Academic Success

This five-part series, developed and tested by Dartmouth College, helps students master the learning strategies they need to succeed. Accomplished and challenged students can benefit from this introduction to key study tools. Presentations are short, concrete, and highly visual. 5-part series, 10-18 minutes each.

The transition from high school to college is a lot bigger than many students realize. Help them make the most of their college academic experience with Academic Success-a six-part series filled with facts, hints, insights, and observations from experts in the field of education and from students who know the ropes. Topics include values and goals; time management; critical thinking and problem-solving; active listening and note-taking; researching, reading, and writing; and studying and test-taking. Correlates to National and State Educational Standards including the NCLB Act. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. A Cambridge Educational Production. 6-part series, 10-12 minutes each.

Lectures and labs are the heart of the college academic experience, and for students eager to make the most of them, active listening and note-taking are powerful learning tools. This two-section program explains how to create a bulletproof listening/note-taking loop that ensures deeper understanding and better recall. Pre-class reading, in-class participation, and post-class review are stressed. Correlates to National and State Educational Standards including the NCLB Act. A Cambridge Educational Production. A part of the series Academic Success: Smart Tips for Serious Students. (10 minutes)

For many students, the mere thought of taking a test sends adrenaline running throughout their bodies, brings perspiration to their brows, and causes them to suddenly forget everything they have learned. These humorous and informative videos teach students the art of stress-free test-taking. Students learn how to put test-taking into its proper perspective and realize that although tests are important, they are simply a way to measure one's knowledge of a subject. Reading and taking notes becomes easier, more effective, and less time-consuming as students learn how to find key facts and ideas. Study sessions become more efficient as students learn tips for condensing information into memorable formats and the effectiveness of frequently referring to the condensed versions. These important lessons entertain busy, lazy, eager, and reluctant students as they learn to apply the skills that last a lifetime.A Cambridge Educational Production.

This video recognizes the fact that underachievers often fall into a trap with little growth or real movement. While the underachiever may have goals, the goals are too often vague and unrealistic-from their proclamations to become pro-athletes or rock stars to their procrastination and self-defeating academic behavior. Stressing the assistance of a total supportive environment, including guidance from parents and teachers, Breaking Out notes that the underachiever wants the same things all other students want...they simply lack the specific successful academic tools and the day-in, day-out motivation. Breaking Out goes beyond describing the profile of the typical underachiever. It also looks at techniques students, teachers, and parents can use to help them break out of the trap. A Cambridge Educational Production. One 25-minute video.

By defining critical thinking and examining how it's applied to the process of problem-solving, this two-section program will show viewers how to handle whatever challenges come their way. An in-class discussion segment on critical thinking explains how to rationally assess a statement and express disagreement, while a similar segment on problem-solving considers what to do when preparing for what appears to be an overwhelmingly tough exam. Correlates to National and State Educational Standards including the NCLB Act. A Cambridge Educational Production. A part of the series Academic Success: Smart Tips for Serious Students. (10 minutes)

Students learn how to achieve academic success by learning the study behaviors that lead to high achievement. This video illustrates the importance of developing good skills in the areas of listening, notetaking, and outlining. Emphasis is placed on preparing for classes, paying attention, and developing a positive attitude. Bad academic behaviors are illustrated by one of the worst students in history. Specific suggestions, tips, and techniques are presented to overcome bad habits. The second section shows students how to utilize time at home efficiently, how to set priorities, how to decide which subjects to study first, how long to study each subject, and how to get the most from their texts.A Cambridge Educational Production. One 30-minute video.

This video presents techniques for performing well on tests. The first section shows how to prepare for a test, including tips for studying and ways to remember material more effectively. This program also explains what to do on the day of the test to prepare both mentally and physically. The final section of the program covers how to handle different kinds of questions (e.g. essay vs. objective) and how to review for maximum retention. A Cambridge Educational Production. One 25-minute video.

Lost backpacks, unfinished homework, missed carpools...disorganization isn't just annoying-it can seriously jeopardize a student's future. This video teaches young people the value of personal management skills, and provides tips and strategies for getting organized in several key areas: living space, school materials, study time, extracurricular activities, and social life. Dramatizing situations in which a group of teenagers have made themselves miserable through a lack of self-management, the program uses a lighthearted approach that engages young viewers, while driving home a serious message: Effective organizational tactics will be a valuable asset throughout your education and career. A viewable/printable instructor's guide-complete with learning objectives, fast facts, vocabulary terms, discussion questions, student activities, and other features-is available online. Correlates to National Standards for Family and Consumer Sciences, National Educational Technology Standards, and Standards for the English Language Arts. A Cambridge Educational Production. (23 minutes)

Help students fight clutter and forgetfulness with this video-and-poster teaching kit. The entertaining video demonstrates the benefits of good organization skills and how to develop them, guiding viewers toward success in school and the professional world. Highlighting key points from the video, the six-poster set provides powerful visual support as students learn the lessons of self-management. Poster set and video are available separately. Correlates to National Standards for Family and Consumer Sciences, National Education Technology Standards, and Standards for the English Language Arts. A Cambridge Educational Product. One 23-minute video and six 17 x 22" laminated posters."

Give students practical help adapting to the demands of middle school. Program presents strategies for managing time, meeting teachers' expectations, utilizing school resources, and handling a changing social life. Demonstrates the importance of these self-management skills to academic and personal success. Dramatizes typical problems new middle school students may encounter and offers practical solutions. Suggests ways to cope with overlapping assignments, overprogrammed schedules, balky lockers, and new friends. Highlights how to balance schoolwork and extracurricular activities through long range planning. Show students how to capitalize on the resources offered at school by joining extracurricular programs and by seeking help from a guidance counselor or teacher. Encourage young teens to take advantage of the exciting academic and personal opportunities middle school offers.

Reading rate and comprehension can mean the difference between success and failure to students. Three strategies for improving both are presented in this program. The first suggests reading during the day, for short periods in a quiet place, for maximum efficiency. One method demonstrates how to divide words into groups on a page as an effective way of improving reading rate. The SQ3R Strategy (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, and Review), developed by a leading reading expert, is also examined as a strategy for improving reading comprehension. (12 minutes)

Success in school is impossible without good study habits and strategies. These methods don't always come naturally and often require new ways of thinking and behaving. This program follows the day-to-day activities of Jim, a teenager trying to improve his study skills. With amusing dramatizations, the video transports viewers inside Jim's mind to show how different parts of the brain influence the way he stores and processes information. Students will learn how to maximize and balance the strengths of the left and right sides of the brain, and will gain insight into the importance of motivation, study schedules, stress relief, note-taking, and much more. A Discovery Channel Production. (24 minutes)

Grade Level: Grade 5-9

This program emphasizes the need for students to take personal responsibility for their learning. Each segment stresses a different skill and helps students strengthen those abilities that improve learning: how to get organized, manage their time, listen for meaning, take notes, and study for tests.

Grade Level: Grade 3-5. Students will discover the skills they need to become confident and independent learners with the help of “Buddy the Study Buddy.” Entertaining and upbeat, “Buddy” shows kids how to get organized, read a textbook, and develop an outline for writing reports. Students are sure to be encouraged and empowered after their visit from “Buddy the Study Buddy.” Pauses after each section and reproducible handouts give students the opportunity to practice these newly learned skills. Awards Gold Award, Telly Award