PULLMAN, Wash. – In the past 12 months, Washington State University has distributed more than 10,000 free copies of “The A Game” to incoming students.
Those students reported in a recent survey that Ken Sufka’s book on academic success taught them to study more effectively, be less afraid of their instructors and choose seats in the front of the classroom.
To help faculty share the book with new students, WSU Academic Outreach and Innovation is offering a workshop, “Incorporating The A Game,” at 12:10-1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, in CUE 518. Led by three faculty members, it will be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person. To join, please go to the AOI training page and select “faculty-led” from the training area menu.
Increase in test scores
Geology instructor Kurt Wilkie, who discusses the book’s advice with students who are struggling, said “I’ve seen up to a 30 point increase in their test scores.”
At WSU Vancouver, history instructor Aaron Whelchel uses the book in his Roots of Contemporary Issues course and as part of new student orientation. The book offers both common sense advice, he said, and reminds students of the importance of implementing that advice.
Science professor Lisa Carloye incorporates the book at key learning points of the semester, using it in the first lab and again after the first exam. She also arms her teaching assistants with their own copies.
“There is a huge potential with these books,” she said.
Workshop schedule
Other upcoming faculty-led workshops are:
• Oct. 13: Building Effective Rubrics
• Oct. 29: Motivating Students to Come to Class Prepared
• Nov. 18: Engaging Students in Active Learning
• Dec. 11: Improving Student Writing Without Grading Revisions
These workshops are co-sponsored by the WSU Provost’s Office, WSU Teaching Academy and WSU Academic Outreach and Innovation. Previous workshops have covered such topics as flipped classrooms, virtual worlds, student engagement, liberating structures, academic integrity, tech tools and concept mapping.