By Susanne Heskett, M.S.

Instructor/Learning Disabilities Specialist 

Always on time? Never stressed? Are you always working toward a goal and never procrastinating? Totally focused (don’t lie, I’ve seen you in meetings!)…RIGHT!   Maybe you are but how about your students? 

GS-61 is a course designed to assist students in acquiring the skills necessary for success in academic and vocational classes. Students apply course content to their assignments for their current college course work. The course content includes: goal setting, time management, maintaining a positive perspective, discovering your cognitive learning strengths, concentration and listening skills, effective note-taking, test preparation and test-taking skills, stress management, memory improvement, problem solving and critical thinking-- just to name a few!  

GS-61 is open to ALL students, which brings a nice balance to the classes. We have many students who are part of DSPS, second language learners, reentry students, and students who may have been referred by counselors or friends to benefit from study skills instruction. 

We also learn to utilize the many features of the assistive technology software in the DSPS lab including: Kurzweil 3000, Inspiration, Text-Help Read & Write Gold and Dragon Naturally Speaking. During the spring semester, we practice writing successful scholarship letters. All sections are web enhanced so students are learning the basics of Blackboard and are much more prepared to take online or hybrid courses. Last, but far from least, the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey are applied to our personal, academic, and professional lives…something we could all use hearing every semester! 

So how do you rate? If you were asked to place a score on the above topics, 1 being FAILING and 10 EXCELLING, how would you score yourself? We all have strengths and weaknesses in the above areas, and so do our students! Unfortunately, failing to be minimally competent at most of these can cost you a failing grade, financial aid or even your job! In GS-61, students participate in a 20 minute lecture/discussion on the above topics and then spend an hour on the software, applying the skills they are learning to their current assignments. The course can be repeated every semester for one unit as long as the students is enrolled in at least one other course.  Please come by the lab in the Lemoore library, room 458, for a FREE demonstration of our assistive software and the GS-61 curriculum! 

Susanne Heskett, M.S.

Instructor/LD Specialist

Editors Note:

GS 61 is offered at the Lemoore and Coalinga campuses and at the North District Center. 

See class schedule for time and location.