Welcome to GSD 101: Foundations of Learning!

GSD 101: Foundations of Learning is a first year seminar class that orients and onboards you into the Eastern Kentucky University experience. Throughout this course, you will develop learning strategies scientifically proven to improve classroom performance. You will learn about campus resources and engage in activities that promote personal, intellectual, emotional, social, physical, and career development. As a bonus, you will hone communication, critical reading, and critical thinking skills as you join the EKU community.

What is this textbook?

We designed this Open Educational Resources (OER) First Year Seminar textbook to help you navigate the transition to college and to prepare you for your future academic career. Our editorial team brings together Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) faculty, staff, and students from various areas. We are committed to a process of open pedagogy and value student participation in knowledge production. In fact, students were actively involved in all stages of the creation of this book! We are grateful to our student team for gathering and creating resources and providing valuable feedback on all chapters to make this an accessible and exciting resource for their peers. Some of the content you will find in this book is original and unique to EKU, while other content has been adopted from other Open Educational Resources (OER).

Open Educational Resources (aka OER) are resources available digitally, for free, on the web. OER can take many forms, including textbooks.

Your OER textbook is:

• Openly accessible (free) and available to all students on the web
• Designed to be accessible using standard web browsers, mobile devices, screen readers and other assistive technology
• Available in multiple formats
• Printable
• Downloadable

How to use this OER?

View the video below for a brief tutorial on how to navigate the textbook.

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Why should I care about this textbook?

College can be both exciting and overwhelming when you first get started, and we want to make sure that you can focus on the excitement rather than the anxieties that may come with a new beginning. In GSD 101, we want to explore what you are passionate about and help you move towards realizing those passions. Some of you already know exactly where you want to go in life, and some of you might feel that there are many paths leading into different possible futures.

Why should I care about this class?

GSD 101 is designed to support you during your first year at EKU by providing access to an extensive support network bringing together students, faculty, and staff. You will learn about your major, get to know your peers and the college, and develop the skills you need to be successful at EKU and beyond. You will also participate in co-curricular activities that will help you become an active member of the university community, some of which are tied to a Registered Student Organization (RSO). With the help of the university’s innovative DegreeWorks, you will explore your educational and career goals. The seminar will also connect you with the many resources available at EKU, such as tutoring and scholarship opportunities.

GSD 101 Frequently Used Resources

Student Email

Your student email is one of the most critical resources you will use during your academic career; all university communications sent via email will be sent to your student account and you must use your student account any time you email an EKU service or employee, including your professors. Since you will be receiving updates and important information from your professors and the university, you must have access to your university’s email system and check it daily. Your email account must be activated in order to gain access. Step-by-step instructions are below for setting up your new email account using Microsoft Authenticator.

MyEKU

MyEKU is a critical site that provides you a “one-stop-shop” for a lot of your needs, including access to information about your financial aid, registration, advising, grades, and more. Use your EKU email address and password to access your MyEKU portal here.

Google Drive or Office 365

As an EKU student you have access to the Google Drive Suite and Microsoft 365. If you’re having trouble accessing either platform, visit the IT Help Desk located in the Keen Johnson Ground Floor or contact IT via chat, telephone, or their ticketing system. 

Canvas

Canvas is EKU’s online learning management system. It’s where your professors will share important things like the course syllabus, assignments, and announcements. In many courses, you’ll use Canvas to turn in your homework, take quizzes and/or tests, and see your grades. Knowing how to use Canvas will help you stay organized and keep up with your schoolwork at EKU.

DegreeWorks

DegreeWorks is a web-based degree audit tool designed to allow students and their advisors to track their degree progress, and prepare for registration and graduation.

As a student, DegreeWorks will allow you to easily monitor your requirements as you complete them and stay on track with your program of study.

DegreeWorks is NOT a replacement for advising. You should work with your advisor and utilize Degree Works together to move efficiently toward completing your program’s requirements.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding DegreeWorks, please reach out to your advisor.

GSD 101 Frequently Asked Questions

What are some things that I’m going to do in GSD 101?

• Work with a GSD 101 instructor to build student success habits
• Develop your sense of belonging on EKU’s campus
• Reflect on your academic and professional goals
• Acquire study skills like time management, note taking, journal keeping, and more
• Learn about course offerings at EKU and build an academic plan
• Learn about your respective major, its learning objectives, and career opportunities
• Explore EKU’s co-curricular learning opportunities

Who teaches GSD 101?

GSD 101 is taught by faculty and staff members from a variety of academic disciplines and areas at EKU. They are invested in your success and will support you as you navigate the ups and downs of transitioning into EKU.

What is co-curricular learning?

Co-curricular learning refers to experiences outside of the classroom that complement classroom learning. For example, you might join a student club, go on field trips, or attend events on campus. Co-curricular activities have multiple benefits. Besides socializing with more students, faculty, and staff, co-curricular learning can help with developing skills that could be beneficial academically and professionally.

I already know how to succeed at learning and school. Do I really have to take this course?

Yes! This class not only builds on previous skills you learned inside and outside the classroom prior to attending EKU, it also gives you the opportunity to share your knowledge with other students, connect established ideas and experiences to new ones, and apply your skills through active learning strategies such as case studies, group discussions, and short presentations. Additionally, this class connects you to a network of EKU resources and people that are specifically available for first year students.

How can I get the most out of GSD 101?

• Show up on time for class
• Communicate with your instructor about any frustrations, concerns or issues you’re having that impact your ability to succeed in GSD 101
• Complete your work and submit it on time to the best of your ability

Attributions and Licenses

Parts of this chapter are adapted from the following source:

First Year Seminar © 2022 by Kristina Graham, Rena Grossman, Emma Handte, Christine Marks, Ian McDermott, Ellen Quish, Preethi Radhakrishnan, and Allyson Sheffield, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.