UNIT 5: AdAPT COLLEGE-LEVEL ACADEMICS: THE STAKES ARE HIGHER direct Instruction explain to students that achieving academic excellence at the high school level requires different skills than achieving the same level of success at the college level. This is because college-level academics are often very different from high schoollevel academics. Motivation Academic Excellence discussion - Ask students what they think the differences are between academics at the high school level and academics at the college level. Record their responses in the chart given. discuss myths and facts about college academics, including the details listed here if students don't bring them up. * What do all great students have in common? * What does it mean to be " academically excellent " ? * Who are some academically excellent students you know in your life? * * do you see yourself now as academically excellent? do you hope to be academically excellent one day? Why or why not? ENGAGING ALL LEARNERS Ask non-college-bound students to think about how working in a career can be different from working at a part-time job. MANAGING A COLLEGE COURSE-LOAD EdUCATOR PREPARATION if desired, provide actual college-level syllabi from a local college to replace the samples provided. direct Instruction define course-load and ensure students understand the College 101 vocabulary words here before beginning the Collaborative Activity. Collaborative Activity College Syllabus Evaluation Activity - Break students into small groups and ask them to read through the three syllabus excerpts. students should fill in the answers to the questions in the College-level syllabus Analysis chart. The groups should be prepared to also answer the questions given in the " making it Real " box. How are these courses similar to or different from high school courses? What personal strengths might they use to succeed in each course? What personal challenges might they face in trying to balance and achieve excellence in all of these courses? Whole Group discussion College Syllabus Share Out - summarize the collaborative activity by asking students to share out some of their excitements and concerns about these three course syllabus excerpts. ENGAGING ALL LEARNERS This lesson focuses on college-level academics. For students who are not enrolling in college in the fall, the discussion may seem irrelevant. make explicit connections when you can between academic excellence and professionalism in the workplace. The same values of personal responsibility, self advocacy, time management, and organization which lead to academic excellence can also help you excel in your job or career. Also encourage students to remember that on their career paths, they may someday be pursuing formal education. These tips and strategies can be useful in the future. lesson 21: College-level ACAdemiC exCellenCe 319