Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom

Reviewed by Carissa Johnson, Adjunct faculty, First Year Experience, Anoka-Ramsey Community College on 6/23/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This book covers multiple areas of student success, all told through the personal stories of former students. The division of the book into three sections helps to organize the content in a way that takes the reader through the multiple phases of the student experience: building a solid foundation, becoming the author of one's own success, and looking to the future with newly acquired wisdom and skillsets. This layout is outlined clearly in the table of contents and its reasoning explained in detail in the forward.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

As this book is a resource presented through the personal memoirs of former college students, accuracy or inaccuracy may not be applicable. The stories are those of individuals navigating the college experience.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

This books really excels in its delivery of relevant information relating to student success and would be very beneficial to first year students, especially those that are first-generation or are coming into the academic pipeline without a family member or mentor in their life who can tell of their own college experience and the challenges and victories that come with it. Some example from these personal stories includes include FERPA/data privacy and navigating parent expectations about rights to information, the experience of taking a first online course, procrastination and how it can lead to failed grades, fixed mindset and growth mindset, dealing with anxiety and mental health as a new student, examining one's support network when friends and family don't relate to the choice to attend college, the path from academic probation to honor society invitation, and managing not only time but also energy. The personal journey of each of these authors tells this experience far better than traditional textbooks, and the authenticity of each is an absolute joy to read.

Clarity rating: 5

The book is written clearly even through multiple authors' perspectives. Any jargon used was explained in terms that a student would understand-the book does a great job in speaking to the intended audience and meeting the reader where they are at.

Consistency rating: 5

The book follows the format it is intended to-the memoirs are clearly laid out in a consistent order and in the appropriate section outlined in the beginning of the text. A reader would not have difficulty understanding the flow of the resources and stories provided.

Modularity rating: 5

While this book is likely to have a stronger impact when read chronologically and in its entirety, it would not lose any depth or meaning if the individual stories within the text were used alone or paired with other readings or lessons tailored to specific learning outcomes. In addition, this would be an easy task for faculty hoping to spotlight only certain areas.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The book follows a logical order and maintains fluidity in reading. There is nothing that would break a reader's focus; they would likely become more deeply engaged as they continues to read,

Interface rating: 5

Not applicable-there is almost no imagery/visual content-it is not relevant oi this type of writing and would potentially interrupt flow of reading.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

There were no grammatical errors in this book.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Excellent-this book includes real examples from diverse students. Some examples include a student's experience upon moving into an affluent and predominantly white college and experiencing unintended microaggressions as well as ignorant questions, what its like to stand out/be different and become the student resource for diversity )not by choice), having honest conversations and learning to take part in these-challenging one's own notions of world and people, what its like to come out in college, and finding one's own spiritual identity accepting of the whole self. These stories come from students of different ethnic backgrounds, students studying in other countries, and students who learned the value of intercultural exchange. Multiple cultural views are represented.

Comments

This is a compilation of inspiring stories in which former students share their trials and tribulations and personal narratives. The stories are relatable and able to convey the actual student experience in a way that traditional content-based resources cannot. Many of these contain valuable lessons of growth, re-evaluation of personal mindset, regrets and advise for future students, feelings of doubt, and ultimately how all of these things come full circle in the attainment of individual success and contentment from the experiences good and bad. We are see this happen as educators and celebrate these moments along with our students with intense joy and sometimes a few tears. For the student in their first semester, afraid for so many reasons that they aren’t going to make it, let this tell a different narrative. I will likely incorporate this great resources into my own classes.

Reviewed by M. Barrey, Faculty, Rogue Community College on 8/13/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

The text provides an effective index which is easy to navigate and is a good supplemental material to a more traditional text with concepts and theories.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

Content is based on personal experiences. Some comes with advice to the readers and may contain common assumptions and personal biases.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The text is written in a way few updates and revisions are necessary in the near future. Many stories are relevant to college students and some contain universal experiences.

Clarity rating: 5

This is a good beginner text for new students and requires little background knowledge.

Consistency rating: 5

The content is consistent and organized well.

Modularity rating: 5

Each story can be used as a discussion or writing prompt. The sections are nice and short and are easily divisible.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The topics are relevant and pleasant to read. They are presented in a clear fashion.

Interface rating: 5

The PDF version contains only one graphic and is text heavy. No navigation issues were detected.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Minor errors were present.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The text covers stories from people with various backgrounds. They include perspectives to which many people can relate.

Reviewed by Aly Badran, PhD Candidate, Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder on 6/11/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The text is a good resource for academic success in general, not just for first year college students, some topics could also be applicable to returning graduate students. The text does cover diverse areas but it is difficult to address all challenges met by college students. There is an effective index at the forefront of the text, while the chosen titles are catchy, it could have helped to clarify what the sections meant.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

Most of the content of this class are opinions of people about success, so the measure of accuracy might be debatable here. Otherwise, there are no grammatical mistakes and the text is very easy to read. One thing to note, there were numerous spelling mistakes found in the PDF typeset of this book. Maybe it is a PDF conversion compilation issue. Page9, “during the during the” Page11, “How to efficientl” and “differntl”. Several other mistakes on the same line.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The content is up-to-date and relevant and will continue to be relevant for years to come. If there is one thing that could be added to enhance relevance, is a discussion on how to deal with online settings of college education. I am not sure how easy it is to implement this last point.

Clarity rating: 5

The text is very clear and accessible. The messages are provided in adequate context without any jargon/technical terminology used. This is due to the conversational language of the text.

Consistency rating: 5

The formatting is consistent throughout the book.

Modularity rating: 5

The text could be split in small reading sections assigned at different points in a class. Although, I think the text is easily readable in one assignment. It would be nice to have advice on how to apply this book in a class setting.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The topics are presented in a clear fashion with a good chronological order.

Interface rating: 5

The navigation of this book was easy. One thing could be improved, although not necessary and depends on personal preferences, is to number the chapters and the subsections. “The Student Experience” image was pixelated in the pdf.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

No grammatical errors were found. Only some spelling mistakes were found in the PDF typeset of this book. Maybe it is a PDF conversion compilation issue.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The examples in the text are general enough to include and not be of offense to any race, ethnicity, culture or background.

Reviewed by Lianna McGowan, Professor, Valencia College on 6/8/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The text addresses some of the major topics in student success curriculums, including time management, goal setting and co-curricular engagement. However, each is a personal essay from one student's perspective. The conversational, personal and brief pieces are more akin to journal entries than academic texts. It is not organized into chapters but themes and articles range from one to five pages. They could be used independently, even as a prompt for student reflections in the course.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

Since each piece is autobiographical and anecdotal, accuracy is not based on research or topical content. Each piece seems to be factual and based on real-life experience. Content is error free.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Information is general enough to be relevant despite technological and institutional changes. The section on diversity and inclusion is age-appropriate but may lack depth depending on course content. Since each chapter can be used separately, instructors can ensure relevance easily and quickly.

Clarity rating: 5

Text is clearly written, does not use jargon and uses vocabulary appropriate for entry-level college students.

Consistency rating: 4

Each chapter should be considered individually to determine whether it aligns with specific course curriculum. They each use correct grammar and spelling although sophistication and depth varies greatly.

Modularity rating: 5

The course is organized for modular use and can be evaluated and distributed easily. Chapters can be broken apart without concern for scaffolding or pre-knowledge.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

Book is organized based on general themes rather than content type. The section on preparation and college success skills is "Your Solid Foundation" and goal exploration is under "The Future You". Some entires have titles that include specific topics but instructors can easily browse the main points within the short text.

Interface rating: 4

Interface is standard and text is easy to read and understand. Images are not uniform and formatted inconsistently but are not distorted. Page numbers are clear, as are sub-headings and use of text formatting.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

No obvious errors but each entry should be evaluated independently. Since they are written in a conversational format, instructors should verify they represent college-level standards of their own class and institution.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

Text is not cultural insensitive or offensive. Some of the personal essays include the impact of their own race, ethnicity and background impacted their experience in college. Particular strengths are non-traditional students and mental health.

Comments

This text could be used to enhance content knowledge and model student reflections. There are prompts included which could be used in class discussions or assignments.

Reviewed by Denise Cady Arbeau, Professor, North Shore Community College on 6/2/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Through the use of personal essays, this text addresses all the major themes of a First Year Experience course, including time management, career planning, identity as a 'college student', and studying and listening skills.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The book is comprised of personal essays written by students, faculty and staff members about their college experiences. Though not a traditional text with facts and figures and tables and graphs, the information relayed in the essays is accurate and appropriate for the first-year student audience.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

All the themes discussed in the essays in this text speak to the fears, worries and concerns of all incoming college students, and most importantly, they offer advice about how to allay those fears and worries.

Clarity rating: 5

This text is accessible because the essays are written by real people about real experiences. There is no jargon to wade through.

Consistency rating: 5

All the essays follow the same accessible pattern of readability.

Modularity rating: 5

Since the text is divided into sections and then further broken into individual personal essays, an instructor could easily mix and match material to suit their needs.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The text is organized in a simple way.

Interface rating: 5

There is nothing here to distract the reader from enjoying the text.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I noticed no grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

It seemed like the essays were written by a wide variety of people from different backgrounds.

Comments

I would use this book in my First Year Experience course as an accessible and enjoyable way to introduce major topics of the course.

Reviewed by Jane Murphy, Adjunct Professor, Middlesex Community College on 5/27/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The book covers many aspects of college life and challenges. However, I would say rather than covering all areas of college life it facilitates the reader in finding more areas to explore on their own.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The text is really opinion based thus the accuracy of the subject is in the eyes of the reader rather than checking facts.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The text is both timely and timeless which makes it relevant to college students and high school students as well.

Clarity rating: 5

The "case studies" in the text are well written and easy to follow.

Consistency rating: 5

The consistency of the organization of the text is part of the appeal of the text.

Modularity rating: 5

The text is a very comfortable read. One is propelled to continue to read because the reader wants to know what the next contributor will discuss and give insight into for the future.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The three parts of the text, Part One: Your Solid Foundation, Part Two: You are the President and CEO of You, Part Three: The Future You bring the reader along on a journey of self reflection. I found the organization of the text to flow quite effectively.

Interface rating: 5

The text is free of interface issues.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The grammatical structure of the test is sound however there were several spelling errors throughout the text. The nature of the errors appear to be dropped letters at the end of words.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

In my opinion, the stories told by the contributors are inclusive and there are examples of this throughout the text.

Comments

The Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom text is one that I feel would appeal to a great majority of students at any point during college. The entries in the text are insightful, well expressed, and represent a variety of entry points into the subject for students. Each contributor’s insight into their college experiences are easy to identify with and hopefully learn from going forward.

Reviewed by Joel Hanlon, Director New Student and Family Programs , Radford University on 1/28/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom is a great resource not only for students but also for anyone who is working with first-year students. Making the transition to college is different for each student this helps put many relevant topics into perspective for those that might be working with new students.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The content is error-free and informative. It highlights personal experiences.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The topics discussed will be topics that students will go through for the long term. Each story shares various perspectives that should resonate with each reader. I believe this has relevance to student leaders, faculty, adjunct, student affairs professionals, and even families during orientation. This book could highlight transitional issues and tips for helping guide their student through the various college offices.

Clarity rating: 5

The book is clear and easy to follow. It contains great information but is not so complex that it requires research to understand topics discussed.

Consistency rating: 5

The terminology and framework are consistent throughout and make for smooth transitions through complex student issues. Authors have similar messages and the voice of student success stays at the forefront throughout.

Modularity rating: 5

The text is divided into three parts as students make transitions
Part One Solid Foundation
Part Two You are the President and CEO of You
Part Three The Future You

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Each part of the text reflects the transition issues in chronological order that students typically face as they transition to college and through the college experience. Not every student transitions in these ways but the vast majority experience at least one of the topics discussed.

Interface rating: 5

The text is easy to navigate it does not contain any charts or images.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The only issue I noticed was when I printed the text in a few spots some text was cut off at the end. I could not tell if it was a product of my printer or the text. It does not diminish the message and the work.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The text is not offensive and does not contain any incentive material.

Comments

As someone who deals often with students in transition, this book is a great starting point for conversation. I believe that each institution experiences these transitions differently. This book would be great for training new faculty, working with family members of first-generation college students to help educate families on what their student could experience. It's a quick read with good information. I recommend this book.

Reviewed by Nancy Everson, Senior Assistant Dean of Students & Director of Academic Enrichment Programs, College of William & Mary on 4/26/19

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The text explores many topics first-year students would encounter. The use of narration by students and administrators, some many years removed from the college student experience, provides a diverse range of voices. Topics are not connected to research-based topics, or even "best practices" in the field, but that is not the intent of this book. Therefore, the absence of an index to searchable topics is not a flaw.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The text is comprised of individual voices telling stories of their college experiences. The narratives, however, are based on each author's memories that are subject to modification from the passage of time. In general, the sentiment expressed in every story in this text has the ring of truth.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Topics discussed in the book are relevant and not filled with current jargon. The format would be easy to update by the addition to or substitution of essays that represent new issues in higher education.

Clarity rating: 5

The essays in this text reflect different levels of writing ability, but none that any first-year student would find difficult to understand.

Consistency rating: 5

The various levels of writing ability for different essays made the read a little disjointed, however, the basic framework was easy to follow. Consistent terminology was not necessary because each essay could stand on its own.

Modularity rating: 5

This would be an excellent text for an extended orientation program, perhaps used by resident assistants with their assigned first-year student groups. Each weekly group meeting could focus on one very easily read essay from the first section that would be discussed in a 30-45 minute session. The second and third sections could be reviewed in subsequent semesters.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The organization of the text is very basic and easy to follow.

Interface rating: 4

The lack of images in the text serves to keep the focus on the voices of the narrators, rather than trying to capture the interest of the reader though charts and images. This is an unusual technique in a student success text. However, in this case, rather than capturing the attention of readers through those techniques, the absence of images permits the reader to focus on the storyteller voices and encourages self-reflection.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text appears is well edited and no grammatical errors are obvious.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

This text present voices from a variety of backgrounds.

Comments

This text is most suitable for use in discussion-based settings. The book does not include exercises, therefore it would be most useful for sessions with a moderator, instructor, or peer leader/coach to lead discussions. Also, with the recent uptick in peer-academic coaching programs, using this text to provide essays for discussion would help break the ice during goal-setting meetings. A few other essays are appropriate for discussion-based consultations with returning academic probation students, helping to normalize areas where not only they, but most students, struggle, and helping the students identify personal avenues to success. Overall, this text is a good addition to the academic success library.

Reviewed by Phillip Olt, Assistant Professor of Higher Education Student Affairs, Fort Hays State University on 10/29/18

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

At times, this read more like a series of motivational speeches rather than practical insights to being successful. Certainly that positive thinking is important; however, there are many factors that significantly affect a students’ academic performance that were not addressed. For example, financial planning is perhaps one of the most important. If a student ends up taking on too much debt, s/he may quit completely; if a student is unaware of the full costs, s/he may end up working too many hours and not have time for coursework.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

There is nothing apparently wrong. That being said, it is unclear how much of the content can be carried over to the experiences of students at different institutions (exs. community college or rural). In that sense, it is biased toward the small sample of students from this one institutional perspective.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

This book would be an excellent textbook for a freshman orientation-type class. It is easy to read and engaging for that population.
Some of the cultural references (for example, to movies) will become dated quickly, and the URLs in the text will also likely not all work soon (as website hierarchies change frequently).

Clarity rating: 5

This is accessible and well-written for the intended audience (rising or current college freshmen).

Consistency rating: 5

For the purpose and approach to the book, the text is consistent. Different authors wrote on various topics, so there is a degree of purposeful variance.

Modularity rating: 5

The divisions of the content are in small chunks of distinct content, appropriate for its intended use in a freshman seminar course. Freshmen would make quick work of the short readings, affording them more time to ruminate on lessons they could glean from the short chapters.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 3

The three section titles and the chapter titles are not especially helpful or descriptive of the content. The section organization was not particularly strong. Though an edited volume from numerous authors, the chapter content was too disjointed to provide coherence within each section. Perhaps the best way to improve this would be for the main author to add a short preface at the start of each section to explain the theme of the section and how each chapter fits.

Interface rating: 5

No problems, but there is nothing visually appealing about the book. It is 100% text, except for a meme in the first chapter.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Well written and edited.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

The book does not have problems with being culturally offensive; however, it was also not specifically clear that it was inclusive either. There were a few references to diverse populations, but they seemed incidental.

Comments

Again, this book would be a valuable resource in a freshman seminar-type course. Having been written largely from the student perspective, the text is very relatable to the target audience. Additional work to polish the organization and bring coherence would take this from reading like a series of loosely-associated student essays into a quality edited book.

Reviewed by Lesley Dorhout, Instructor/Educational Advisor College Success Program, University Of Cincinnati Clermont College on 3/27/18

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The text highlights various first-year student issues through narration. WIthin each personal story is an opportunity for students to engage with topics that often interfere with success. While the text covers the major struggles of college students, it does not provide opportunities to practice the skills. Instead, it is a springboard for critical thinking and an individual call to action.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Because the book is based on personal stories, believability is the precursor for accuracy. Are the stories within believable? Yes. Are the techniques each author used accurate? For that person, yes.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The text is relevant, as evidenced in the narrative of online job searches.

Clarity rating: 5

The stories within are easy to follow and quite enjoyable.

Consistency rating: 4

Each story is self-authored, and there are multiple levels of writing ability present. However, the framework and intent of the book are consistent.

Modularity rating: 5

The text is easy to divide into modules, in fact each story presents a module within itself.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The organization was student-centered. It began with the early decisions new students must make, then closes with searching for jobs and becoming a lifelong learner.

Interface rating: 5

The interface was quite simple.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Any grammar errors within were not noticeable during a first read and did not interfere with the readability of the text.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The text was an enjoyable book written by both students and professionals.

Reviewed by Kay Walsh, Adjunct Faculty, James Madison University on 6/20/17

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

In this text, personal narratives spark awareness of key issues important to entering college students. It is both a starting point and challenge to critical thinking. To ask if this text is comprehensive is like to ask how many rain drops are in a cloud. Each student’s experience is unique in an ever-changing world. However, this text touches on many important issues common to most college students. The design reminds me of the saying, “Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The narratives are accurate in that each story reflects a personal experience. As such, they are true for whoever wrote them and they speak to the common experience.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The current text covers relevant issues which will be relevant for years to come; however, it is designed to be easily updated. Some issues such as studying, roommates and distractions are classic. The mention of a things such as a communal phone (“land lines”) or facebook will date the writer but not the shared theme. I see this as a fluid text that will redefine itself along the way. Due to the format, updates will be relatively easy.

Clarity rating: 5

The individual narratives are informal, yet well written.

Consistency rating: 5

The consistency comes through individuals sharing issues common to entering college students. `All point to the main objective.

Modularity rating: 5

The text is divided into three general areas with short narratives with in each area. This organization is appropriate and useful to the subject area.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The text is a clear document which has been well planned. It is divided into the following three sections:

Part One: YOUR Solid foundation (what can be learned from the past)
Part Two: YOU are the president and CEO of YOU (present)
Part Three: The future of YOU (planning for the future by what you do today)

Interface rating: 5

The organization has been well planned and executed. It is logical and easy to read.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I did not find any grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

This text culturally relevant. The inclusion of topics such a race and gender as an individual experience is appropriate and well done. It is presented in a natural way that college students will find helpful in understanding themselves and others.

Comments

Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom is a viable and compelling text. The approach to the subject provides a positive role model for reflection and critical thinking in personal experience. College students will be motivated to read these short, relevant narratives.

The preface is important preparation for using the text and should be read by all. An instructor may set the tone and provide questions to discuss; however, if using it as a personal study, there needs to be more direction for the student. It would be helpful for the student to have accompanying questions or some space to journal. Overall, I recommend this text highly.

Reviewed by Marva Solomon, Counselor/Instructor, Lane Community College Eugene, Oregon on 4/11/17

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

These personal stories provided a unique style of introducing all college students to the value of utilizing college resources, networking and sorting out career goals.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

This textbook is right on point with guiding and encouraging students to utilize strategies offered in order to be a successful college student in their academic and social life.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Every chapter in this textbook is relevant to the day to day challenges that college students experience on a daily basis. This textbook could be relevant for years to come.

Clarity rating: 4

Each chapter of this textbook could not have done a better job at laying out the guidelines for making it possible for college students to have a positive experience from their freshman year to their senior year. In essence this book can be used as a great retention tool for students in their respective colleges

Consistency rating: 5

The textbook was consistent with it's theme for being successful in college and in life.

Modularity rating: 5

The chapters are appropriately lined up by topic.The last five chapters should stay together as they basically covering topics related to career development.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The order in which each chapter is presented is good. however any chapter could have been the first or last.

Interface rating: 5

Although this book do not have worksheets, charts, pictures,graphs, statistic or focus questions, it serves it's intended purpose well. Students will be able to readily grasp the information and concepts well enough to enhance their college experience. They will find this book to be enjoyable reading.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No major grammatical errors except for a small grammatical error in the Chapter Practice Practice Practice - See Sub title Internships see -third line of this paragraph.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

This is a well rounded book. It allows first year students, first generation in college students , as well as students from diverse backgrounds to gain insight about being a successful college student.

Comments

This easy to read book is a good manual for students to use as a tool for being successful in college and in life.

Reviewed by Julia Capewell, Director of the Learning Center,PhD. , Virginia Wesleyan College on 2/15/17

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Book of essays revealing different attitudes of attending college. Although this text is not traditional for an Academic Success class, there lies its power. Instructors of basic skills classes everywhere know how to teach study skills, but often at a loss to teach motivation. The essays presented in this book address what you should know about college, but also has a very strong focus on why should anyone go to college. The book addresses many situations and many voices of people who have learned to be successful in college. They did indeed learn the importance of time management and study skills, but more importantly they spoke about how they framed their changes in thought that helped them succeed.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Accuracy is not really an issue here, because the essays presented are biased to students' views and experiences in college. The essays are accurate to the individuals' impressions.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The content is up to date. An example is the themes of diversity come up repeatedly as students are exposed to student differences and/or experience the chance to find an identity and fit in. Other topics are ones that nearly every student will encounter when they begin college: exploring values and interests, trying on new experiences and extra curricular activities, enduring financial hardships,
and generally finding out about themselves. I believe this book will be useful for quite a long time considering it is written by actual students with actual experiences making a huge transition in their lives.

Clarity rating: 5

Even though their were many voices represented in the individual essays, the essays were clear. Some of the essays were more interesting, but that appeared to me to be more of a topic issue. This text would not be a difficult read for beginning college students.

Consistency rating: 4

The book was consistent in its presentation of essays from students experiencing college. The topics and voices are different, but because they also addressed one major theme. This format worked because these writers appear to be writing about a near, rather than distant past. Their examples are not authoritative, but based on experiences and what they thought would be helpful to a new student. I believe beginning students would certainly be more apt to read this book to its completion because the essays are peer written. They are about new environments and transition. A new student would also want to know what they might experience in their advancing years.

Modularity rating: 5

The modularity of this text is obvious. The instructor could assign certain essays for the students for the entire semester. He/she may also want to present different essays as they are related to certain themes and assignments that come up in class. The essays could even be divided and used by students to summarize and make presentations. Reorganization is not an issues because the topics are diverse although related to a common theme.

There were no annoying or self

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 3

The book does have some flow problems. They are caused, I believe by the editor's decision to put the essays into three categories. Each essays addresses more than one identifiable experience, so it is very difficult to attach one theme to 3 or 4 of the essays. The classifications/titles are not clear to me either. They are written in a "hip, jargon" way that was really obscure and distracting when I reviewed the index page.

Since the themes are presented as they were written, occasionally ESL and language differences are noticeable. Rather than being confusing, however, they make the essays more interesting because they demonstrate how a student feels interacts in a culture that in far from their own.

Interface rating: 5

This text does not have navigation problems except that it is divided into three non-representative parts. It contains no charts or other distracting additions.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

There are occasional errors in sentence structure and organization but this was a choice by the editor to keep the voices of the writers authentic. These errors actually personalize the essays, not distract from them.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

There are frequent issues and situations that pertain to acceptance and diversity. Some of the essays relate that challenge made them question and become more aware of their values. Sexuality, race, vocational obstacles and even critical thinking are addressed. This book is culturally relevant too because it is written by a diverse group of students. They speak about expanding their views of other people and shedding their prejudices. Some students, on the other hand are speaking about what it feels like to be a minority. The essays would certainly align with what students in a class may currently be experiencing.

Comments

When first reading this book, I was a little hesitant to embrace its format of purely essays. As I read it for the second time, I tried to place myself back in the time when I just started college. As I read the essays, I realized a lot of information would have been good to know before I filled out my applications. All current or ex-college students can find issues in this text that become personal to them upon reflection. The book left me with the really good feeling that students would be encourage to finish college despite hardships. When I reflected on the essays, I often found myself thinking, "Yes, if I knew that when..."

Reviewed by Colice Sanders, Adjunct Instructor and Advising Specialist, University of Northern Iowa on 2/15/17

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

Each essay offers a wealth of important information and a breadth of commonly reviewed key areas pertaining to first-year student experiences. The essay format provides a personal approach to discussing the common obstacles and challenges for first-year students. The textbook does not identify the core principles of first-year experience curriculum. Each essay implicitly covers first-year student curriculum, but is not explicitly linked to research based principles. Essay content should be summarized with the main points identified in addition to recommendations for further resources. The lack of a detailed table of contents, section/essay introductions and summaries may make it difficult for the reader to connect and apply specific content discussed within the textbook.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Perhaps the textbook’s greatest strength is in its diversity of thoughts, experiences and identity groups. The essays do a great job of representing how intersecting identities can be both a challenge and a strength for students from various backgrounds. There are multiple essays from the voices of first generation students and students of color.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom has the potential to be a powerful and affirming tool for first-year college students. By placing student experiences at the center of how to be successful, the authors invite readers to consider their personal strengths and challenges in navigating college experiences. The textbook utilizes a collection of subjective narrative essays to explore the challenges and opportunities of college. The guidance offered in the student narratives is practical and grounded in research based recommendations for first year student success. The textbook could be easily updated to reflect new trends and developments in higher education.

Clarity rating: 4

The essays are written in accessible and comprehendible language. The narratives identify college specific jargon and explain its meaning or significance. However, the concepts discussed in the narrative essays would be more effective if they were placed within the researched based principles of first-year curriculum

Consistency rating: 2

Book lacks a framework.

Modularity rating: 5

The textbook is divided into three sections. There are five essays in each section for a total of fifteen essays. The three sections are a manageable reading load and the number of essays following each section is appropriate for processing the ideas presented.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

Each section has an ambiguous title. There is no evidence of a logical reasoning for organizing the sections and essays in the manner in which they are presented. Each section is not defined and students are not reconnected to how or why the individual essay falls within the section.

Interface rating: 1

The textbooks contains only words. The interface is extremely simple and lacks any visual stimulation. The lack of color, images, and charts may make it difficult for students to remain engaged. Specific terms and words related to first year student curriculum should be bolded, emphasized and reprinted at the end of the chapter for easy reference.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text contains no grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Perhaps the textbook’s greatest strength is in its diversity of thoughts, experiences and identity groups. The essays do a great job of representing how intersecting identities can be both a challenge and a strength for students from various backgrounds. There are multiple essays from the voices of first generation students and students of color.

Reviewed by Lori Kogan, Associate Professor, Colorado State University on 1/7/16

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The text is a carefully selected collection of personal narratives related to the college experience. The book offers such a variety of stories by authors of various backgrounds and experiences that it is likely that nearly all students will be able to personally relate to several of the writings.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

NA

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Priester does an excellent job of selecting stories that offer in-depth views of the many challenges faced by students today.

Clarity rating: 5

The book is an enjoyable, easy read with no jargon or technical terminology used.

Consistency rating: 5

NA

Modularity rating: 5

It is an enjoyable read, and written in such a way that each chapter stands alone; making for an easy read between classes or in moments of down time.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

It is easy to miss the directions in the preface that ask students to consider and answer several guiding questions, and this might be better placed as Chapter 1.

Interface rating: 5

NA

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical errors found.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

From more ‘traditional’ challenges (e.g., fitting in, studying for class, relationships with peers and teachers), to those faced by international, minority, or GLBT students; this book has something to offer to everyone.

Comments

Using the questions in the preface as a framework, is beneficial however, as the personal stories become individual studies of success and offer support for students who might be encountering similar struggles. The book concludes by offering students the opportunity to give back by writing about their own lessons and experiences. The chance to come full circle in this capacity offers a unique aspect of learning that is too often lacking in current learning environments.

Reviewed by Kathy Harowski, Community faculty, advisor, Metropolitan State University on 1/7/16

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

Foundations of academic success: Words of wisdom( FAS:WoW ) provided a range of practical and relevant snapshots and glimpses of student success from a range of expert point(s) of view( current students, alumni, faculty and advistors). From the preface, learners are guided into HAS:WoW by making the clear statement that the narratives and personal accounts selected for the book highlight the differences between "being a college student and being a successful college student". The organizational structure and sections of the book permit one to reach only one or two specific sections ; one could see a student consulting the sections as they worked through a course or choosing sections relevant to their personal questions or concerns.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Don't see this category as highly relevant for FAS:WoW.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The personal narratives and perspectives touch on issues that are of concern to many students as they begin and navigate their college years and choices. Students are encouraged to send in their own story as well so as a reader , one can see that this book can be updated with some frequency as new stories of challenges and challenges met are made available.

Clarity rating: 5

Did not see this as most relevant for FAS:WoW. As a reader, I would comment that the writing was clear and well edited.

Consistency rating: 5

Do not see this as most relevant for this book. There is a sense of progression provided by the organization of the narratives.

Modularity rating: 5

see comment above. The book can be entered in for a specific section that needs review or development for a student OR could be incorporated into a course that would utilize all sections.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

see comments above

Interface rating: 5

not relevant

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

This reader did not see any significant grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The book incorporated narratives and personal accounts from a range of diverse points of view as well as highlighting the important of developing an awareness and respect for cultural diversity as an important part of the college experience.

Comments

As an advisor, I appreciated the book offering first person accounts of how to succeed and helping to show students how their peers have navigated college and learning bumps and challenges.

Reviewed by Jennifer Reinke, Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Wisconsin - Stout on 1/7/16

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

This collection of essays offer a variety of perspectives of a variety of topics related to college life. Some ideas, like getting involved on campus, are covered in a cursory manner, though offer enough information to spark good discussion among students. Some topics, like mental health and romantic relationships were either not discussed or only briefly touched upon; further discussion of these topics would make for a more comprehensive text. The index is thorough and effective.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Due to the nature of the text being personal essays, the content is accurate in the sense that it is each author's personal story.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 3

The content is relevant and the information will likely be valuable for years to come, as transitioning to college will likely look similar in the future. I do think there is room for specific content related to current trends and statistics, such as the use of technology, parent-child relationships (the idea of becoming more independent), financial aid and scholarships, and the increase in diagnoses of anxiety and depression among college students.

Clarity rating: 5

The text is written in a casual, conversational manner, that is easily accessible by the average college student.

Consistency rating: 5

The formatting of the book is consistent throughout.

Modularity rating: 5

The text is easily and readily divisible into smaller readings that can be assigned at different points within the course (each chapter is only about 1-2 pages). Having said that, because it is such a short book (43 pages of text), it can easily be read in its entirely in about an hour.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The topics in the text are presented in a logical, clear fashion.

Interface rating: 4

The text is free of noticeable interface issues, as there was only one visual throughout the entire book. Including more visuals like pictures, memes, comics, and charts would make this an even more enjoyable read.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text contains no noticeable grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

Because no demographic information is provided about the authors, it is difficult to determine if the perspectives provided are generalizable to the greater population. For example, since all of the authors are from the State University of New York, a student in rural Wisconsin may find some of the stories irrelevant.

Comments

As a course resource, this book would be strengthened by the inclusion of visuals and discussion questions that prompt the reader's thinking. Also, some chapters were clearly written by professionals, while others seemed to be written by students. A brief author bio at the end of each chapter would be helpful (occupation, major, etc.)

Reviewed by Patrick Mahoney, Lecturer, Colorado State University on 1/7/16

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

Upon picking up Thomas Priester’s Foundations of Academic Success one realizes this isn’t just another college survival guide, rather Priester’s text is a template for thriving while at attending university. Using the voice of individuals having successfully navigating their college years, and some having returned to the academic life, Priester paints an intimate portrait of the real lived experience of college culture. The contributors offer sage advice from the practical strategies for optimizing learning, managing time to the importance of creative thinking and negotiating the conflicting demands of college life. The Foundations of Academic Success offers readers an authentic, true-to-life accounts of what lies ahead for incoming students. Written in a rich narrative style the book does not burdened readers with uninteresting tables of dry facts or innumerable “how to” suggestions so common in survival guides. Rather Priester takes pain to make his contributor’s voices jump-off the page and into the hearts and minds of the readers. The text would be an excellent addition to introductory courses. Additionally as an Open Textbook, this enjoyable and readable volume could easily be justified as standard reading for new freshmen across the country.

Content Accuracy rating: 3

Priester’s Foundations of Academic Success introduces the reader to many narratives for success in a college setting that can be universally applied across a myriad of academic experiences, such as college readiness and study skills to getting that first job out of college. The practical and grounded stories are replete with specific suggestions for achieving higher grades or simply navigating the maze of traps associated with campus life. The only limitation of his text operates at the level of where some of the material comes from. Although I found the themes throughout the text to be big and important, the narratives at times had a parochial sensibility to them.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Within the context of rising college costs and the national conversation over the relevance and value of spending tens of thousands of dollars on an undergraduate degree, Priester’s Foundations of Academic Success is timely. As parents, students, and educators all search for ways to enhance and maximize the “university experience” a guide such as Priester’s offers a template for incoming freshmen. From balancing the “party culture” to becoming a learner, there are plenty of proscriptions scattered throughout the stories that make-up Priester’s book.

Clarity rating: 5

Given that Foundations of Success is a compilation of many different viewpoints and experiences of college life, the text is cogent. The chapters are readable, engaging, and informative. Each topic is covered with the student in mind and all the contributors to this edited volume have a unified focus on offering insights from their specific experiences for the contemporary student.

Consistency rating: 3

Despite the wide-ranging topics and contributors to Foundations of Academic Success, each chapter guides the reader down a path of practicality and common-sense recommendations for making the most of the “best years of your life”. Whether suggesting students entertain studying abroad or how to getting along with you roommate, the authors continuously give the reader an opportunity for reflection.

Modularity rating: 5

Perhaps the greatest attribute to how Priester organized Foundations of Academic Success is the text’s modularity. Each chapter has the potential as a stand-alone source. As a result the introduction of chapters in Priester’s book could occur across a wide-range of courses. This has great value when constructing a syllabus where using the entire book might not be practical. Each short chapter is so well crafted, modulating this text would not diminish the overall goal for why Priester’s put together Foundations of Academic Success in the first place.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

Priester’s Foundations of Academic Success is a “snappy” text. While brief it’s chalk-full of ground-shaking insight. The chapters are kept short and very readable, making the text useful as a primary course text or as an ancillary read. Priester groups his readings across the life-history of a student, from entry to college life to making the most of this vibrant learning environment and finally finding that prized job after college. This chronological approach is perfect in organizing the experiences that students have while at university.

Interface rating: 4

The clean organizational design of Foundations of academic Success allows for seamless movement within the book. Each chapter is clearly identified and the chapters are grouped accord to what students are likely to confront while in college.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

As an edited text Thomas Priester’s voice is secondary to the grounded and authentic experiences of those members of the academic community that Priester chooses to include in this text. This opens-up a wide range of narratives written in a variety of grammatical ways. Rather than detracting the reader this mix of experiences is a strength of the volume.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

Peer-to-peer learning as a pedagogical strategy has become a hot topic in universities today. The raw voices in Foundations of Academic Success creates a world the reader can enter into and engage in a personal dialogue with former students reflecting on their time in college.

Comments

The length of the text makes it a real possibility as an ancillary book for a wide-range of courses.