Learning Center Staff Stand Ready to Prepare Students for Finals as Exam Season Closes in

Finals season stirs up excitement in LBCC's Learning Center as staff collaborates with students. They are determined to take the emotional labor out of finals season so students can study efficiently with time management strategies and ample support for all math course levels.

Directly above the library in Willamette Hall, LBCC's Learning Center accommodates students with many qualified educators ready to guide them through hurdles in their college journey. 

Anyone actively taking a class at Linn-Benton qualifies for free core math concept support in the Math Cafe, all-level math support from the Math Desk, and individual coaching for any subject. In addition to writing, science, and individualized tutoring assistance elsewhere on campus, these services ensure that students have ample resources to enhance their learning outside of the classroom and continue making progress toward an associate degree.

At the top of the library stairwell, visitors will find a large area of individual and group-size outlet-equipped workstations. 

The first station that appears is the Math Desk. Out in the open, staff members are readily available to answer questions from any course level for students who approach them. 

On preparing for finals, Math Center employee Amelia Madden said, "Use the space as a way to get yourself started." 

Whether done individually or with a group of classmates, coming to the Math Center to complete class work or study for an exam provides a productive environment with assistance readily available whenever a question arises.  

Neighboring the Math Desk is a door to the Math Cafe. Smaller than the Learning Center's main seating area, the cafe provides a cozy, approachable environment for students struggling with classwork and fundamental concepts from classes ranging between Math 75 and Math 111Z. It even provides students with complimentary hot drinks!  

To reduce the anxiety that can occur when students approach them for help with academic subjects, staff members such as Brie Wood have curated the Math Cafe to be as welcoming as possible by actively approaching students to see if they need help, ideally reducing stress for the student and allowing them to maintain focus on their coursework. 

Rather than diving directly into assignments and test prep, the cafe's staff specialize in strengthening students' comprehension of foundational concepts. These vital components are needed to understand more complex modules, as people often skate through public K-12 education without fully comprehending all core math concepts, such as fractions or exponents. 

Paving the way for an accurate, lasting understanding of the curriculum, Wood unambiguously describes the motivations of people working at the Learning Center.

"All of us want to see students succeed; that's why we're here," said Wood.

Behind the Math Desk is the Academic Coaching area. In a small area lined with office doors and a few desks, Academic Success Coaches such as Josh Stickrod meet with students to discuss time management, study methods, and how one's mindset might affect academic performance and self-esteem. 

Stickrod often works with students to find time blocks in their weekly schedule to dedicate to classwork and studying for upcoming exams. Passing a sheet with a time block template from across the table, he explained how he uses it with students to help them visualize how many hours a week they have to spend on coursework and additional studying while still fulfilling their need for a source of income, adequate sleep, and other responsibilities they may have.

Stickrod said, "One thing I try to do with students is rethink how to approach and think about exams." 

He explained that worrying about test performance and stressing over not meeting the academic standards students strive for wastes valuable time and energy that would be better used for preparing for their exam. 

When asked about common errors students experience when creating a study routine, Stickrod mentioned a trend of students who lack a proper sleep schedule and rely too much on stimulants.

"If you're not taking care of yourself now, it will impact you years down the road," he said. 

Most importantly, the way to get the best results from Academic Success Coaching is to start early by practicing time management and better study habits as soon as possible during the term. The best time to start was back then; the second best time to start is now. 

Whichever resources you think you could use to help you succeed at LBCC, the Learning Center and its adjoining branches have a wealth of availability in person and on Zoom for students to seek guidance and empower themselves to take an active role in their education.

AT A GLANCE: 

Open 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, LBCC's Learning Center is full of educators who want to see students achieve their goals. Highlighting the various components of the Math Center, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, staff members try to meet students where they are, at any level of understanding, and help them advance toward where they need to be. Both are located in Room 226 on the second floor of Willamette Hall.

Also located in the learning and possibly the most underutilized branch within, Academic Success Coaching services provide an individualized approach to learning to juggle life's responsibilities along with the college experience through mindset coaching, education on destructive habits, and visual time management mapping. Coaching appointments are available in the Learning Center between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays.

Explore the Learning Center's Offshoots

Check Out the Math Center's drop in Zoom Room.

Book an Academic Coaching Appointment