The Place to go Places

Learning Centre, Room 203-204, Duncan Marshall Place

The Learning Centre offers learning support to all Olds College students. The centre provides individual instruction in the areas of learning time management, memory, writing and mathematics.  

Open Hours

The Learning Centre is open for drop-in use Monday to Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The Centre is closed over lunch hour from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

The Learning Centre will be closed when workshops, meetings and events are scheduled offsite. For an up-to-date schedule, or to reserve a time for your private skills session, check the Interactive Calendar:

Writing & Study Skills Hours

You may book a Writing Skills session with Helen Lansdell
Monday to Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

Math Skills Hours

You may book a Math Skills session
Monday to Thursday 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

For more information

Helen Lansdell
Manager, Learning Centre
Rm 203-204 Duncan Marshall Place
403 507 7744
hlansdell@oldscollege.ca

Writing Skills

Students can work with staff on assignments requiring writing. Laptops are also available in the room for student use. Students may book appointments or drop-in for assistance with written projects.

College Writing Proficiency Exam

Most first year Olds College students must successfully complete the College Writing Proficiency Exam in order to graduate, as explained in the Olds College Graduation Policy D20. To put that requirement in perspective, please note that 90% of Olds College first year students successfully completed the WPE last term.

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that she/he takes the appropriate steps to meet this graduation requirement.

  • The first step is to attend the WPE Information Session scheduled into your timetable. It explains the exam and the testing process. You can ask questions and get a good understanding of what to expect..

  • The second step is to attend the WPE Testing Session scheduled into your Timetable. All of the students in your Program of study are tested at the same time.

  • Students must achieve a grade of ‘5’ out of a possible ‘8’ in order to successfully complete the WPE. Those who do so on their first attempt immediately meet The Policy D20 graduation requirement.

  • For those who do not successfully complete the exam on their first attempt, the third step is to attend the WPE Workshops. The workshops are designed to help students successfully complete the WPE. Re-writes take place after all first year students have been allowed one opportunity to take the test. Students who demonstrate willingness to build skill through attendance at the WPE Workshops are allowed to re-write on completion of the series.

  • The test is done online with WritePlacer®, a testing software application. You can check out the WritePlacer® Student Guide online on the Learning Centre’s web page for an explanation of how WritePlacer® works and what to expect.

  • The exam is also marked online by an intelligent software, Intelligent Essay Assessor™. To understand how that takes place, please refer to the document How Technology is Used to score WritePlacer Essays.

Questions?

Email learningcentre@oldscollege.ca, call 403-507-7744, or drop by the Learning Centre, 203/204 DMP.

 

Writing Development

How to write a research report

Audio clips

 

Study Skills Development

Mind Tools

Most college students could use a tool chest of mind tools. This website provides a variety of information on the necessary tools for academic success such as time management, stress management, memory improvement, problem solving, and project planning.

Learning Strategies

Would you like to attempt accelerated learning? This website provides a host of information about learning strategies such as accelerated learning.

Study Guides and Tips

Tips, study guides and a wealth of information for students - that is what is included in this website. The website focuses on guides to studying and a variety of strategies for areas such as: managing time, study habits and memorizing.

Other Online Resources

Career, Education and Employment

The Alberta government has provided the ALIS website with information on career, education and employment. In the section on education, there is a list of learning tips with a variety of topics presented such as: "how to study effectively".