Helping distraught students find time

Imagine reading a book two days earlier than expected and having time left over to edit a paper before it's due. These are the type of time management skills many students only wish they could master. But with the help of Penn's Tutoring and Learning Resources, those skills can be fine-tuned under the guidance of professional learning instructors with one-on-one tutoring or group sessions. Tutoring and Learning Resources, sponsored by the Department of Academic Support Services, is staffed primarily by students from the Graduate School of Education and is open to all University undergraduate and graduate students. "The program's main focus is to find more strategies for students to study well," said Grace Choe, a student in GSE and a learning instructor in Tutoring and Learning Resources. The program has featured a Study Strategies Workshop Series since the start of the school year and will continue to provide group settings for students. The next workshop will focus on exam preparation for midterms. One of the time-management strategies the group teaches is called "Juggling the Responsibilities of Student Life." Tutors instruct students to make a list of everyone who expects something from them -- ranging from instructors and coaches to family and friends -- and prioritize the list based on who is most important and who causes the most stress. Other instruction booklets the program offers students include "One of These Days I'll Stop Procrastinating," "I Just Can't Seem to Concentrate" and "How Will I Learn All This Information?" Students can also receive help in areas ranging from test-taking strategies to discussion skills. The program's office is located in Harnwell College House and walk-ins are welcome Monday to Friday from noon to 3 p.m., though appointments are recommended. The program -- which marks its 60th anniversary this year -- was originally started in response to the Wharton School's request to "test incoming boys" and help students who were having academic difficulties, according to Myrna Cohen, the program's associate director. Today, however, all students are welcome to receive help with any problem they are facing with their studies. All sessions are free and confidential and cater to the needs of all students. "It is important to us that students have a balanced life," Cohen said. "This is not like a junior high school resource center. This is very much academic-orientated and presents a whole new way of thinking."

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