Course Descriptions: LEARNING CENTER

The Learning Center offers self-paced courses and integrates technological resources and learning assistance services in the Tutorial Center, the Computer Center, the Math, Writing and ESL Multi-Media Skills Center, the MESA program and the Learning Achievement Center. The self-paced courses, many of which utilize computer-assisted and individualized instruction, focus on the improvement of specific skills, and can be completed whenever the Center is open. For more information, please visit the Learning Center in Building 9, Room 210, or call (650) 306-3348.

LCTR 100 EFFECTIVE TUTORING

Units (Grade Option) 0.5; Class Hours: Minimum of 8 lecture/16 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Recommended: Eligibility for READ 836, and ENGL 836 or ESL 400; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: This course explores a variety of strategies for improving peer tutoring. Assignments focus on developing communication and study skills, course specific tutoring expertise, and techniques for working with students from diverse cultural backgrounds, students who have learning disabilities, and students with physical limitations, as well as students at academic risk. Transfer: CSU.

LCTR 110 TEACHING/TUTORING PRACTICUM

Units (Credit/No Credit) 1-3; Class Hours: Minimum of 48-144 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Recommended: Eligibility for READ 420 and ENGL 100; Prerequisite(s): LCTR 100, or comparable training and experience. Description: This course provides supervised teaching/tutoring experience for students interested in pursuing education as a profession or in enhancing their teaching/tutoring experience. Students explore in depth teaching/tutoring strategies, including mentoring, for providing instruction/supplemental instruction in individual/small group learning environments in the Learning Center or in a community service context. May be repeated for credit up to 3 times. Transfer: CSU.

LCTR 120 LITERACY TUTORING IN THE COMMUNITY

Units (Credit/No Credit) 1; Class Hours: Minimum of 12 lecture/24 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Recommended: Eligibility for READ 420 and ENGL 100; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: This course explores a variety of strategies for developing and implementing literacy tutoring in the community working with adults, youths, children and families. Discussion and practice focuses on communication skills, specific tutoring techniques and strategies for working with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, as well as with students who are academically “at risk.” Transfer: CSU.

LCTR 138 FUNDAMENTALS OF THE RESEARCH PAPER

Units 1; Class Hours: Minimum of 48 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Recommended: Eligibility for READ 836, and ENGL 836 or ESL 400; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: This Macintosh-based course guides students through preparation for the process of researching and writing a research paper. The course takes the student through five stages, from an introduction to the types of research papers through documentation, including library use and three methods of documentation. The course may be taken either as preparation for future research paper assignments, or in conjunction with a current research assignment in another class. Transfer: CSU.

LCTR 139 THE RESEARCH PAPER FROM A TO Z

Units 2; Class Hours: Minimum of 96 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Recommended: Eligibility for READ 836, and ENGL 836 or ESL 400; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: This Macintosh-based course guides students through the entire process of researching and writing a research paper. The course takes the student through nine stages, from an introduction to the types of research papers through final revisions, including library use and three methods of documentation. The course may be taken either as preparation for future research paper assignments, or in conjunction with a current research assignment in another class. Transfer: CSU.

LCTR 140 PROFESSIONAL WRITING

Units 2; Class Hours: Minimum of 96 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Recommended: Eligibility for READ 420 and ENGL 100; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: This Macintosh-based course gives instruction and practice for writing in various professional capacities. Starting with the stages of the writing process and consideration of audience, the assignments proceed through the most important formats for professional writing, including instructions, proposals and formal reports. Transfer: CSU.

LCTR 151 ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCE VOCABULARY

Units 1; Class Hours: Minimum of 48 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Recommended: Eligibility for READ 836, and ENGL 836 or ESL 400; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: This self-paced allied health science vocabulary course focuses on the mastery of more than one hundred roots and affixes from which thousands of words used in medical science terminology are derived. Instruction is aided by audiotapes which assist the student with pronunciation, and computer-assisted assignments based on the mastery learning approach. Transfer: CSU.

LCTR 400 REPORT PREPARATION AND EDITING

Units (Credit/No Credit) 0.5-3 (Maximum of 1 unit per semester); Class Hours: Minimum of 24-48 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Basic Skills Level: Open Curriculum; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: This course provides individualized instruction in using Learning Center computer software, such as Microsoft Works, to prepare and edit reports. Students may complete written assignments for other courses while taking this course. Transfer: CSU.

LCTR 698 SUPERVISED TUTORING/ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE

Units 0; Class Hours: By arrangement; Prerequisite(s): Concurrent enrollment in course in which tutorial assistance is being provided. Description: Under the supervision of the Director the Learning Center, students receive academic assistance such as tutoring or computerized supplemental instruction in areas of academic need. Students receive computerized supplemental instruction in assignments or tutoring by tutors who have demonstrated competence in specific subject, skill and/or discipline and who have successfully completed a tutor training course. Units do not apply toward AA/AS degree.

LCTR 806 SELF-PACED ESL

Units (Credit/No Credit) 1-3; Class Hours: Minimum of 8-24 lecture/24-72 lab hours/semester; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: College-bound students enrolled in this self-paced laboratory course use software, audio, video and print material to learn to read, write, listen to and speak English as a second language. Offered at the off-campus learning centers, this course is designed for students who want to study English at flexible times at their own pace. Units do not apply toward AA/AS degree. May be repeated for credit up to 3 units.

LCTR 807 ENGLISH SKILLS FOR THE WORKPLACE

Units (Credit/No Credit) 1-6; Class Hours: Minimum of 48-288 lab hours/semester; Basic Skills Level: Open Curriculum; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: This course contains six self-paced modules for the study of the vocabulary skills, reading skills, listening and speaking skills, and writing skills necessary to communicate about workplace topics. Through video, audio, print and software materials, the student learns to communicate effectively about management, personal development, standard written forms, team work, customer service, and problem solving time management. Units do not apply toward AA/AS degree. May be repeated for credit up to 6 units.

LCTR 808 ENGLISH SKILLS FOR OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING

Units (Credit/No Credit) 1-4; Class Hours: Minimum of 48-192 lab hours/semester; Basic Skills Level: Open Curriculum; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: This course contains four self-paced modules for the study of the vocabulary skills, reading skills, listening and speaking skills, and writing skills necessary to succeed in occupational training programs. Through video, audio, print and software materials, the student learns the linguistic skills necessary to succeed in training for clerical occupations, electronic assembly and repair, nursing assistance and computer training. Units do not apply toward AA/AS degree. May be repeated for credit up to 4 units.

LCTR 810 STUDY SKILLS

Units (Credit/No Credit) 1; Class Hours: Minimum of 48 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Basic Skills Level: Open Curriculum; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: Through the use of computer programs, students learn to apply study skills including improved time management, efficient textbook reading and note taking, to develop memory and concentration techniques, and to demonstrate test taking efficiency. Units do not apply toward AA/AS degree.

LCTR 820 BASIC SPELLING MASTERY

Units (Credit/No Credit) 1; Class Hours: Minimum of 48 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Basic Skills Level: Open Curriculum; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: Students are provided with computer-assisted instruction in spelling commonly misspelled words. The course focuses on basic mastery of common phonetic spelling patterns, commonly misunderstood spelling rules, the appropriate use of affixes, and understanding etymologies. Units do not apply toward AA/AS degree.

LCTR 821 ADVANCED SPELLING MASTERY

Units (Credit/No Credit) 1; Class Hours: Minimum of 48 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Basic Skills Level: Open Curriculum; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: Students are provided with computer-assisted instruction in spelling commonly misspelled words, at a higher level than LCTR 820. The course focuses on mastery of common phonetic spelling patterns, commonly misunderstood spelling rules, the appropriate use of affixes, and understanding etymologies. Units do not apply toward AA/AS degree.

LCTR 822 GRAMMAR TROUBLE SPOTS

Units (Credit/No Credit) 1; Class Hours: Minimum of 48 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Basic Skills Level: Open Curriculum; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: This Macintosh-based course helps students recognize and correct the most common errors in punctuation, sentence structure, and grammar. The course takes the student through ten troublesome areas with explanations, examples, and exercises. The course is recommended for students at any level whose writing would benefit from a focused review of these common “trouble spots.” Units do not apply toward AA/AS degree.

LCTR 831 SENTENCE COMBINING ON THE MACINTOSH

Units (Credit/No Credit) 1; Class Hours: Minimum of 48 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Basic Skills Level: Open Curriculum; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: This Macintosh-based course helps students develop their ability to write clear, correctly punctuated sentences. While suitable for ENGL 826 students, the course is especially recommended for students whose writing could benefit from a more sophisticated understanding of the English sentence. Units do not apply toward AA/AS degree.

LCTR 832 PARAGRAPH WRITING ON THE MACINTOSH

Units (Credit/No Credit) 1; Class Hours: Minimum of 48 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Basic Skills Level: Open Curriculum; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: This Macintosh-based course helps students write well organized and well developed paragraphs. The course takes the student through eleven paragraph types, covering the following rhetorical modes: narration, description, persuasion, and eight expository modes. Hidden questions, or prompts, guide students in developing content and organization. Appropriate transitional devices are suggested for each kind of paragraph. Units do not apply toward AA/AS degree.

LCTR 840, 841, 842, 843 VOCABULARY IMPROVEMENT I, II, III, IV

Units (Credit/No Credit) 1; Class Hours: Minimum of 48 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Basic Skills Level: Open Curriculum; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: This workbook-based series of four vocabulary courses helps students build and improve vocabulary skills while teaching 150-300 basic words in each course. The courses give abundant practice and reinforcement by checkpoint tests through an intensive words-in-context approach. This is supplemented by matching words and definitions, concluding with chapter and unit exams using words in context and assessing word definitions with antonyms and synonyms. Prior to enrolling, students should take a short pre-test at the Learning Center to determine course in which to enroll. Units do not apply toward AA/AS degree.

LCTR 850 READING AND WRITING FOR THE WORKPLACE

Units (Credit/No Credit) 1; Class Hours: Minimum of 48 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Basic Skills Level: Open Curriculum; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: This self-paced course covers reading and writing skills for success in the workplace. The course covers an awareness of expectations of a new job, how to identify employers’ expectations, and the importance of effective communication skills. Units do not apply toward AA/AS degree.

Updated: 7/9/08