UVic Learn Anywhere

Virtual Centre for Student Learning

The Centre for Academic Communications

Learning Strategies Program

Goal setting, time management, exam preparation and more!

About us

We are here to support your academic success by building a toolbox of skills that can be used throughout your academic career. 

Strategies for success include:

Book an appointment

Meet with our teamin person or virtually to discuss your learning needs. Our service provides free 25 or 50 appointments with coaches based on week-to-week availability.

    In person

    McPherson Library office 135M, at the end of the Learning Commons hallway.

    Online

    Zoom: you will receive an automated email prior to your appointment with a link for your meeting. 

    Hours of service

    Monday – Friday: 10am to 5:30pm
    Saturdays: 10am to 4:30pm
    Sundays: 10am to 3:30pm

    Fall Term: September 19 to December 11, 2022
    Winter Term: January 16 to April 16, 2023 

    Book an appointment now!

    Book online and select the type of appointment you prefer. If you are a first-time user, you will need to register for an account to create a user ID (UVic email address) and password before logging in.

    Interested in more tailored learning support for an accommodation?
    Visit CAL’s Learning Assistance Program

    Need assistance?

    Contact us if you have any questions about the program or ways in which we can help you.

    Meet the Team

    The Learning Strategist team, through the division of Learning and Teaching Support and Innovation (LTSI), is here to assist you with your online learning needs.  

    Emily Arvay, PhD

    Emily Arvay, PhD

    CAC Coordinator and Learning Strategist

    Biography

    Emily enjoys working with a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate students. Her educational background specializes in English Literature (PhD, University of Victoria) and Creative Writing (MA, University of Toronto). Emily worked as a Student Academic Advisor in Scotland providing students placed on academic probation with strategies aimed at enhancing student success. Emily has both taught and assisted in the UVic English department (ENG 135, 147) and has worked as a Learning Strategist for the Centre for Accessible Learning. Her teaching practice centres on strength-based and self-regulated approaches to learning: helping students draw on their own strengths to excel in their upcoming academic presentations, papers, and assignments. 

    Brodie Drake, MA Candidate

    Brodie Drake, MA Candidate

    Learning Strategist

    Biography

    Brodie grew up in Ottawa, or the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg people. As a certified teacher, he has worked with young people and families in a wide variety of contexts including outdoor experiential education, school-based support, substance use counselling, and inpatient mental health. If he is not working or studying, you can find him playing disc golf, and mostly likely, contemplating how he can apply SRL theory to improve his game (much to the chagrin of his disc golf partner!).

    Hannah Palmejar, MEd Candidate

    Hannah Palmejar, MEd Candidate

    Learning Strategist

    Biography

    Hannah was born and raised in Surigao City, Philippines. She is currently in Victoria, working on her Master in Education International Cohort degree. She is passionate about teaching and has been teaching in a state college in the Philippines for 15 years. Her free time is spent with her family exploring and integrating in the Canadian way of life.

    Browse our Learning Strategy Resources

      

    How to ace the exam period in three simple steps

    You don't have to wait until the exam period to start studying, in fact the earlier you start the easier it is! We have a few tips to help you get started below. 1. Take notes As you’re learning material, think about how you can structure and organize ideas into...

    Three time management tips to reduce your stress

    Are you hoping to reduce your stress during your studies and use your time productively? Learn three time management strategies that can be used thoughout the term.1. Top three daily activities If you think you have too much on your plate, your schedule is just too...

    The use of artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT in the classroom

    You may have heard of the term ChatGPT in recent conversations on or around campus, but what is it exactly? With growing popularity, we hope to provide some information about this new technology and help you to continue practicing proper academic integrity at...

    Eating the Elephant: How to stay motivated and plan your time effectively

    During midterm season, lots of students start feeling burnt out or have a hard time staying focused. One quick tip for improving motivation and concentration is called “eating the elephant.”How to create manageable goals If you find that you have trouble getting...

    Backwards planning

    Do you find yourself under a lot of pressure when taking on multiple tasks? Do you have trouble building a pathway towards your goal? Do you find it difficult to visualize the necessary steps needed to complete complex goals? If you answered “yes” to any of these...

    ePorfolio Resources for Students

    Here are a few safety and security tips to consider when developing your ePortfolio:

    Consider Limiting Access to Your ePortfolio. Most ePortfolio platforms allow you to limit access to who can view, edit and publish content
    An ePortfolio set to public access will allow anyone with Internet to view your content– this means it may be misused or seen by potential employers.
    Use privacy settings to help limit access.

    How to read a course syllabus or outline

    A course outline or syllabus is your guide to a course. Your professor will provide it to you on or before the first day of class. This post includes some of the most common elements of a course outline or syllabus and can be used as a tool to understand how to read...

    Reading Strategies – from journal articles to book chapters

    You are encouraged to adapt this strategy to your preferences Questions to ask yourself before reading What do I need to know? How will I use this information? Why is this information important to my course or research? What does my professor or instructor want me to...

    Tips on notetaking

    ​Take the best notes from your virtual lectures with these tips! First, sign into Zoom or Teams 5-10 minutes before class, turn off your devices not currently in use and spend time reviewing previous notes in preparation for the upcoming lecture.   Once the...

    Achieving academic success: Comparisons in online learning experiences

    High school and university experiences are very different, and it is important to be aware of these differences as you prepare to embark on your new life as a university student to successful in your studies.   Learning occurs during scheduled time within school...

    UVic Learn Anywhere

    We acknowledge and respect the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples on whose traditional territory the University of Victoria stands, and the Songhees, Esquimalt and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.