your notes into study sheets that can be recited and reviewed, will be presented.

Preparing For Final Exams
This workshop gives you an end-of-the-course approach to studying for final examinations. After creating a master schedule to maximize your study time, you will learn how to develop a table of contents and study sheets for a course. The value of active studying, including the use of study partners and study groups, will also be discussed.

Procrastination And End Of The Semester Time Management
This workshop will help you overcome procrastination habits by identifying those habits and then discussing how they are negatively impacting your academic life. Once you determine your bad habits, we will develop a plan to overcome them and get organized as you prepare for finals. Specific personal schedules will be developed by each student, with a method to assess if the skills are developing and making the end of the semester more successful and less stressful.

Sharpen Your Critical Thinking Skills
This workshop will introduce you to critical thinking skills. Based on Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning Objectives, you will learn to identify the type of learning objective you are being asked to perform and specific strategies for answering questions involving analysis, evaluation, application and synthesis of presented information.

Test Anxiety
This workshop is for anyone whose stomach churns and palms sweat at the mention of a test. A survey of the sources of test anxiety will be the basis for our discussion of what can be done to control it. Strategies such as visualization techniques, home quiz simulation, arrival, seating plans and test preparation will help participants understand their fears and enable them to do their best in test situations.

Test Taking Strategies
You will leave this workshop with specific strategies to apply in test situations. Too often, learners allow distractions to take away their focus on a test. Test anxiety will be the first topic of discussion, followed by the set rules for taking any kind of test. Strategies for multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching column, short answer and essay questions will be introduced.

Time Management
This workshop introduces strategies that help you take control of your time, thereby increasing your available time for academic preparation, leisure activities and a healthful lifestyle. You will learn how to construct a daily "to do" list, a weekly schedule and a monthly calendar, enabling you to incorporate study time into your daily routines. Time management will help you prepare adequately for tests and quizzes and plan for long range assignments such as term papers and presentations.

Unraveling The Mystery Of Test Questions
We will identify various types and formats of tests and provide you with a strategy for reading critically while confidently preparing to take a test. Using sample test questions, we will learn to predict, formulate and model test questions in preparation for your test.

"Why Can't I Remember What I Read?"
This workshop will introduce you to strategies to use before, during and after reading to engage your thought processes. You will practice the use of strategies using one of your course texts. Strategies will cover activating prior knowledge, interacting with the text and summarizing information. Participants should bring a course text with them. (Texts can be course-specific, i.e., "Why can't I remember what I read in my Psychology text?"

APA Format
In this workshop, the basic guidelines for using American Psychological Association format in research papers are discussed, while a sample APA paper is examined. Summarizing, paraphrasing and quoting are reviewed, along with suggestions for avoiding plagiarism and adhering to the college’s Plagiarism Policy. You will be given time to work on the computers and begin to set up your research papers in the correct format with the guidance of the workshop instructor.

APA VS. MLA Format
In this workshop, which is designed for students who have been given a choice as to which format to use in their research papers, we will discuss the essential differences and similarities between MLA and APA research formats. The basic guidelines for using both Modern Language Association and American Psychological Association formats are discussed. Summarizing, paraphrasing and quoting are reviewed, along with suggestions for avoiding plagiarism and adhering to the college's Plagiarism Policy. You will be given time to work on the computers and begin to set up your research papers in the correct format with the guidance of the workshop instructor.

Chicago Manual Style Format
In this workshop, the basic guidelines for using Chicago Manual Style format are discussed. Summarizing, paraphrasing and quoting will be reviewed, along with suggestions for avoiding plagiarism, and maintaining a formal, academic tone in research papers. You will have the option to work on the computers to begin to set up your research papers with the guidance of the workshop instructor.

Eight Steps To Writing A Research Paper
This workshop provides guidance through the eight necessary steps for writing a research paper: selecting the topic, writing theses questions and a thesis statement, finding sources, taking notes, outlining the information, organizing the paper, writing the paper and citing your sources. A writing checklist that includes grammar, punctuation and content suggestions is reviewed. Discussion of a schedule for completing the steps of a research paper also is included.

How To Write A College Paper
This workshop will introduce you to the process of creating a short paper that will meet the standards of college-level work. It will include selecting an appropriate topic, brainstorming, simple research, taking notes, organizing your information from the preparation phase of writing. The workshop will conclude with hands-on guidance for writing, revising and preparing the final copy.

How To Write A Research Paper
The necessary steps involved in writing a research paper will be explained. These include: selecting a topic, determining the focus of the paper, finding sources, taking notes, organizing and writing the paper, and, finally, citing the sources used in a research paper in the proper format.

How To Use APA Or MLA Format
The basic differences and similarities between MLA format (required for most composition courses) or APA format (required for most social science courses) will be reviewed. Then, the specific requirements for either MLA or APA format (based on students’ requests) will be explained in detail. Summarizing, paraphrasing and quoting, along with suggestions for avoiding plagiarism, will also be discussed.

MLA Format
In this workshop, we will discuss the basic guidelines for using Modern Language Association format in research papers and examine a sample MLA paper in depth. Summarizing, paraphrasing and quoting will be reviewed, along with suggestions for avoiding plagiarism and adhering to the college’s Plagiarism Policy. You will be given time to work on the computers and begin to set up your research papers in the correct format with the guidance of the workshop instructor.

Plagiarism: What You Need To Know
In this workshop, you will learn about the campus-wide plagiarism policy. The rationale behind the new plagiarism policy and its importance will be discussed. You will be encouraged to think about your own approach to research and the writing process. We will discuss how to avoid the common mistakes students sometimes make with outside sources while working on research papers. The importance of summarizing, paraphrasing and quoting properly, in addition to using the proper research documentation style, will be emphasized.

"Where Does The Comma Belong?"
You will learn ten rules to help you feel more confident in using commas. You will learn which kinds of sentences require commas and where to put them correctly.

Writing A College Essay
Develop the skills of writing creative introductions in order to catch your reader's attention. We will discuss different methods of developing the body of an essay and methods of drawing a good conclusion in an effort to teach you how to successfully end an essay. Handouts will include a plan sheet for writing a process paper.

Writing A Review Or Critique
This workshop will help you develop a system that goes beyond writing a summary. You will start with a summary of an article or presentation, learn how to make an evaluation of the information and end with a recommendation developed during the process. A discussion of criteria, standards and evaluative items will show how to come to a sound judgment based upon assembled facts.