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At the start of a new year, many of us are thinking about ways to do better in the year ahead. We might set goals and resolutions for ourselves, or choose a few key words or priorities to guide us. This annual practice relies on a heightened sense of motivation due to what psychologists refer to as the “fresh start effect” (Wellman, 2024). In fact, the seasonal emphasis on renewal can increase our belief in our own ability to achieve our goals, known as self-efficacy (Libby & Eibach, 2022). Importantly for students, increased self-efficacy can lead to greater resilience and persistence, helping them overcome obstacles and continue making forward progress despite setbacks (Wellman, 2024). This year, consider using your increased motivation to improve your academic performance.

The Academic Success Center at Purdue Global wants to help students perform better and achieve their goals in 2026. We are packing this month with a January Skill Up series aimed at helping students learn more about tools they can use to improve their learning success. Students are welcome and encouraged to join us throughout the month! 

Get started with an ASC Open House on Tuesday, January 6. During this open house, students will have the opportunity to tour the center and learn more about our services and resources. Students will also have the opportunity to meet some of our tutors and ask questions. 

Join us again on Tuesday, January 13, for Just Start: Tools to Break Through Writer’s Block. This webinar will introduce simple, practical tools to help you break through writer’s block, quiet self-doubt, and find your flow.

Are you new to Excel? Ready to advance beyond the basics? Skill up this January by learning more about the top Excel functions for students in Tools in Excel: Top Functions All Students Should Know on Thursday, January 15.

We will go Beyond Gmail on Tuesday, January 20, to explore the other tools in your student email account that can help you be a productive, efficient, and successful online learner. Take some time at the start of this new year to discover more about using all of the tools included in your account, like Drive, Docs, Calendar, Slides, and more.

There’s no need to spend a lot of money on fancy new calculators for your coursework. In Calculator Tools: Online, Phone, and Google Calculators for Students on Thursday, January 22, learn to use the calculating tools already at your fingertips online or on your smartphone!

Flashcards can be an effective tool for memorizing content, terminology, and concepts, and technology allows us to create these tools for our courses even more easily. Learn how in How to Create Flashcards on Sunday, January 25, followed by Lights, Camera, Kaltura! Quick-Start Guide to Video Creation. Tired of shaky phone recordings or boring PowerPoint voiceovers? In just 30 minutes, learn how to create clean, professional-looking videos for your classes. These back-to-back sessions will help you learn more about practical tools you can start using right away. 

How can AI help you be a successful student? Attend Using AI Tools for Academic Success on Tuesday, January 27, to learn more about AI tools, including Notebook LM and Gemini, that can help you along the journey to your degree. We will discuss ways to use these tools ethically and effectively, and we will demonstrate some powerful ways these tools can benefit your learning and help you achieve learning success. 

Get A Fresh Start: Skill Up Your Writing with Turnitin on Thursday, January 29. Elevate your writing by mastering the Turnitin Dropbox and learning to interpret its feedback so you can revise with purpose and precision.

Learn more about all of these events and more by visiting our Student Webinar Calendar. This new year, let’s Skill Up together!  

Until next time, this is Dr. Linscott with another Learning for Success podcast. Happy Learning! 

References

Libby, L. K., & Eibach, R. P. (2002). Looking back in time: self-concept change affects visual perspective in autobiographical memory. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(2), 167. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2002-10107-002

Wellman, J. (2024, December 26). Fresh starts: the psychology behind new year motivation. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/4000-mondays/202412/fresh-starts-the-psychology-behind-new-year-motivation