Tips For Freshmen Entering A New Chapter In Living And Learning (NAPSA)—If there’s a new col- lege freshman in your home, you have lots of company. This fall, millions of homes across the nation will be sending a young man or woman awayto college for the first time. Not surprisingly, the adjustment to new living and learning conditionsis felt by both parent and student. Here are some suggestions that will help lessen your young stu- dent’s stress (and your own) during thosefirst monthsofcollegelife. Have your soon-to-be college student prepare a “needs” checklist. Then review the list together and decide which items are necessities. Though DVDplayers, video game systems, televisions and stereos are all popular on campus, be sure to send your son or daughter photos of friends and family. These will bring a touch of home to campus and are good icebreakers. * Computers (laptops are most popular) are a must. They’re not just for reports and research; hitting the books has taken on a whole new meaning for today’s tech-savvy college and university students, who are using digital learning tools to complete their course work. For example, today your son or daughter will be armed with an array of advanced, electronic materials that were unimaginable to previous generations. Textbooks now incorporate a broad range of valuable supplements that provide visually enhanced, interactive materials for students. With these tools, students supplement the traditional textbook andclassroom lectures to enhance their educational experience. New on campus? Photos of family and friends will help. So will the new digital tools that are available. As professors and universities attempt to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student population, publishers have also evolved their learning tools to keep pace with changing curricula and learning styles. By incorporating new digital tools into the curriculum,professors are using the materials they believe will give their students the best education. Encourage your student to study early and often. Many students now have access to online tutors 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which enables learning to extend beyond the library or a professor’s office hours. The new tools also improve student success because they offer individual attention and help students to work at their own pace, focusing on a specific subject or skill until it is mastered. Today’s students, who are comfortable with the digital world, are increasingly interested in dynamic, visual learning tools to engage them. Now instructors, adminis- trators and publishers are offering a broad range of materials that do just that.
