The OSD's holistic approach
Though the first appointment and the ongoing dialogue with the Access Advisor will focus on removing barriers, the OSD is part of student services and also has the complimentary role of providing a holistic approach to student well-being and success. As such it deploys part of its resources to providing ancillary resources which students should feel free to explore if these respond to their specific needs or situations.
Workshops
There are a number of workshops offered by the OSD. The list below highlights workshops currently offered and is updated each semester. All our workshops are free. To register, simply complete the online form appearing in the left margin of this page.
Graduate Student Writers' Group
Each Thursday from 4.30 to 6pm, Graduate students who are in the process of completing their Masters or PhD theses meet to share their experiences, discuss their progress report, explore solutions to the barriers they are experiencing and create a peer network. For more information concerning the Writers' Group, please contact frederic [dot] fovet [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Frederic Fovet). There is no formal registration for this workshop; simply email us to inform us of your intention to join the group.
Work Hard & Play Hard
Do you feel anxious, overwhelmed, or unmotivated when it comes to school work? Do you find it difficult to organize yourself? Does everything feel like a priority? Do you have too much to do but not enough time?
Students will be guided toward setting, maintaining, achieving goals, and maintaining a healthy balance even during the busiest of times.
Jan. 25th 10-11:30 and Feb. 1st 10-11:30 - Brown bldg. room 4300
Feb. 4th 3-4:30 and Feb. 11th 3-4:30 - Brown bldg. room 4300
Feb. 22nd 10-11:30 - Macdonald campus, room CC-207
How Do I Learn Best?
Do you have trouble concentrating and focusing in class or while trying to learn something? Do you think you are having a harder time than others when it comes to learning material? Do you become upset with yourself when your grades do not reflect the time and effort you devoted to studying?
This workshop is intended to identify how undergraduate and graduate students could enhance personal learning styles. Each student's strengths will be identified to improve on learning strategies.
Feb. 8th 10-11:30 - Brown bldg. room 4300
Feb. 18th 10-11:30 - Brown bldg. room 4300
Feb. 22nd 3-4:30 - Brown bldg. room 4300
Mar. 22nd 10-11:30 - Macdonald campus, room CC-207
Create Your Own Toolbox to Manage Academic Anxiety
Do you freeze up when it comes to school work? Does your mind go blank when it comes time write an exam? Do you put off doing work because you are too anxious to face it? Does being evaluated stress you out? Do you think your work is never good enough?
This workshop is intended to help both undergraduate and graduate students manage anxiety related to academics. Whether it is anxiety experienced in or related to class, preparing for an exam/assignment, during the exam, or following or related to an evaluation, students will learn how to deal with the anxiety using a variety of cognitive behavioral strategies and tools.
Mar. 25th 3-4:30 - Brown bldg. room 4300
Apr. 5th 3-4:30 - Brown bldg. room 4300
Apr. 12th 10-11:30 - Macdonald campus, room CC-207
What is Universal Design for Learning? How does it affect my inclusion on campus?
This interactive workshop (duration: 1.5h) is offered twice a semester and seeks to introduce students to the concept of Universal Design. The content covers theory and the notion of Social Model of disability, but also investigates the tangible impact of the adoption of this framework in Disability service provision on the classroom experience. Please register here.
September 27th 10:30-1 Brown 3001
October 29th 1:30-3:00 Brown 3001
Nov. 30th 3:00-4:30 at Macdonald campus CC-207
Unleash your potential (CBT workshop for students with ADHD)
The OSD will be offering CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) group for students with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD). This workshop will be done in two sessions of two-hours each.
The group will focus specifically on the effects of ADD on Organizational Skills, Time Management and Project Planning. These two sessions will emphasize on learning new techniques tailored to the student’s needs. Group members will leave each session with new skills to apply in their lives through the use of specific homework exercises.
Because each session builds on the previous one, it is essential that the group members commit to attend every session.
Mar. 1st 10-12 and Mar. 8th 10-12 - Brown bldg. room 4300
Beyond Microsoft Office – Apps to Help Your Writing
Whether you’re frustrated with writing your essays in Microsoft Word or you’re simply looking for new strategies to improve your composition skills it’s worth trying something new. However, there are literally hundreds of applications to help you with your writing, it can be overwhelming to know what is worth trying?
This workshop will provide an overview of inexpensive and free applications that can help you improve your writing depending on your specific needs. Students are encouraged to bring their own laptop, though loaner laptops can be provided as needed.
Feb. 25th 3:00 pm - Brown bldg. room 4300
Feb. 28th 10:00 am - Brown bldg. room 4300
Organizing Your Digital Clutter – Apps for the Busy Student
One of the major challenges that students face is managing the overwhelming amount of information that they receive over the course of the semester. Course notes, readings, due dates, office hours, and exams, can easily be lost track of without some form of organizational tools.
This workshop will be dedicated to various study apps that will help you organize and make use of this wealth of information. Students are encouraged to bring their own laptop, though loaner laptops can be provided as needed.
Feb. 26th 3:00 pm - Brown bldg. room 4300
March. 1st 1:00 pm - Brown bldg. room 3001