jusm.com MAUREEN NINO Asst. News Director Gramming all night for 4 test may work for some students, but usually the best results come from prep- aration, technique students ean now leam in Biscayne Bay Campus’ new Test Wiseness workshops. Federico Lastra,tutorand reading specialist at BBC, is the innovator behind the new workshop offered at ‘the Center for Academic Building 1 Room 160. According to Lastra, he just acted on what the students told him they needed, “{ talked to [Lastral last semester about how a Jot of students are nervous and don’t know how 10 take a test He told me about his idea! and thought it was great,” said Darya Yeroshova, a ‘Senior and psychology major. "The workshop will offer students strategic testi that according to Lastra may + be particularly beneficial for students sight out of high “school. “A Tot of students can't read the information. A lot of them doa’t know how to read testing questions or how to look at a multiple choice exam,” Last said. “Students can study as hard as they want but if they don’t know how to read a test question they may not succeed.” Freshmanandpsychology major Coryn_Nimdelett Success, in Academie * Friday, February 5, 2010. “J just got out of ish setioolafew months ago and college is very different and 1 think [these workshops] ‘will help me, The things 1 leamed in high school are not really helping. iow and hopefully this will help me nae a g0od transition into a higher level of thinking,” she said Tn the workshops, Lastra discusses strategies and sills students may use during different types of exams such ax multiple hoice, essay format and teuelfase questions. “Formultplechoice tests ‘each them how toread the question and go through the ansvier, automatically elim- {nating the ones that do aot apply. I teach them to search, for cue words and how to ‘organize their thoughts’ in relation to the question,” asta said astra also suggested his first rule for test taking: “Count how many questions you have and the time on ‘you know how much time ‘you have forthe question.” ‘According to Last, this is the first time the Univer sity offers these courses and they will be offered twice fa week during the second and third week ofthe month between 12 pm. and 3pm. “ia February there: will be tio more_workshops ‘added on memorization tips ‘and techniques, and time management. These. work- shops will teach students hhow to balance and schedule everything out.” be sid. Test-wiseness workshop improves students’ exam-taking strategies ‘but instead provides general information to prepare students for an exam by teaching them specific test taking, studying and note. taking tips. ‘Yeroshova believes that although she has been taking, tests “forever.” the work- shop was still helpful “I is very informative ‘and he actually points out tricks to help during a test. ‘There are a lot of small ips that are very valuable,” she said. “These courses help calm me down and it feels right. don't get nervous and if T do blank out T compose myself and start fom the beginning.” ‘The workshops have no additionaleostandaccording to Lastra, the Center for Academic Success is using its rogular budget. Roberta Coaches, Center for Academic Success ofiice assistant, believes the program will be very helpful Club has helped promote the workshops. Although Lastia is curently the only istrictor participating, - several ther tutors have shown enthusiasm. “Other tutors have expressed an, interest in possibly dotkg. the work shops in - the evening, ‘making it available to more students,” she said. “He is ‘ery energetic and he really ‘enjoys what he is doing. He took the initiative to start the program and be is just