Sarah ReillySenior MICRO Major One of the most important things I have learned from continually doing classes inside my house all day, is that getting outside and breathing in the fresh air is so vital for our mental and physical health (there have been some studies to support this also!). It isn’t so much about doing super long or difficult walks, but just getting outside and taking a moment to relax. The past and current semester have been challenging for us all because of how fast everything has changed and how much everything has changed. Being on a computer screen all day is not ideal for anyone, so to help you I am going to provide some suggestions of different parks to go to just to get out every now and again! And why not check these out today - before it gets too cold! 1. Schenley Park Of course, Schenley Park will be number one because of its ideal location in Oakland and awesome walking trails. Panther Hollow Lake is in this park as well if it's a hot day and you just want to relax by the lake. It has 456 acres of trails, woods, and attractions so you have plenty of room to explore while also being super close to campus! 2. Frick Park Frick Park is another one super close to campus located around Squirrel Hill and Point Breeze. It has 644 acres of so many trails and of course the iconic, Blue Slide Park. Many people who bird watch also rave about the extensive species they see there (if you’re into that). There is also the Frick Environmental Center to give visitors more information about the park. The walking trails are especially beautiful during Fall. 3. Point State Park One of the parks I visit frequently is Point State Park, located right in downtown Pittsburgh. This is one of my favorites because there are trails that run along the river and I typically walk around the city too. There is a large fountain where all three rivers meet and a big green lawn to have a picnic, catch frisbee or just unwind. This park is as great because since the city is right there, there’s some great places to eat in Market Square and Penn Ave. 4. Mt. Washington These parks extend all along Mount Washington with the most unbelievable view of the city ever. You can take a bus over and ride the incline up (for free with your Panther card!) and go to the observation outlooks to take cute pictures and to get outside while seeing Pittsburgh. Emerald Park has more of an open field near the top and trails all along the hillside. 5. Phipps Conservatory Yes, I know this isn’t technically a park, BUT it has the most amazing flowers, plants, trees etc. and such a beautiful architecture with great walking paths throughout it. This place is one of my absolute favorites because it gives you the opportunity to see plants not typically in Pittsburgh and you get in free with your Pitt ID! It makes a great place for a photoshoot and its super close to campus. (They also have an incredible winter display) If you want to know more about any of the parks or want more suggestions (since I didn’t list all of them), please feel free to reach out! I hope everyone has a great semester and that going to these parks can help you keep stress levels down and help you enjoy this time just a little bit more.
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Luke ScherzBiological Sciences Senior and Study Lab Academic Coach Although this semester of virtual classes is far from being ideal, it is a necessary measure that both students and faculty must endure until this pandemic subsides. The transition from the in-person environment to the virtual platform has been rather difficult for students, including myself. At home, there are a variety of distractions that draw your attention away from coursework and towards procrastination. Motivation begins to wane and discipline begins to fade as the temptation of one’s bed and pajamas begins to win in the short two step commute from bed to desk (and back) that is now required for school. Although these effects associated with the virtual platform seem difficult to avoid, I am writing to tell all of my readers that each and every one of you is capable of resisting these temptations and excelling in this virtual platform. In this blog post, I am going to discuss some of the academic resources that are available to you all as Pitt students, with the hopes that something will be of assistance to you. Specifically, I am going to examine all of the services that are provided through the Study Lab, including peer tutoring, which consists of either one-on-one or drop-in appointments, academic coaching, and electronic resources pertaining to time management and study skills. Peer Tutoring The Study Lab offers the virtual services of one-on-one peer Tutoring and 30-minute drop-in appointments for a variety of courses. The list of the specific courses available for tutoring can be found on the Study Labs’ webpage. Some of these courses include biology, chemistry, physics, and statistics. During a one-on-one session, a peer tutor will cover any material that you may be uncertain of or even serve as a study buddy for the hour-long session - someone who listens and provides feedback on your current understanding of the material. In order to schedule an appointment, you can download the navigate student app on your smartphone. You must be enrolled in the course that you plan on getting tutored in order to schedule an appointment. Moreover, you may schedule up to two one-on-one sessions per week, per subject in which you are enrolled. Drop-in appointments are 30-minute sessions that allow for more flexibility, meaning you do not need to book an appointment days in advance. Rather, these are booked the day of, maybe even minutes before the drop-in session, as needed. For example, say a question arises during your studying and you need clarification, you can ‘drop-in’ on a tutor in that subject anytime between 6-9pm Sunday through Wednesday. Let’s say it is 6:15 P.M. on a Monday night and you need help with genetics, you can schedule an appointment through the Navigate app, at which point a tutor will be notified. The tutor will then reach out to you via email with a link to the tutoring session so you can join. On-demand help! Academic Coaching The Study Lab also offers academic coaching in individual 45-minute appointments. Academic Coaches like myself will provide insight into how real students succeed at Pitt. We’ll share with you what has worked for us and show you how to experiment with different skills so that you can develop the best study strategy for you. If you need specific help with identifying your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to studying, schedule a study skills inventory appointment with an academic coach. During this session, we will go over what works for you and help to construct an effective approach to your studying. All of these appointments can also be scheduled via the Navigate student app. Electronic Resources
Some of the fantastic electronic resources pertaining to time management skills, study skills, test-taking, note-taking, and active learning as well as tips for remote learning can be found on the Study Lab On Demand page on the Study Lab website. This page serves to consolidate information pertinent to academic success and provide students with a one-stop shop for all things related to it. The Knowledge Drop, for example, is a collection of short videos made by peer tutors that cover core concepts in many of the science courses offered here at Pitt. These videos help to minimize wasted time and attempt to provide students with only the important information they need in order to understand the concept. With this semester being virtual, self-discipline is of utmost importance. I know it is extremely difficult to stay motivated during this time but if you want to succeed, you must be resilient and continue to try! The multitude of resources available to you as Pitt students, particularly the Study Lab, are here to support you. Think about signing up for tutoring sessions as part of your routine and to provide some accountability in your schedule. I ask you all to not hesitate to reach out and utilize this resource. The virtual platform is far from ideal and makes learning/staying focused seemingly impossible, but it is up to you to hold yourself accountable and continue to fight! I believe all of you are capable of academic success and I wish you all the best during this semester. When is the best time to go to office hours? When you have a question. When you are not sure about something from class. When you want to introduce yourself to your instructor. When you didn't do as well as you hoped on a quiz and are unsure about the expectations for the class. When you want to ask about that homework question. When you want to share that funny meme that popped up on social media. Sooner rather than later. When do most students go to office hours? When it is too late. Attending office hours can give you valuable time to better understand your class content and your professor’s expectations and can have a big impact on your academic success. Nervous about attending office hours? It helps if you are prepared. What are office hours?: Office hours are times that teachers set aside to meet with students. Some instructors hold individual office hours (one at-a-time, wait your turn) while others hold group office hours (a bunch of people sitting around with round-robin questions). They are expecting you to come! They want you to come! This is when you can ask questions about course content, study approaches, life, careers, problems, etc. Who is going to be at office hours: It depends (see above). Definitely you + instructors, TAs, and/or UTAs teaching your course. Generally, each of these individuals will hold office hours each week. There could also be other students. It is a good idea to figure this out ahead of time as this may affect the questions you ask. Why go to office hours?: Be sure to read the syllabus as some instructors may hold different types of office hours for different reasons (individual v. group, guided reviews v. question sessions). Here are some great reasons to go to office hours:
When are office hours: Check your syllabus! Make sure you know when each of your teachers’ office hours are held. If there are office hours that you cannot make, reach out NOW to figure out the best way to find a time to meet or an alternative way to ask questions. Where are office hours?: This semester - mostly likely via zoom, but it is best to double check and have those zoom links organized so you know you are going to office hours and not a psychology lecture (not that this happened to me this semester). How to office hours: You can just show up, but it is usually a good idea to have a plan and to think about the time of the semester. Some examples:
Still feeling unsure? Here are some sample questions you can ask: What qualities do successful students in this class have? If I only have 1 hour to study outside of class how should I use it? How much time do you think I should be putting in outside of class and what should I do with that time? How did you become interested in ______ (field)? I am really enjoying your class. Can you recommend another class that goes into more detail on this subject? Or Do you do research on this subject? How might you ask a question about this on an exam? Do you have any recommendations on additional resources for understanding this concept? What would you say is the most important part of ____ (topic)? Do you have an analogy to help me better understand this topic? Do you have recommendations on how to approach the exam (what parts to do first, etc.)? Things not to do in office hours:
Not all visits to office hours are fruitful. Try to avoid these office hours missteps: 1. Complain about the class. If you are having a hard time or don't agree with something about class, write an email first to give the instructor a heads up and allow them time to think about your complaint. Also – it is always best to wait a night before sending such emails to make sure that they are still respectful and will help to solve the problem. 2. Ask about your grade if it is a group office hours. This is likely better saved for a one-on-one meeting or email. 3. Arrive unprepared and expect to be given time. Don't ask about homework 3 if you have not yet looked at homework 3. Expect the instructor to ask follow up questions to help you think about the material in new ways. One of the best secrets about regularly attending office hours or tutoring is that you usually spend a good bit of time preparing for them (secret studying). 4. Ask the instructor to reteach an entire class that you missed. Go through the material yourself, ask a friend, and then go and ask specific questions. 5. Show up 5 minutes before offie hours ends with 45 minutes worth of questions. 6. Show up the day before the final exam and ask for extra credit. Show up today. |
Pitt Bio BlogThe Pitt Bio Blog is maintained by the Department of Biological Sciences Advising Office. Posts are authored by our students Archives
January 2022
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