Since fall , The Commons has booked over 14,000 appointments and visits from students taking advantage of the services .
learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom , and by providing a means to showcase the skills employers look for when interviewing candidates .
One of the most exciting new tools is the Co-Curricular Record , which captures activities as part of a student ’ s official printable transcript , encouraging students to get involved beyond the classroom as they develop transferable skills . An additional tool called the REAL Portal offers an easy way for students to discover such skill-building opportunities , like internships , research projects and international learning experiences in one source .
OPEN FOR IMPACT
With a permanent space in Geisel Library , the Teaching + Learning Commons is ready to make a difference for students .
A novel Enhanced Electronic Transcript combines traditional academic transcripts with course descriptions , instructor information and embedded data . And Portfolium , an online platform developed by UC San Diego alumnus Adam Markowitz ’ 08 , allows students to build and share an online profile that can showcase their varied experiences , skills and work within and beyond the campus .
Be it inside the classroom or out in the world thereafter , the goal of The Commons and its resources is to give students lifelong learning skills and practical tools that help them thrive in a world that is rapidly changing . “ Whether their next steps are jobs , graduate schools or other avenues , students need to be critical thinkers who work well in a team , understand diversity and can communicate ,” says Wienhausen . “ In the end , our most lasting and important impact is on the people we are shaping and growing here .”
Learn more about UC San Diego ’ s Teaching + Learning Commons at commons . ucsd . edu
STUDENTS HELPING STUDENTS
With difficult subjects , sometimes the voice of a peer is the one students understand best :
“ I come to the Teaching + Learning Commons regularly . Sometimes the student tutor will explain concepts in a way that ’ s different and makes more sense to me . It helps connect more dots .”
– Allyssa Strohm ’ 20 , Microbiology
“ I come to The Commons for drop-in tutoring for calculus . My class has a weekly discussion , but I would have to stop class and raise my hand a lot and make the whole class about me instead of the group , so I can come here and confidently make it about me and what I have to learn . I transferred from junior college and immediately looked for a tutorial center — I was the first person in here .”
– Morgan Less ’ 20 , Economics
“ I tutor in writing . We work with students at all stages of the writing process , from brainstorming to final revisions . I ’ ve helped on projects from medical school applications to personal statements , even a visual arts project . When students come back because you made them enjoy writing more — that ’ s encouraging .”
– Sarah Douglas ’ 17 , Environmental Engineering
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