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Online Study Skills Program

Thank you for your interest in the Online Study Skills Course at NC State!

The following information is intended to provide a general overview of our Online Study Skills Course. For more information, please check out our Study Skills FAQ page or contact the Psychoeducational Clinic and we will be happy to assist you further.

General Information

Study Skills is sponsored by the Psychoeducational Clinic at NCSU. The Clinic is affiliated with the APA approved School Psychology Training Program, housed within the Department of Psychology at NCSU. The Clinic serves both as a resource for the community by offering high quality assessment and intervention services for learners of all ages and as a training facility for masters and doctoral students in the School Psychology program.

During the course, Study Skills teachers will focus on multiple areas, including organization, reading comprehension, test-taking skills, and note-taking. Specific topics covered include (but are not limited to): organization of notebooks and school materials, time management (to include using physical and online planners), project planning, managing and completing homework assignments, reading comprehension strategies, note-taking, avoiding procrastination, and test-taking strategies. In addition, both the middle and high school programs now include “bonus” material related more specifically to online/remote learning, to include discussions on how to create schedules, how to manage and organize remote learning resources, improving motivation, and developing improved goal setting, self-monitoring, and self-regulation skills.

The Study Skills course was originally designed for middle school students and early high school students (9th & 10th grade) in mind, as this is the point in the educational curriculum when the demand for good study habits- and the expectation that students assume more responsibility for their grades and performance- increases quite considerably. While we have traditionally restricted participation in the in-person camps to 6th-10th graders, we are now allowing students of any age/grade to participate in the online course. However, please note that the content of each course is still geared towards middle and early high school populations; thus, if your child is younger or older than that, it may be necessary for you to adapt some of the material/lessons to better suit your child’s needs.

The topics and skills covered in each curriculum are similar, but each curriculum has been adapted to be more developmentally appropriate for each age group. As an example, students participating in both courses may cover similar concepts (e.g., how to take notes effectively), but the emphasis placed on that particular topic- and the types of activities included in the curriculum to teach and practice it- may be different. Students who once completed the middle school curriculum are welcome to take the high school class; however, parents/guardians should be aware of similarities between the two curricula.

The content for our online classes is based on best practices in the field of psychology and education.  Every effort is made to engage each student in activities so that strategies are practiced repeatedly. All techniques and strategies taught during each lesson are reinforced multiple times throughout the week. In addition, very brief “homework” tasks are assigned each day to reinforce the day’s learning. We have also included a presentation specifically for parents that a) provides an overview of the strategies taught, and b) will provide additional information and guidance on how best to support and further develop their child’s organizational skills during the school year.

Each online course includes a series of pre-recorded videos/presentations – along with program handouts- that will be made available to students once registration is complete. All materials will be shared with registered users via ShareBase, a secure web-based platform. The course includes the core curriculum plus 3-4 hours of bonus instruction and material. The core curriculum is designed to be completed daily over the course of five days (e.g., Monday- Friday) for approximately 1.5-2 hours each day. The bonus material may be reviewed during a 6th or 7th day as time allows. Since it is self-paced, students have the option to complete the course over fewer days; however, it is our experience that students that take less time tend to not master material as well as students that complete the course more slowly. Course material will be available for each registered student for two weeks; thus, students may also choose to take more time to finish the course if that is preferred.

Start Dates

The online Study Skills course is available year-round. One of the benefits of completing the program online is that you and your student can start at any time that works for your schedules. Some families choose to take the course over the summer, while others prefer to work on it right before school starts or during track-outs. The choice is yours! Though the course is designed to be completed in a week, we will provide access to all videos and materials/handouts for two weeks from the date of your choosing to give you plenty of flexibility.

Location and Fees

The online format of the Study Skills course enables students to access materials from anywhere that a strong internet connection is available. We recommend that students complete the course in a quiet location, free from distractions. At times, students will be prompted to discuss certain aspects of the lesson with another person; thus, it is recommended that students not review course material in public (e.g., at a coffee shop or library) where such discussion may not be possible.

The total cost of each course is $150 per student. For families enrolling more than one child/sibling in either of the courses, the cost for the first student is $150 and the cost for each subsequent student is $75 (50% discount). Please note that this discount only applies to siblings. Given NC State’s current closure, only online payments are currently accepted. Payment in full is requested at the time of registration. Please note that fees are nonrefundable once a student is registered and access to the program has been granted.

To pay for the online Study Skills camp, please visit go.ncsu.edu/paymyclinicbill and complete the online payment form. Under “Type of Service,” please select “Online Study Skills Course.” Please note:  you will be asked to complete a separate form for each child you are enrolling.

How to Register

To register for an online course, please complete the following:

  1. Review the information on our FAQ page (available here).
  2. Review our Notice of Psychologists’ Policies and Practices (available here)
  3. Review the Study Skills Program Expectations and Parental Permission form (available here)
  4. Complete the online registration form (available here).
  5. Submit your payment online at go.ncsu.edu/paymyclinicbill

Once the registration form and payment is received, you will be sent a confirmation email of enrollment and instructions on how to access and begin the course.

Contact Information

Should you have any further questions, please review our FAQ page, e-mail us at studyskills@ncsu.edu or call the Psychoeducational Clinic at 919-515-1713. If no one is available to take your call, please leave your name and number so that we can contact you.

We look forward to working with your child!