This module addresses academic survival skills and communications skills and provides opportunities for information gathering, synthesis, and analysis in solving problems and in critical thinking.
Students should have the following skills prior to using this module:
The instructor should identify local resources that can provide these students with the skills they need to complete this module. Some examples of these resources include:
Identification of students lacking these skills and providing them with learning opportunities to acquire these skills is a critical necessity. This module will not provide this instruction. It will only provide the opportunity for students to utilize these resources in a meaningful, relevant manner.
The instructor should explain that the content for this module resides in ANGEL and ask students to read the content, and complete any relevant activities prior to any in-class instruction. Provide students with the following information:
Each module contains activities designed to help students learn and practice the concepts presented. Reflective questions help students recall what they already know about the topic as well as to work through new ideas and concepts. Worksheets and tip sheets supplement the instruction and give students an opportunity for additional practice. Quizzes provide yet another means for students to practice as well as to check to be sure they have read and understand the materials.
The modules all have a standard layout. When you import a module into your ANGEL group or course a folder with the module's name will be added under the "Lessons" tab (course) or the "Content" tab (group). This folder can be moved and placed within another folder if desired.
To start the module, students should open the first file in the list inside each module's folder. This file has the word lesson as part of its name and contains the links to other parts of the lesson.
Open the first file in the module folder to begin the lesson.
This "master" file contains descriptions of the purpose, goals, and objectives, as well as instructions for completing the module, references to materials used in designing and developing the content of the module, a summary of the important points in the module, and a survey for students to complete after finishing the module. (Survey results are available to editors in the group or course through the on-line grade report tool.)
The rest of the files in each module's folder are accessed through links embedded within the content. As the student reads the content and completes the activities, other files from the folder will be used. Some students may become confused if they try to complete the module by working their way down the list and viewing each file without reading the accompanying materials. Instructors may want to make a point of announcing in class and/or putting directions in the syllabus about how to complete each module.
Note: The module will not work correctly if the student does not begin with the "master" file and work through the activities using the embedded links.
Scores for quizzes are recorded in ANGEL and can be accessed through the on-line grade report tool. Responses to reflective questions using the "My Notes" tool are accessible only to the person who types them - they are not available to the group or course editors. If you, as the instructor, want to see the answers to the reflective quesitons, you will need to have the students use a word processor to record their answers instead of the "My Notes" tool.
In addition to the quizzes and activities already written into each module, owners/editors may want to add discussion (message) boards, chat rooms, surveys, links, etc. These are all tools that are available within ANGEL. Instructors also have the option of editing and adding or deleting quiz questions and/or quizzes.
As the instructor, you will need to choose which assignments students are to complete, determine if and how credit will be given for the assignments, and establish due dates and submission methods for the assignments. Including this information in your course syllabus will make it readily available to students.
Following are the assignments embedded in the Stress Management module:
Activity 1: Quiz
Activity 2: Worksheet - Signs of Stress
Activity 3: Worksheet - Stress Diary
Activity 4: Worksheet - summarize data from other worksheets
Activity 5: Worksheet - Prioritizing and Strategizing
Activity 6: Reflective questions - analyze the data you have collected
Activity 7: Quiz
This module is related to other modules on personal effectiveness, including active listening, active reading, project management, interview skills, note taking, peer tutoring, and brainstorming. In particular, stress management is directly related to conflict management and time management.
Therefore, it is recommended that instructors introduce this module to students in conjunction with other personal effectiveness modules.
These points are covered in the iStudy module, but should be emphasized in any discussions.
The following might be signs of possible stress:
The iStudy module includes a number of activities the instructor may find appropriate as assessment devices. First, each student completes a Signs of Stress worksheet as an assessment of the signs of stress the students can identify in their lives and how often they experience them. A worksheet listing different signs to look for is provided to aid the student.
The second assignment, a Stress Diary , is for recording stressors that occur during the student's day and descriptions of the trigger(s), the situation, their reaction, etc.
The third assignment is a Stress Worksheet . It helps the student identify a specific stress and whether it is of the positive (eustress) or negative (distress) variety. After identifying the typical stress that they have in their life, the student is then asked to rank these stressors and provide the causes of each.
Assessment criteria are as follows (Instructors supply the percentage weights):
Where |
Domain |
Activities |
% |
iStudy module |
Knowledge |
The student can identify stressors, stress triggers, and common symptoms in a given personal situation by listing them. |
|
iStudy module |
Comprehension |
The student can distinguish specific stresses as eustress or distress by giving his/her examples. |
|
In-class |
Application |
The student can manage or cope with stress by using Stress Diary, Signs of Stress, and Stress Worksheet. |
|
100 |