Meet Tony.
<img src="tonydepressed.jpeg""width="128" height="211" "alt="depressed">
He's really down in the dumps. He's been trying to understand a dense text so he can do an assignment for his engineering class but he just can't seem to wrap his head around it.
"It's so difficult," he's thinking. "I don't know if I can do this. I'm so damn frustrated, I just want to give up! Aargh!"
<img src="shakimbo.jpeg""width="450" height="270" "alt="jessakimbo">
Jess, study superhero, spots despondent Tony and comes over. "Are you, O.K., Tony?" she asks him. "You seem a little stressed."
Tony looks up.
[[He tells Jess to go away]]
[[He talks it through with Jess]] "That's all I need," says Tony exasperated. "Ms Smarty-pants Superhero. Leave me alone. I don't need or want your lame advice. Go give it to some other schmuck, you interferring goody two-shoes..."
Jess, surprised at Tony's outburst, shrugs her shoulders and walks away, her cape flapping in the breeze.
Tony goes back to scratching his head.
<img src="tonyqmark.jpeg" alt="qmark">
[[Tough times]]"What's the problem, Tony?" Jess asks.
With a look of desperation on his face, Tony puts his head in his hands and shakes his head.
<img src="despondent.jpeg" alt="despondent">
"It's all too hard for me," he moans between his fingers. "I feel like giving up."
Jess gently touches him on the shoulder. "Don't do that," she tells him. "There's always a solution."
"Like what?" Tony replies at his wit's end. "I've tried everything. I feel so lost, Jess."
"How about Dr Roberts, your professor? Have you spoken with her?"
"No, she'll think I'm stupid."
"That's just daft, Tony. You're not the first student to have problems understanding coursework and you won't be the last. Come on, let's go find her."
"I dunno..."
[[Tony decides to manage on his own]]
[[Tony seeks help]]Tony's too worried that Dr Roberts will think him an idiot so he decides to plod on alone.
"Please leave me alone, Jess," he says. "I know you mean well but I need to sort this out for myself."
Jess sadly moves away.
Tony watches as she retreats to a group of students having a good old chinwag over their books, her red cape flowing behind her.
[[Tough times]]Tony goes with Jess to speak with Dr Roberts.
Luckily, she's in her office. She takes one look at Tony's face and invites them in.
Tony's still a little embarassed about having to resort to asking for help from his professor so Jess explains the problem.
Dr Roberts nod her heads as she listens, shifting her gaze between Jess and Tony.
<img src="docexplains.jpeg" alt="docexplains">
"Firstly," she explains, "there's no shame in coming to ask for help, Tony. I don't know how it's looked upon in your country but here we expect students to ask for help when they need it. O.K., Tony?"
Tony nods his understanding even though he's still a little unsure.
"Did you know," she went on, "that there are also lots of other support services in place for students who are having difficulties?"
Tony looks at her dumbfounded.
"You'll get there," she encourages him. "I want you to come and see me tomorrow at 10:30," she continues, "when we'll go over the coursework and assignment and any other academic issues you're having. Are you free at that time, Tony?"
"Yes, Dr Roberts."
"Good. Now, Jess - super student that you are - can you find a study group for Tony to join?"
Sure thing, Prof! It had already crossed my mind," Jess answers enthusiastically.
Dr Roberts smiled. "Of course, it had and, that's Dr Roberts, to you."
[[Tony doesn't join a study group]]
[[Tony joins a study group]]Jess recommends the perfect study group for Tony.
<img src="tonywalking.jpeg" alt="tonywalking">
What a great bunch of guys. All of them are study superheroes!
<img src="groupsuperheroes.jpeg" alt="groupsuperheroes">
The group welcomes Tony and explains the many benefits of collaborative learning:
- solving problems as a group
- sharing responsibility
- somewhere to test your theories
- learning how to work with others (a biggie for Tony)
- collective wisdom
- opportunities to challenge ideas and scrutinise your own
- gaining a broader perspective
- growing in confidence and self-esteem
- becoming empowered and resilient
In fact, they're all study superheroes because...they collaborate.
"Wow," thinks Tony, "if only I'd known sooner."
[[Tony the study superhero]]This doesn't help Tony at all. By isolating himself he has no support network and no opportunities to learn collaboratively.
The difficulties he has in understanding his coursework continue and he contemplates dropping out.
<img src="fedup.jpeg""width="250" height="250" "alt="fedup">
[[Tony drops out of Uni]]
[[Tony joins a study group]]It just gets worse, though. All Tony manages to do is to dig himself an even deeper hole until...
<img src="tonyhole.jpeg""width="250" height="250" "alt="hole">
[[Tony drops out of Uni]]
[[Tony seeks help]]Tony was never interested in working with others.
He never took advantage of the support services at the university.
He refused to join study groups where he could share ideas, give his opinion and listen to others' viewpoints.
He wasn't interested in a network of peers that could help him clarify his understanding of concepts and coursework.
It got to the point that Tony couldn't cope any more and he dropped out.
<img src="tonydropsout.jpeg" alt="dropsout">
[[Tony drops out of Uni]]
However, after a month working at Maccas, Tony realises he made a mistake.
<img src="brainwave.jpeg" alt="brainwave">
[[Tony joins a study group]]BE GREAT!
COLLABORATE!
<img src="jesssh.jpeg""width="600" height="450" "alt="jesssh">
Collaborate and become a Study Superhero just like Jess!
Like all superhero stories, though, there are usually a few bumps along the way before everything comes up smelling roses.
Uni study is often hard work. All those new concepts and assignments due can sometimes leave you a little stressed and frustrated...
[[Frustrated]]A few months later, Tony is thriving at university.
<img src="tonysh.jpeg" alt="tonysh">
His academic skills have improved exponentially.
He has a great network of not ony study buddies but also friends.
He feels confident, resilient and knows that he will succeed.
<img src="tonyflying.jpeg" alt="tonyflying">
You, too, can become a study superhero so...
be great and...collaborate!
The End.