Connections Essentials

First Edition

Publication Date: September 15, 2017

Paperback ISBN: 9781319030827

Pages: 272

The Essential Ingredients for College and Career Success

Brief, affordable, and engaging, Connections Essentials: Empowering College and Career Success offers the ideal balance of motivational, study, and life skills – in a sleek, streamlined, and fun package. Written by counseling psychologists Paul Gore, Wade Leuwerke, and A.J. Metz,...

E-book

Take notes, add highlights, and download our mobile-friendly e-books.

Access Length:

E-book

ISBN: 9781319499945
Connections Essentials

£40.99

£24.60

Paperback

Read and study in the print textbook.

Paperback

ISBN: 9781319030827
Connections Essentials

£55.99

1: Building a Foundation for Success
Why Go to College?
      Education: Good for Society, Good for You
      What It Means to Be in College
Learn about Yourself
      Discover Your Values
      Follow Your Interests
       Embrace Your Strengths — and Learn from Your Weaknesses
       Getting to Know You: ACES and Other Tools [[pop out article]]
      Student Voices of Experience: Finding Your Purpose
Feel the Power of Positive Psychology
      Build Self-Efficacy
      Be Resilient
      Keep Hope Alive
      Take Personal Responsibility for Your Success
      Recruit Help [[pop out article]]
College Success Leads to Career Success
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

2: Thinking Critically and Setting Goals
Build Your Critical Thinking Skills
      The Higher-Level Thinking Skills behind Critical Thinking
      How to Use Your Higher-Level Thinking Skills
      Compare and Contrast: Critical vs. Creative Thinking [[pop out article]]
Use Bloom’s Taxonomy
      Those Blooming Test Questions! [[pop out article]]
Think Critically to Set Goals
      Step 1: Gather Information (about You)
      Step 2: Set a SMART Goal
      Step 3: Make an Action Plan
      Got Goals? Theyre Your Path to Academic Success [[pop out article]]
      Step 4: List Barriers and Solutions
      Student Voices of Experience: Focusing on Solutions
      Step 5: Act and Evaluate Outcomes
Create Your Personal Success Plan
      The PSP in Action
      Create Your First Personal Success Plan
      Employers Value Goal Setting [[pop out article]]
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

3: Motivation, Decision Making, and Personal Responsibility
What Keeps You Motivated?
      Self-Efficacy
      Relevance
      Attitude
      Youre Good Enough and Youre Smart Enough [[pop out article]]
      Tap into Your Internal Motivation
      Student Voices of Experience: Staying Motivated in College
Make Good Decisions
Take Personal Responsibility for Your Education
      Develop a Growth Mindset
      Take an Active Approach to Your Learning
      Navigate the Transition to College Life
      Think about Thinking and Learning
      Active Learning, Personal Responsibility, and Belief Lead to Success! [[pop out article]]
      My Personal Success Plan
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

4: Understanding Learning
Learning That Works: What the Research Tells Us
      Test Yourself
      Space Out Your Studying
      Change Up Your Material
      Make Connections So Learning Lasts
      Use Verbal and Visual Information
      Your Brain Is Required for Learning! [[pop out article]]
Make Learning Personal
      Use the Myers-Briggs Model
      Use the VARK Model
      Student Voices of Experience: Using Learning Strategies in College
Succeed in Different Learning Environments
      Work in a Group
      Make Sure Youre Multimodal
      Seek Help for Learning Challenges [[pop out article]]
      My Personal Success Plan
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

5: Organization and Time Management
Get Organized
      Create a Clean Study Space
      Organize Your Documents
      What’s in a Name? How to Label Your Files and Folders [[pop out article]]
Take Control of Your Time
      Step 1: Track Your Time
      Step 2: Identify Your Priorities
      Step 3: Build Your Schedule
      Step 4: Use Tools to Track Progress on Your Projects
      Student Voices of Experience Tools for Time Management
      Manage Time When You Learn Online [[pop out article]]
Overcome Procrastination and Minimize Distractions
      Beat Procrastination
      Minimize Distractions
      Find Your Flow [[pop out article]]
      My Personal Success Plan
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

6: Reading for College Success
Embrace Reading!
Prepare to Read
      Preview the Material
      Make a Plan for Your Reading [[pop out article]]
      Identify Purposeful Reading Questions
Read with Focus
      Mark Up Your Reading Material
      Think Critically about What You Read
      Student Voices of Experience: Gaining Confidence in Reading
      Clarify Confusing Material
      Reading: It’s Good for You! [[pop out article]]
      Boost Your Reading Efficiency
Review What You’ve Read
      Recite
      Summarize
      Review and Study
Read Different Types of Materials
      Read for Math and Science Classes
      Read Journal Articles
      Ask for Help with Reading Challenges [[pop out article]]
      Read Online Course Materials
      My Personal Success Plan
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

7: Taking Effective Notes
Supercharge Your Note Taking with a Four-Step Strategy
      Step 1: Prepare to Take Notes
      Step 2: Actively Listen, Watch, Read, and Participate
      Step 3: Record Information
      Taking Notes? Grab a Pen and Paper [[pop out article]]
      Step 4: Review Your Notes
Experiment with Note-Taking Methods
      Outlining
      Student Voices of Experience Outlining and Other Note-Taking Strategies
      Charting
      Cornell System
      Mapping
Note-Taking Tips for Math, Science, and Online Classes
      Taking Notes in Math and Science Classes
      Taking Notes in Online Classes
      Take Notes Like a Professional [[pop out article]]
      My Personal Success Plan
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

8: Memory, Studying, and Test Taking
Learn How Your Memory Works
      Sensory Memory
      Short-Term/Working Memory
      Long-Term Memory
      Putting It All Together
      Why You Forget [[pop out article]]
Study Basics: Set Yourself Up for Success
      Manage Your Time Wisely
      Join a Study Group
      Make Connections
      Create Your Own Study Tools
      Remember Material with Mnemonics [[pop out article]]
      Study for Math and Science Classes
      Study for Online Classes
Prepare for Tests
      Know the Exam Format
      Review Previous Exams
      Stay Healthy
      Talk with Your Instructor
      Manage Test Anxiety
      Think Good Thoughts [[pop out article]]
      Student Voices of Experience Preparing for Tests
Learn Test-Taking Strategies
      Start Smart
      Answer Common Question Types
      Take Math and Science Tests
      Take Tests Online
      Youve Got Integrity [[pop out article]]
Follow Up after Tests
      Evaluate Your Approach: Did Your Prep Work Pay Off?
      Get Hard Evidence
      Learn from Your Mistakes
      My Personal Success Plan
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

9: Information Literacy and Communication
Develop Information Literacy
      Find the Information You Need
      Evaluate the Information Youve Found
      Wikipedia: Friend or Foe? [[pop out article]]
Communicate Information through Writing
      Prepare to Write
      Write Your First Draft
      Revise and Polish Your Paper
      Student Voices of Experience Getting Feedback on Your Writing
      Avoid Plaigiarism [[pop out article]]
      Write in Online Classes
Present in Class with Confidence
      Know Your Purpose—and Your Audience
      Craft Your Presentation
      Practice Your Presentation [[pop out article]]
      Present Like a Pro
      Harness the Power of Technology: Present Online
      My Personal Success Plan
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

10: Connecting with Others
Enhance Your Communication Skills
      Become a Better Listener
      Become a Better Speaker
Build Emotional Intelligence
      Recognize Emotions
      Understand Emotions
      Manage Emotions
      The Dangers of Suppressing Your Emotions [[pop out article]]
Resolve Conflict
      Be Assertive
      Dont Be a Doormat [[pop out article]]
      Use “I” Statements
      Use All Your Skills to Resolve Conflicts
Grow and Sustain Healthy Relationships
      Connect with Classmates
      Connect with Instructors
      Connect with Your Campus Community
      Theres More to College than the Classroom [[pop out article]]
      Connect with Others Online
      Stay Connected with Friends and Family
      Student Voices of Experience: Maintaining Relationships
Embrace Diversity
      Recognize Differences
      Respect Differences
      Think Critically about Differences
      My Personal Success Plan
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

11: Personal and Financial Health
Stress Less, Feel Better
Physical and Mental Health
      Eat Right
      Stay Active
      Don’t Skimp on the Z’s
      Healthy Behavior Is Good for Your Grades [[pop out article]]
      Student Voices of Experience: Staying Healthy and Coping with Stress
      Take Care of Your Mental Health
      Don’t Abuse Alcohol and Drugs
Sexual Health
      Avoid Sexually Transmitted Infections
      Practice Birth Control
Financial Health
      Create a Budget
      Reduce Your Spending
      Get a Job to Boost Your Income
      Navigate Financial Aid
      Ive Got Financial Aid—Now How Do I Keep It? [[pop out article]]
      Control Your Credit Cards — So They Don’t Control You
      My Personal Success Plan
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

12: Academic and Career Planning
Know Yourself
      Explore Your Interests
      Explore Your Values
      Explore Your Skills
      Understand Yourself through Campus Engagement [[pop out article]]
Develop an Academic Plan
      Choose a Degree or Certificate
      Choose a College Major
      Choose Your Courses
      Get Help from an Academic Adviser or a Counselor
      Student Voices of Experience: Selecting a Major and Choosing Classes
      Know Your Milestones [[pop out article]]
Investigate Career Options
      Get to Know the O*NET
      Talk with Experts
      Get Experience
LaunchYour Job Search
      Write a Résumé
      Find Job Opportunities
      Write a Cover Letter
      Interview Effectively
      Be Ready for Behavioral Interview Questions [[pop out article]]
      End-of-Term Reflection: Assess Your ACES Progress
      My Personal Success Plan
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

All the essential information in one easy-to-use resource. Brief and to the point, each of the text’s twelve chapters focuses on the most important concepts and skills for student success. Coverage starts with the motivational skills and mindsets necessary for college success, and then moves on to academic and life skills. The book’s magazine-style format, pop-out articles, and attractive visual program make it a fun read for students!

ACES—the Academic and Career Excellence System—gives students, instructors, and administrators the data they need to succeed. Starting on the first day of class, Connections Essentials helps students develop a thoughtful, strengths-based understanding of themselves through ACES, the Academic and Career Excellence System, an online self-assessment. Students take ACES at the start of their college success course to get a snapshot of their attitudes, skills, habits, and opportunities for improvement. Throughout the book, students have the opportunity to reflect on and journal about their ACES results. Instructors can use ACES data to drive conversations in and outside the classroom while administrators can use it to learn about their students and assess and allocate resources in a more in-depth and comprehensive way than ever before. ACES is available within LaunchPad Solo for Connections Essentials which can be packaged with the text.

The holistic, strengths-based approach is designed for a broad range of students and institutions. Firmly rooted in positive psychology, Connections Essentials encourages all students to develop their strengths, celebrate progress, and use setbacks as opportunities for growth. With coverage and examples drawn from a diverse group of students and institutions, the text is designed for an audience with a wide range of experiences—including recent high school graduates, returning adult learners, commuters, and students living on campus.

Prominent coverage of critical thinking and goal setting helps students develop key skills necessary for success. Chapter 2, Thinking Critically and Setting Goals, presents these essential skills up front. Self-assessments and activities throughout the text encourage students to think critically about their work and themselves. Chapters 2–12 prompt students to develop their own Personal Success Plans. Praised by reviewers, student use these class-tested, concrete steps to set goals, achieve them, and take charge of their own successes.

Content and features that connect with students academic and life plans. Students often wonder how the material they learn in this class connects to what theyre doing in their other classes – and their careers. Connections Essentials addresses this question head on:

A full chapter on academic and career planning (Chapter 12) helps students begin creating their own personal road maps to success, and career-focused examples throughout the text illustrate how a wide range of topics apply to the world of work.

Student "Voices of Experience" narratives are included in each chapter. These first-person stories show the real-world effects of chapter concepts in the lives of college students across the country.

A strong foundation in research. Research backs the authors’ guidance to students throughout the book; articles and features throughout the text introduce original research in an accessible way that helps students connect the findings to their own experiences.

LaunchPad Solo for Connections Essentials offers powerful online content and tools. The LaunchPad Solo online course space includes the ACES student self-assessment, LearningCurve adaptive quizzing, Student Voices videos, and a gradebook that offers a window into your students performance. Use LaunchPad Solo on its own or integrate it with your school’s learning management system so your class is always on the same page. LaunchPad Solo for Connections can be packaged with the text.

A complete package of instructor support materials accompanies Connections Essentials, including an Instructors Manual, a Computerized Test Bank, and lecture slides.

Paul A. Gore

Paul A. Gore

Paul’s efforts to promote college and career readiness, high school and college student persistence, and academic success are informed by more than twenty-five years of research, program development, implementation, evaluation, consulting, and teaching. Paul currently serves as the vice president of academic affairs and provost at Bellarmine University in Kentucky. Paul earned his Ph.D. in counseling psychology, with an emphasis in student career development, academic success, and transition, from Loyola University–Chicago. He has held academic and administrative responsibilities at the University of Missouri–Kansas City, Southern Illinois University–Carbondale, ACT, Inc., the University of Utah, and Xavier University.

Paul’s work focuses on noncognitive and motivational determinants of academic and career success. In particular, he is interested in how secondary and postsecondary institutions use data describing the noncognitive strengths and weaknesses of their students to promote transition, engagement, student success, and retention. He regularly consults with secondary and postsecondary institutions in the United States and abroad on developing and evaluating student academic and career success programs.

Paul has authored more than fifty peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. He is the past chair of the Society for Vocational Psychology and served as an advisory board member and journal editor for the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and was the recipient of a 2013–2014 American Council on Education Emerging Leadership fellowship.

Wade Leuwerke

Dr. Wade C. Leuwerke

Wade is a professor of counseling at Drake University. He earned his Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Southern Illinois University–Carbondale. Wade has authored more than ninety journal articles and book chapters, as well as national and international conference presentations. One of his areas of research is the assessment and development of student and employee social and emotional skills. He has co-created several social and emotional assessment tools, including the Academic and Career Excellence System (ACES), that help secondary and postsecondary students to identify and build their skills. He works with faculty and advisers at the college level and school counselors at the high school level to integrate social and emotional data into their work with students.

Wade has experience examining school counselors’ roles and working with professional school counselors to positively impact students’ academic development, career and college exploration, and the acquisition of personal and social skills that will prepare them for college and life beyond. He has worked with dozens of secondary and postsecondary institutions on a range of factors related to student success and persistence, including evaluating institutional practices, using data to drive student interventions, creating individualized student success plans, training, strategic planning, allocating resources, and collaborating to promote student success.

A. J. Metz

Dr. A.J. Metz

A.J. is a tenured faculty member and serves as associate chair of the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Utah. She directs the master’s program in school counseling and the Positive Psychology Certificate Program. She also coordinates the Strategies for College Success courses in which ACES and the Connections textbook are used.

A.J. earned an M.Ed. in vocational rehabilitation counseling and a Ph.D. in urban education (specialization in counseling psychology) from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. She studies the cognitive and noncognitive factors related to academic success, career readiness, and retention in underrepresented and underserved student populations such as first-generation college students, women in STEM, college student athletes, and college student veterans.

A.J. has extensive teaching, counseling, and career advising experience in high schools, community colleges, and four-year public and private institutions of higher education. Her passion for teaching motivates her to experiment with innovative teaching methods and to develop new and engaging activities and instructional materials. She has received the University of Utah’s Early Career Teaching Award, the College of Education Teaching Award, and the Celebrate U – Showcase of Extraordinary Faculty Achievement award. She is the past president of the Utah Psychological Association and serves on multiple state-level task forces and advisory councils promoting school based mental health services, college access and equity, and career readiness.