Welcome to the fifth week of Winter Quarter 2008!

Dear MSB Online Learner:

Registration Reminder:

The Education Department would like to remind you that we are currently planning course recommendations for future quarters. Our planning is based on the courses remaining in your program.

Please note: Registration for Spring Quarter will begin on February 11th, 2008. Check your student email account for more registration information in the next week.

As a friendly reminder, if you are planning to attempt advance standing test outs or apply work experience to your degree requirements, it is recommended that you do so in a timely manner. Appointments are available for one-on-one advising and planning.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions or to set up an appointment (1-877-609-8889).

We look forward to working with you!

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Welcome to the fourth week of Winter Quarter 2008!

Dear MSB Online Learner:

Tutoring Reminder

Tutoring is a free service offered to ALL MSB/Globe students. A tutor can be requested for any class. The tutor provided is also a student who is currently enrolled in the course or has previously completed the course. Tutors are paid for by MSB/Globe and are free to all students.

If you are interested in becoming a tutor or if you would like to request a tutor, please contact John Birkland at jbirkland@msbcollege.edu.

Midterm Grades

Beginning this quarter we will be using midterm grades in lieu of progress reports. Your midterm grade will be posted in Blackboard during Week 5 and if you are receiving a grade of D or F, you will be contacted by your instructor.

Academic Skills

In addition to the variety of skills that will directly apply to your chosen career field; you will also develop a variety of academic skills. Below are some tips and tricks to further develop your academic skills.

Tips for Time Management

One of the keys to a successful college career is to have good time management skills.

By definition, time management is the effective selection of the best task from all those available and completing it to the best of your ability. Making the right choices about how you spend your time is the most important decision for you to make. The big payoff is that you can have control of your life. Getting control starts with planning.

Unlike the formal structure of a high school schedule, a college schedule can be very unstructured. You and you alone can control the schedule you choose. Many selections of the same class are offered at various times of the day. It is up to you to select a time you want to attend a section of a particular class. It may be possible to arrange your schedule so that you attend school on select days of the week. In other words, it is not mandatory for you to go to school Monday through Friday.

Because of all the flexibility involved in your college schedule, it is important to include other aspects of your life in your planning, such as work, family commitments, and recreational activities. In fact, you are encouraged to take into consideration all aspects of your life when planning your college class schedule.

Planning study time is a key step to academic success. Most college classes require far more study time than high school classes. Because effective time management plays a key role in your success, please see an advisor if you are having difficulty with planning.

Tips for Active Learning

• Be prepared. Have the textbook, paper, pencil and colored marker pen.

• Write notes in the textbook and highlight important topics with a colored marker pen if the instructor refers to specific topics.

• When taking notes about the instructor’s lecture (PowerPoint Presentation), write down the main points.

• Communicate with your instructors often – via discussion boards or email.

• Ask questions if you do not understand something.

• Actively participate in classroom discussions.

• Know how to contact your instructor if you are going to be absent or if you need clarification of classroom material.

• Read your assignments before Sunday. You will then be able to ask questions about information which you do not understand.

• Set up a study schedule and follow it. Allow enough time for all your classes.

• Keep up your assignments day by day, or within the respective week. This avoids having to “cram.”

Tips for Studying

• Select the best time for you to study. Develop a study plan and follow it.

• Select a quiet place to study. Be aware of proper lighting and ventilation.

• Sit upright at desk.

• Avoid all interruptions: phone, radio, TV, people.

• Be prepared. Have all reading materials, pencils, paper and dictionary.

• Keep a “Things to Do” list. List dates when assignments and projects are due.

Update the list frequently.

• Review your class notes the day you write them. Rewrite them if they are hard to read.

• Survey a book chapter before you begin reading it. Actively read it by underlining important parts.

• Be strict with yourself. Force yourself to follow your study schedule.

• Reread and review difficult information until you understand it.

• Make a list of questions to ask your instructor about material that needs clarification.

Tips for Preparing for a Test

• Find out as much information about the test as possible from the instructor.

◊ Type of test: objective, essay, true/false, etc.

◊ The number of questions and how many points they are worth.

◊ The material to be covered.

◊ The value of the test toward the final grade.

• Set up an exam study schedule which includes at least three one-hour sessions or six half-hour sessions.

• Know your best time to study. Many people learn best in daylight hours.

• Maximize the quality of your study time by paying attention to the following details:

◊ Select a room conducive to study where the lighting is bright and air temperature feels fresh. A poorly lighted room will make you sleepy.

◊ Get organized. Have all the materials you need to study with you when beginning your study session.

◊ Select a quiet setting that is free from interruptions, such as the telephone, radio, television, and people

• Review as actively as possible. Use pencil and paper; use markers to highlight special items in your notes; make flash cards for materials to be memorized.

• Make up an exam as if you were the instructor and then take the exam.

• Pay attention to troublesome points. Make another list for these areas on separate flash cards.

• Organize your thoughts for possible essay questions. Know the concept about which you are writing.

• Cram only as a last step. Be selective about what you are cramming.

• Cover vital points and troublesome areas.

• Set up a study session with two or three people from your class. Ask each other questions and discuss important concepts. Avoid getting off the subject and wasting time.

If you are interested in learning how MSB can help you develop these skills, have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact the Education Department at 1-877-609-8889.

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Welcome to the third week of Winter Quarter 2008!

Dear MSB Online Learner:

Career Services Spotlight: With the New Year you may be taking time to evaluate your career. If you are considering going for a promotion or looking for a new opportunity, do know that Lesley Farnham, Director of Career Services, is here to assist you in your career efforts? Need help updating your resume, building your network or writing that eye catching cover letter? She is here to help you.

Please feel free to contact her via e-mail (lfarnham@msbcollege.edu) or phone - direct line 612-798-3747. You can also check out the Career Services section of the website for suggestions at http://students.msbcollege.edu/career_services/.

Throughout your time at the Minnesota School of Business Online, you will develop and obtain a variety of skills that will directly apply to your chosen career field. Some of those skills include:

Read and understand written materials
Understand charts and graphs
Understand basic math
Use mathematics to solve problems
Use information seeking and evaluation skills
Use specialized knowledge and skill to get a job done
Use tools and equipment
Speak and write in the language in which business is conducted
Use scientific method to solve problems

Personal Management Skills

Attend school/work daily and on time
Meet school/work deadlines
Develop career plans
Know personal strengths and weaknesses
Demonstrate self-control
Pay attention to details
Follow written and oral directions and instructions
Work without supervision
Learn new skills
Identify and suggest new ways to get the job done

Teamwork Skills

Actively participate in a group
Know the rules and values of the group
Listen to other group members
Be sensitive to the group members’ ideas and views
Be willing to compromise to best accomplish goal
Work in changing settings and with people of diverse backgrounds

Take time to develop your current skill sets and use every opportunity to acquire new skills that will help give you a competitive edge!

If you are interested in learning how MSB can help you develop these skills, have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact the Education Department at 1-877-609-8889.

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Tutoring

Dear MSB Online Learners,

Tutoring is a free service offered to ALL MSB/Globe students. A tutor can be requested for any class. The tutor provided is also a student who is currently enrolled in the course or has previously completed the course. Tutors are paid for by MSB/Globe and are free to all students.

If you are interested in becoming a tutor, you will have the opportunity to enhance your mastery of course materials, augment your teaching skills, and earn some extra money! It is also a great résumé builder. Tutors typically commit one hour per week to assisting a peer in achieving their academic goals and are paid $8.50/hour for their time.

If you would like to request a tutor or are interested in becoming a tutor, please click on the following link:

Tutoring Information

You can also contact John Birkland at jbirkland@msbcollege.edu for additional information.

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Welcome to the second week of Winter Quarter 2008!

Dear MSB Online Learner:

Welcome to the second week of the Winter 2008 Quarter!

Just a reminder that the Drop/Add period ends Tuesday January 8th. If you wish to make any modifications to your winter quarter schedule please contact the Education Department by 4pm Tuesday January 8th.

Perfect Attendance

Perfect Attendance is awarded each quarter to students who:

o Log in three times per week into each of their courses (Monday – Sunday)
To ensure that your activity is being logged, click into multiple areas of your courses each time you log in. For example, check your grades, check class discussion board, and/or check your unit content for the week.

- and -

o Participate in all required discussion boards

Students who achieved perfect attendance for the Winter 2008 Quarter will also receive 20% off their books for the Spring 2008 Quarter. There is no carry over.

Log into your classes as often as possible. Online learners find that frequent participation in the course room enriches the learning experience for everyone. The collaborative learning environment created by sharing perspectives in the course room can be one of the most valuable aspects of your learning experience.

As a friendly reminder, the Education Department would like to reiterate that a main factor in your academic success is attending your classes. Excessive absenteeism places you in serious jeopardy of being withdrawn from school. Our attendance policy at Minnesota School of Business/Globe University, states that students must log into each course a minimum of one time per week and the maximum course interruption is two weeks during any one quarter.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact the Education Department at 1-877-609-8889.

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Welcome to the first week of Winter Quarter 2008!

Dear Online Learner:

Welcome to the first week of the Winter 2008 Quarter!

Don’t forget to log in to your classes in Blackboard, as soon as possible, to validate your registration. Check this weekly newsletter each week for valuable information. Please take time to review each post so you do not miss any important information needed week to week.

Please review the following points of information:

1. Online System Requirements:
http://students.msbcollege.edu/elearning/system_requirements/

2. Perfect attendance:
To achieve perfect attendance, a student must log in a minimum of three times per week (Monday through Sunday) and participate in each assigned course discussion. Every student who achieves perfect attendance in a given quarter will receive a 20% discount on all textbooks charged to the student's school account and purchased through the school bookstore in the quarter following their achievement.

3. Schedule Changes:
The first five business days of each quarter are designated as the “add/drop period” for schedule changes involving individual classes. By the end of the five-day period, each individual’s schedule of classes will be in place for the remainder of the quarter. If, for some reason, you would like a schedule change during the “add/drop period”, please contact the Online Education Department – 1-877-609-8889.

6. Student Homepage:
http://students.msbcollege.edu/
Please bookmark the student homepage. This site will provide you with a variety of resources throughout your time at MSB.

7. MSB Student Email:
http://students.msbcollege.edu/email
Please bookmark the email homepage. You will want to ensure you are checking your email multiple times each week.

8. Tutoring:
Free tutoring is available to all students. Please contact the Education Department if you would like to learn more.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact the Education Department at 1-877-609-8889.

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