CLSS Workshops by request

Our dynamic team of staff and mentors have expertise across a range of learning topics and theories. See the list of available workshops with descriptions, or we can create custom workshops for your group.

We ask that partners share a class list or workshop participant list that we can enter into the University’s student life event database, Folio. We’re happy to discuss details and coordinate logistics when firming up the workshop. Student data is safeguarded by the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Faculty, staff and student leaders can request a custom workshop.

Types of CLSS workshops

This short presentation offers an overview of our services and how to access them, tailored to your audience. There will be time for a short question and answer period after the presentation.

Do you feel like there is never enough time to complete what you need to do? Learn how to manage your energy to sustain focus and get enough rest and relaxation time.

During this session, a learning strategists will help you:  

  • Understand your own rhythm for working and maximizing your productivity 
  • Prioritize competing tasks and organize time to accomplish what is most important
  • Create a routine that helps you fit in work and rest
  • Develop short- and long-term plans for meeting your personal and academic goals  

A complement to this workshop is our Scheduling Your Weeks peer workshop, where you’ll create your personalized weekly plan with the help of a peer.  

This peer-led workshop is your chance to make a solid plan for the semester ahead! You will learn three models to map your deadlines and be supported as you apply your learning using your digital calendar, paper calendar, or a simple spreadsheet. Through peer-led discussions, you will also reflect on your past experience, including what went well and what you might do differently, and how to move forward.

By the end of this session, you will:

  • Have created a personalized overview of when things are due
  • Be aware of methods for a balanced study routine that creates flexibility for breaks
  • Have insight on how to balance multiple commitments and responsibilities

This peer-led workshop is an opportunity for you to learn how to make plans and improve your time management skills with a friendly mentor! You will explore different strategies to stay on track with your classes, assignments and studying, while also dedicating time for rest and other important aspects of your life.

By the end of the session, you will be able to:   

  • Understand the principles of time management   
  • Be able to construct a weekly schedule   
  • Troubleshoot frequent obstacles in sticking to a schedule 

Not all forms of studying are created equally. During this session, a learning strategist will review evidence-based strategies for learning and retaining course material throughout the semester. These strategies will help you maximize the time you have to learn and study efficiently at a university level.

Complements to this workshop include the Taking Useful Notes from Class and Reading Effectively peer workshops. Practice your reading and note-taking skills and troubleshoot any difficulties.

This peer-led workshop is an opportunity for you to learn and apply strategies to manage all your readings this semester. You will learn useful reading methods, including the SQ4R strategy and considerations for using Gen AI as a tool, have the opportunity to practice with support from a peer mentor and learn tips through conversation with other students.

By the end of the session, you will be able to:

  • Understand how to manage different types of readings
  • Learn how to get a “big picture” view of your reading
  • Identify what reading strategies might be most effective for you and your courses

This peer-led workshop is for you to learn and apply notetaking strategies that make the most of your time in studying. Through dialogue with other students and support by a peer mentor, you will learn four different methods to discover and customize a notetaking strategy that works best for you and your courses.

By the end of the session, you will be able to:    

  • Understand how good notetaking extends beyond class time, including preparation before class
  • Identify what sorts of information you need to record and how
  • Discover what notetaking strategies are effective for you

This peer-led workshop will help you engage effectively in classes with peers, professors and TAs. In discussion with other students, you will find strategies to build confidence; ways to engage before, during, and after class; and methods to interact with instructors for an enriching learning experience in your courses.

By the end of the session, you will be able to:

  • Learn how to fully engage before, during, and after classes in both formal and casual capacities
  • Learn effective ways to connect with professors and TAs
  • Learn tips to overcome nervousness during communication and engagement

Whether big or small, many or few, creating a plan to finish assignments on time can be challenging!

During this session, a learning strategist will help you:  

  • Understand and interpreting assignments to maximize learning  
  • Break down assignments and deadlines into manageable parts to stay organized
  • Create a project management plan to tackle multiple assignments 

A complement to this workshop is our Planning Your Projects Peer workshop where you’ll be able to create an individualized plan for finishing your assignments.

This peer-facilitated workshop is for you to make and meet your goals on your essays, assignments and projects. Through group discussions and activities, you will:   

  • Discover useful models and tools to break down your projects into more manageable steps, including Gen AI tools
  • Learn prioritization techniques based on importance and urgency
  • Discuss tips for more productive group assignments

This peer-facilitated workshop is a great opportunity for you to practice your public speaking skills, whether you are presenting in class, at a conference, or anywhere else where you will be speaking in front of an audience! Through group discussions and activities, you will:

  • Develop your public speaking skills by learning the art of performance
  • Identify preparation strategies for your presentations including special considerations for virtual presentations
  • Discuss tips for combatting nerves and other challenges associated with public speaking

It can be challenging to start and continue academic tasks both big and small! During this session, a learning strategist will help you: 

  • Understand how motivation and procrastination work and how we can use both in our learning 
  • Explore ways and resources to increase and maintain motivation  
  • Learn about “productive procrastination” and how to manage your energy to avoid burnout 

Complements to this workshop include attending Study Hubs or meeting with a CLSS mentor to set and meet goals in a friendly environment.

This is your opportunity to start applying strategies to enhance your motivation for your study and work schedule! With the support of a peer mentor and in discussion with other students, you will learn different methods to improve your motivation and design a personalized approach for staying on track during the term.

By the end of the session, you will be able to:

  • Understand different types of motivation and what drives your own work
  • Identify your values and the purpose they serve
  • Set SMART goals for the tasks on your to-do list

Join this peer-led workshop to learn effective strategies to catch up on your coursework. Through dialogue with other students and support from a peer mentor, you’ll learn various strategies to develop a plan and make progress toward your course goals and deadlines.

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

  • Understand the relationship between stress and your productivity
  • Use techniques to increase your learning and retention
  • Make a personalized plan to break down and complete your course work with a diagnosis table
  • Identify resources that support your needs, including Copilot as a tool

Maximize your study time and manage multiple assessments. During this session, a learning strategist will help you:  

  • Create a study plan to prioritize course content 
  • Active study techniques to help you understand materials  
  • Manage stress and energy levels while studying and writing your assessments  

A complement to this workshop is our Managing your Midterms/Finals peer workshop, where you’ll create your personalized study plan with the help of a peer. 

This peer-led workshop will help you get ready for upcoming finals. Through group discussions and facilitated activities, you will acquire strategies to prepare for exams, develop a study plan for upcoming tests, and find effective study methods that work for you.

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

  • Understand how we retain and lose information over the course of time
  • Identify various study strategies to explore during exam preparation
  • Begin to develop a personal study plan to prepare for upcoming exams

How CLSS workshops work

We consider workshops to be small interactive learning experiences, different from presentations – but we can and will work with PowerPoint and speak to large groups if that’s what works for you.

We can also facilitate reflection on learning experiences through creative writing, dialogue and art-based activities related to either curricular or co-curricular learning.

We would be happy to work with you to accommodate a request for your group. Allow at least 4 weeks notice to give us time to tailor the content to your needs.

To ensure success, we ask that you:

  • Promote your event so you have at least 20 students in attendance
  • Book suitable space and technology
  • Provide a point person for day-of support

Request a CLSS workshop

Request a workshop.