We offer on-site advanced reading and study skills seminars for students. Even if your school already offers learning skills programs in-house, our seminars can serve as an additional resource for your students, faculty and staff.

Program Options   │   Concept   │   Methodology   │   Scheduling   │   Student Outreach  Registration    │   Scholarships   │   Evaluation   │   Seminar Guarantee 
References   │   Setting Up a Program   │   Recommended Links

 

Program Options

Option A 

We handle everything (outreach to students, registration, collection of the enrollment fee - students/parents pay us directly). Your school provides a classroom (that holds up to 10 students per session) for the duration of the seminar.

Option B 

Your school handles everything and pays Target Learning, Inc. a flat rate for the entire program.

Option C 

We handle everything and rent classroom space off-campus (seminar rates will be slightly higher).

 

Seminar Concept

As you know, even students who receive straight "A's" in high school do not always perform well in a college setting. A variety of factors can influence these students: being away from home for the first time, having to manage their own schedule, social distractions, athletic commitments, and weak critical thinking skills. "Marginal" students must contend with the same factors as well as lack of confidence in their own learning skills.

We show students how to use their natural learning strengths to become active and confident learners in every subject area. This is important since students will likely reject learning strategies they feel will require a significant effort, and students tend to choose the path of least resistance when they feel stress and vulnerability.

Seminar Methodology

We don't perform miracles (though some of our past students may disagree). Instead, we help each student significantly develop his/her own learning capability. We achieve this by showing students how to use their preferred learning style to apply a variety of flexible reading and study strategies in and out of the classroom. For example, if a student is a strong visual learner, but a weak auditory learner, we will show him/her how to create relevant mental images during lectures to help improve comprehension and retention. We have had students report tremendous results the first time they tried this technique, even before the seminar was completed. In fact, many of our students have said they couldn't believe how easy it was to stay focused in class (for the first time), and how much information they retained despite their minimal effort (see Student Comments). Of course, their effort was likely more significant than they realized, but since they used a more comfortable way of learning, it felt less strenuous than using a generic technique.

In addition, we help students use their preferred thinking style to plan and apply their work more efficiently. For example, if a student is a strong global thinker, a step-by-step (or highly structured) time management plan will prove too frustrating to apply. Linear thinkers, on the other hand, tend to be process-oriented and benefit from a more structured approach to their school work.

Each student will complete learning and thinking style surveys on the first day of class. These surveys have been created to help each student recognize their preferred way to learn and process information, not to "label" a person's abilities or capabilities. In fact, we show students how to apply all of our reading and study techniques in a variety of ways - the students will always decide which approach is best for their personality and way of thinking.

By the end of our seminar, students will have developed highly advanced reading skills, critical thinking skills, and comprehensive study skills.  Equally important, they will have the confidence to apply these skills in any learning situation. As a bonus, your teachers will benefit since their students will have the skills to comprehend and retain new information - and an insatiable appetite for learning.

Seminar Scheduling

Option 1:  Your school selects the dates and times for each seminar. Our programs can be 5, 10, 15 or 20 hours in length and can meet during your school's existing class schedule (typically 50 minutes per day, or whatever your schedule allows). The sessions usually occur Monday through Friday, but to accommodate student schedules, we also offer evening and Saturday sessions. The suggested blocks of time are:

5-Hour Seminar: 1 Week
10-Hour Seminar: 2 Weeks
15-Hour Seminar: 3 Weeks
20-Hour Seminar: 4 Weeks

Option 2: You can allow interested students choose their own dates and times for the seminar. This option is useful for student organizations that may desire a customized seminar for their own members and are more familiar with their overall availability.

Student Outreach

We do need at least 20 paid registrations before we can run a seminar on your campus. But we guarantee there will never be more than 10 students per session. We respect the privacy of your students, and do not recruit directly through telephone calls and unsolicited mailings. Therefore, if you were to invite us to your school, we would simply place brochures (listing seminar dates, times, content, etc.) in high traffic areas such as dorm lobbies and your student center. If possible, we also would place small posters (8.5" x 11") around your campus inviting students to visit our web site for additional information.  We don’t believe in the “hard sell”.

If you would prefer to become more involved in the process, we have found that letters from your school sent directly to the students (or their parents) announcing our seminar has been beneficial. Naturally, we would cover the expense of such a mailing.  For your convenience, we can also create a specialized web page for parents to learn more about the program - click here to view a sample.

Registration

If you selected Program Option A or C (see above), we would collect the seminar fee directly from the student (or parent) through our online, telephone, or print registration process.

Enrolled students would report to a classroom (of your designation) on the first day of class to select their preferred time slot for each day's session.  They will also have the option to pick a time slot online (up to two weeks before the seminar begins).  If a student is unable to attend a particular session (due to a scheduling conflict), he or she can attend a duplicate session, or we can arrange for make-up sessions in the evening or on the weekend.

As a professional courtesy, your school administrators and faculty are welcome to attend our seminar sessions without charge, if space is available.  However, there would be a nominal charge for the TLC Student Binder - if they elect to keep the binder after the seminar.

Scholarships

We realize there may be some students who would like to take our seminar, but it is beyond their financial means. Therefore, we have set up a scholarship program to help deserving students. For every ten paid registrations we receive, Target Learning, Inc. will offer your school one free enrollment (or 2 half-price enrollments). For example, if we receive thirty paid registrations you can select three individuals (presumably from your financial aid roster) to attend our seminar without charge (or six students can attend at half-price).

Seminar Evaluation

We test each student’s reading rate and comprehension level at the beginning and end of the seminar. Approximately two weeks after each seminar, your office will receive a final report listing each student's initial and final test results, as well as personalized comments about their progress and suggestions for further improvement. At your request, we can also provide a copy of each student's attendance record during the seminar. Students will also receive a copy of their personalized report and a certificate of completion.

Seminar Guarantee

If a student is not satisfied at the completion of the seminar, and he/she has attended every session, we will gladly provide that student a full refund, minus the cost of the TLC Student Binder.

References

Our lead instructor has taught reading and study skills seminars at:

Williams College, Wesleyan University, Bowdoin College, Yale College, Hartwick College, Susquehanna University, Heathwood-Hall School, Choate-Rosemary Hall, The Citadel, Stephens College, Connecticut College, Bridgewater College

He taught these programs as an instructor and later as a Regional Director for Learning Skills, Inc., a Northampton-based company that has been providing study skills programs to colleges and universities for more than 40 years.

He has also taught the following subjects to private, public and non-profit organizations across the country:

Management Skills, Leadership, Team-Building & Coaching, Public Speaking, Business Writing, Speed Reading, Listening Skills, Memory Improvement, Customer Service, Interviewing Skills, Technical Writing, Creating a Positive Work Environment, Business Grammar, Writing Policies & Procedures, Managing Projects & Priorities, Learning Styles, Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking, Accelerated Learning, Test Preparation, Study Skills

For more information about our Lead Instructor, click here.

Setting Up a Program

If you are interested in having us offer any of our seminars at your school, you can contact our director, Stephen Gexler, at (888) 514-5904, or at info@targetlearning.net.

It will be your choice how much involvement you have in the process. If you prefer the minimalist approach, we simply need a small classroom space for the seminar; and your permission to place brochures on your campus - we will do the rest. However, if you would like to become more involved, we would certainly enjoy the opportunity to work more closely with your school.      

Recommended Links

Comments About the Instructor

Reading Scores from Past Students

Common Student Concerns - Highly Recommended

Study Skills Introduction Seminar

Learning & Thinking Styles

Flat Rates for School-Sponsored Programs