Explore LS Topics
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ASCENDING LEARNER SERIES
Level-up your learning with an advanced examination of our most popular learning strategies.
Learning By Design
Duration: 1 hour
Effective learning depends on intentional planning, active engagement, reflection, and the continuous adjustment of strategies.This workshop introduces processes in which students actively plan, monitor, and evaluate their learning through cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and motivational regulation. It presents practical strategies across the forethought, performance, and reflection phases, including goal setting, strategic planning, retrieval practice, attention management, self-evaluation, and error analysis.
Objective: Define what it means to be a self-regulated learner and discover common strategies to help improve self-regulation.
Learning How to Learn
Duration: 1 hour
This workshop introduces metacognition. It explores common barriers to effective learning, such as the illusion of competence, while explaining how expertise develops through deliberate practice, feedback, and reflection. The workshop also contrasts growth and fixed mindsets, providing practical strategies to build resilience, embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and adopt more effective learning habits.
Objective: Define metacognition and learn to see challenges as opportunities for improvement and understanding.
Learning Strategies (That Actually Work)
Duration: 1 hour
Effective learning comes from intentional, consistent study practices that strengthen memory, deepen understanding, and support long-term academic success. This workshop focuses on replacing ineffective study habits such as cramming, passive rereading, and excessive highlighting with research-backed learning strategies that improve retention and understanding, and emphasizes active engagement with course material rather than passive review.
Objective: Discover evidence-based learning strategies and how to adapt them to discipline and need.
Master Your Minutes
Duration: 1 hour
Successful time management is less about doing more and more about building sustainable systems, aligning tasks with priorities and energy levels, and making consistent, intentional decisions about how time is used. This workshop teaches students practical time management strategies designed to reduce stress, avoid burnout, and improve academic performance by prioritizing tasks, creating realistic schedules, and managing distractions effectively. It addresses common challenges such as procrastination, multitasking, and decision fatigue, while introducing tools and techniques that help combat bad habits.
Objective: Discover tools and strategies that help prioritize tasks, reduce procrastination, and manage distractions effectively.
Performance Under Pressure
Duration: 1 hour
While stress can hinder performance when unmanaged, students can improve learning outcomes and resilience by reducing cognitive load, practicing under realistic conditions, and reflecting on their performance to continually refine their study strategies. This workshop introduces evidence-based strategies for exam preparation and performance, including retrieval practice, simulated testing conditions, effective sleep habits, brain dumps, and techniques for managing anxiety during exams.
Objective: Examine how stress, anxiety, and cognitive load affect learning and memory in high-pressure situations and identify strategies for performance improvement.
COLLEGE PREP SERIES
New to college? Discover strategies to help you navigate your first year with confidence.
First Year Expectation
Duration: 30 mintues
Starting college comes with new responsibilities and a wide range of support systems designed to help you thrive. In this workshop, you will learn about the essential resources available to all UNM students, from academic support to wellness and campus life services. Through interactive scenarios, you will practice identifying challenges and matching them with the appropriate resources, helping you feel more confident navigating your first year. By the end, you will know where to turn for help and how to make the most of what UNM has to offer.
Objectives:
- Identify resources available to all UNM students.
- Discuss different scenarios to help you identify and distinguish resources appropriate for a given situation.
Academic Expectations
Duration: 30 mintues
Transitioning to college brings new academic challenges and higher expectations, but with the right guidance, you can navigate them successfully. In this workshop, you will learn about common academic obstacles students face and how to overcome them. You will also discover how academic advisors can assist you throughout your college experience and what is expected in college-level writing. This session will prepare you to meet college expectations with confidence and the tools to thrive.
Objectives:
- Learn about common academic challenges students encounter when they transition to college.
- Learn about the role of the academic advisor.
- Learn about the resources and expectations of college writing.
Social Expectations
Duration: 30 mintues
Adjusting to the social side of college life can be just as important and challenging as managing academics. In fact, the two are more connected than you know! In this workshop, you will explore common social transitions that students experience, from building new relationships to navigating unfamiliar environments. You will learn practical strategies to overcome common challenges, foster meaningful connections, and maintain a healthy balance between social and academic life. By identifying your unique strengths, you will discover how to use them to confidently navigate social situations and build a supportive, enriching college experience.
Objectives:
- Learn about common social adjustments students encounter.
- Learn about strategies to help you overcome common challenges.
- Learn how to map your academic and social strengths and leverage them to improve your social navigational skills.
Tech Expectations
Duration: 30 mintues
Navigating college successfully means knowing how to use the technology that supports your learning. In this workshop, you will get an overview of the key tech tools and resources available to UNM students, from learning platforms to communication and collaboration tools. You will also explore common challenges students face when accessing or using technology and learn practical tips to overcome them. Whether you are taking in-person, hybrid, or fully online courses, this session will help you build the skills to stay connected, organized, and engaged, including how to foster a sense of community in virtual learning environments.
Objectives:
- Learn about the various tech tools and resources UNM offers.
- Learn about common challenges that come with accessing and using tech tools.
- Learn about online courses and how to build an online community.
TIME MANAGEMENT SERIES
Find balance, build efficiency, and manage stress with effective time management skills.
Master Course Schedule
Duration: 30 mintues
In this workshop, you will learn how to take control of your academic responsibilities by creating a personalized master course schedule. Whether you are juggling multiple classes, assignments, or deadlines, the workshop will guide you through practical strategies to effectively plan your semester, prioritize tasks, and manage your time. By the end, you will have the tools to reduce stress, stay organized, and maintain a healthy balance between coursework and other commitments.
**Included with LS Canvas!
Objectives:
- Learn about the benefits of managing your time and assignments.
- Learn how to balance multiple course requirements using a master course schedule.
Prioritization
Duration: 30 mintues
Feeling overwhelmed by a never-ending to-do list? This workshop will teach you how to take control by prioritizing tasks effectively. You will learn how to categorize responsibilities based on urgency and importance, helping you focus on what truly matters. Along the way, we will share practical tips to maintain motivation, avoid burnout, and build a healthier, more sustainable approach to productivity.
**Included with LS Canvas!
Objectives:
- Learn how to manage an overwhelming and long to-do list.
- Categorize needs based on urgency and importance.
- Learn additional tips to help avoid burning out and stay motivated.
Schedule Building
Duration: 30 mintues
Creating a balanced schedule is key to managing your time, reducing stress, and achieving your goals. In this workshop, you will explore how effective time management can positively impact your overall well-being. You will also learn the role goal setting plays in shaping a productive routine. By the end of the session, you will be equipped to design a personalized weekly schedule that supports your priorities, builds healthy habits, and sets the stage for long-term success.
Objectives:
- Learn the benefits of time management and how it impacts overall well-being.
- Learn the importance of goal setting as a foundation for an effective schedule.
- Develop a weekly schedule that incorporates positive habits and routine building.
Study Plan
Duration: 30 mintues
In this workshop, you will learn how to study smarter by understanding the metacognitive learning cycle, an approach that encourages intentional thinking and self-awareness in your learning process. You will explore how to assess your study habits, set realistic goals, and develop a personalized study plan tailored to your academic needs. The session will also guide you through planning effectively for projects, papers, and tests, helping you decide what to study, how much time to dedicate, and how to break larger tasks into manageable steps. By the end, you will have practical tools to make your study sessions more focused, strategic, and productive.
**Included with LS Canvas!
Objectives:
- Learn about the metacognitive learning cycle and how it helps us think with more intention.
- Develop a study plan that fits your individual needs.
STUDY HACKS SERIES
Proper preparation prevents poor performance. Find study skills to help you ace your exams and develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter.
Anti-Cramming
Duration: 30 mintues
Say goodbye to last-minute stress and ineffective study habits! This workshop explores why cramming and procrastination hinder long-term learning and increase anxiety. You will learn about the science behind how we retain information and gain practical strategies to shift from short-term memorization to meaningful, lasting understanding. By the end of the session, you will be equipped with tools to create a more consistent, low-stress study routine that supports both academic success and mental well-being.
Objectives:
- Learn about the inefficiencies of cramming and procrastination.
- Provide strategies to help build long-term learning and information recall.
Information Recall
Duration: 30 mintues
Remembering what you study is just as important as studying itself. In this workshop, you will explore effective strategies to strengthen your ability to recall information, such as active recall, spaced repetition, and self-testing techniques. You will also learn how to integrate these methods into your existing study plan to boost retention and deepen understanding. By the end of the session, you will have practical tools to enhance your memory and study more efficiently.
**Included with LS Canvas!
Objectives:
- Learn strategies that help develop your ability to recall information.
- Learn how to incorporate recall strategies into a study plan.
- Understand the impact cramming has on stress and anxiety.
The Test Cycle
Duration: 30 mintues
Success in exams doesn't just happen during the test; it starts well before and continues afterward. In this workshop, you will learn practical strategies and tools to use before, during, and after an exam to help you feel more prepared and confident. From effective study techniques to in-the-moment test-taking strategies and post-exam reflection, you will discover how to turn each testing experience into a learning opportunity. By using past mistakes to inform your study plan, you will build a stronger foundation for long-term academic success.
**Included with LS Canvas!
Objectives:
- Find tools and strategies to use before, during, and after an exam.
- Feel more prepared and confident with the material.
- Improve performance using past mistakes to develop a study plan.
IN-CLASS SKILL-BUILDING SERIES
Class participation starts with preparation. Show up to class with confidence and expert-level readiness.
Academic Reading
Duration: 30 mintues
Academic reading is more than just getting through the pages; it is about actively engaging with the material to understand and retain it. In this workshop, you will learn strategies to approach reading assignments with greater focus and purpose. You will explore techniques for interpreting, evaluating, and synthesizing information to deepen your comprehension and make meaningful connections across texts. By the end, you will be equipped to get more out of your readings and apply what you’ve learned more effectively in class discussions, assignments, and exams.
Objectives:
- Learn how to be more engaged and get the most out of your reading assignments.
- Learn how to interpret, evaluate, and synthesize information to gain a deeper understanding of the material.
Goal-Setting
Duration: 30 mintues
Starting your first year at UNM can be both exciting and overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. This workshop will introduce you to the wide range of resources available to support your academic, personal, and social success. Through real-life scenarios, you will learn how to recognize common challenges and match them with the right campus services. By the end of the session, you will feel more confident knowing where to go, who to ask, and how to make the most of your first-year experience.
Objectives:
- Set realistic and attainable goals.
- Map out a step-by-step plan and build a long-term vision for success.
- Stay on track and motivated.
Motivation
Duration: 30 mintues
Staying motivated is key to reaching your goals and maintaining a sense of purpose throughout your academic journey. In this workshop, you will explore how motivation influences your direction, focus, and productivity, especially through intentional goal setting. You will also learn how to build self-belief, create behavioral momentum, and overcome obstacles that can stall your progress. With emphasis on developing a Growth Mindset, this session will equip you with strategies to stay driven, resilient, and focused, even when challenges arise.
Objectives:
- How motivation impacts purpose, direction, and productivity through goal setting.
- How to develop self-belief and behavioral momentum.
- The benefits of developing a Growth Mindset.
Note-Taking
Duration: 30 mintues
Good notes are more than just a record; They are a powerful learning tool. In this workshop, you will discover the benefits of effective notetaking and how it can improve your understanding, retention, and academic performance. You will explore a variety of note-taking methods, from structured outlines to visual strategies like mind mapping, and learn how to choose the techniques that best match your learning preference and course content. The workshop will help you take clearer, more useful notes that support your success in and out of the classroom.
**Included with LS Canvas!
Objectives:
- Learn the benefits of effective note-taking.
- Learn about different note-taking methods and identify which options can help you succeed.
