LRC Winter Break Hours

The LRC will be open during the Winter Break! Please visit us these days from 10 am - 5 pm:

Thursday Dec. 26

Friday Dec. 27

Monday Dec. 30

Thursday Jan. 2

Friday Jan. 3 

Enjoy your holidays, and don't forget to visit us or call if you need help with your 5th week work: 209-545-3100 extension 3185. 

Student Loan Forgiveness Programs

After graduation, most students are entitled to one six-month "grace period" to get a job before they must start their federal loan payments, according to the National Student Loan Data System for Students.

But when time's up, reality sinks in -- and fast.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, however, estimates that one-fourth of the American workforce may be eligible for repayment or loan-forgiveness programs, the Associated Press reported last month. Read on for more information: http://usat.ly/1buTTJu

Student Break Room

What do you think about the student break room? Did you know that you can use the blue tables in the center of the HVAC building? What are your ideas to improve the area?

As far as food, the school is considering a new vendor which will offer fresh sandwiches, bagels, and a variety of other snacks. The catch is that students would have to load up a card with money and use that card to make purchases. Is this something in which you'd be interested? Please fill out a survey in the break room. For those of you who can't get to the student break room, the questions are as follows: 1. What is your favorite thing about the Student Lounge? 2. How can we improve the Student Lounge? 3. What food items would you like to see in the vending machine? 4. Would you use a vending machine that requires students to upload money on a card to make purchases?

LRC open again!

Hello all--the LRC is now open for business again! Come in, say hi, and let us know how you like the new floor plan. We'll be open Friday from 8 am - 8 pm for make-up day.

This week at the LRC

Greetings friends! We hope your Thanksgiving holiday was marked by food, laughter, and friendship. Coming up this long school week is a mix of activities: On Tuesday, you'll see us loading up books onto carts to move everything out of the LRC & GED rooms in anticipation of carpet replacement on WEDS and THURS. (Please note the library may be closed on Wednesday and Thursday; computers and printers may not be available.)

Also on Tuesday: I'll be going into Mr. B's Professional Development classes and doing writing workshops to help students learn about the three stages of writing: prewriting, writing, and postwriting. I may not be available to students between 8--9:30 a.m., and 1--2:45 p.m.

Have a great week! --Stella

E-Books available through eJonesGlobal

Did you know you can access eBooks anytime? Just login to MyIOT, and click the "Library > Information" button from the left-hand menu. At the bottom of the page, you will see a link to Jones eGlobal. Click it and you'll land at the Institute of Technology Online Library homepage. You can do a bunch of stuff from there, but specifically check out the eBooks & Videos link, which will direct you to the Books24x7 database. Click on "Top Titles" from left-hand menu, and get a list of books.

Some titles:

• Troubleshooting & Maintaining Your PC All-in-One for Dummies, 2nd Edition
• On the Way to the Web: The Secret History of the Internet and Its Founders
• Credit Scores, Credit Cards: How Consumer Finance Works: How to Avoid Mistakes and How to Manage Your Accounts Well
• Improve Your Reading

Thanksgiving Meal Deal

IOT is holding its annual Thanksgiving Meal Deal, to provide a holiday dinner for students. To apply for a meal, please fill out an application (available in the LRC or through your instructors) along with a brief letter explaining how this will make your holiday brighter. You'll be advised by the end of this week if you've been selected.

HIREvent Job Fair tomorrow in Modesto

This popular job fair is happening TOMORROW (Tuesday, November 19) at the Clarion Inn Conference Center, 1612 Sisk Road, from noon to 4 pm. Free admission! Dress professionally and practice your presentation skills, because big employers will be in attendance, and they're eager to hire.

Why employers want you to have writing skills

Think you don't need writing skills for your job? Think again. Employers are complaining that they can't find qualified candidates and unemployment is higher than ever. So what's the problem? Experts say that the mismatch stems from candidates' inability to speak and to write clearly. What are you doing to improve your writing? We have books and tutoring in the LRC--come talk to us about it. http://t.co/PAhlSdvQTV

Veterans Day

Thanks to our veterans, active military members, and their families. You are in our hearts 365 days a year.

New Web Resources for NST Students

New resources have been posted for students in the Networking Support Tech program. Be sure to check out our NST web resources page for some excellent links.

IOT's Web & Graphics Design program is about design and presenting info online. For computer newbies: try http://t.co/kvMAyETaci
— IOTModestoLRC (@IOTModestoLRC)

Breast Cancer Awareness & Cupcakes

Today is Breast Cancer Awareness Day on the Modesto campus. Go to the Student Success room for ribbons and bracelets; purchase a cupcake for $1.00 to raise money for programs sponsored by the Student Services Departments.

Thanks to @TracyMcMahan2, we're now up to SIX followers on the Twitter machine...Oh, and @TracyMcMahan2, I have your word web...

— IOTModestoLRC (@IOTModestoLRC) September 26, 2013

Keyboarding is an essential skill in today's job market, whether you're going into CERM, HVAC, or HR. Text the LRC @ 209-910-iot9 for info.

— IOTModestoLRC (@IOTModestoLRC) September 17, 2013

New Mod starts today--welcome!

Welcome to all new & returning students on campus today--we hope you get a great start in your new mod. Don't forget to check out the LRC; we have TONS of stuff to help you succeed, from handouts on test-taking and organizing your time to computers and printers. Oh--and don't forget the books. We now offer Text-A-Librarian--send your questions to 209-910-IOT9. See you in person and online.

Mass Casualty Exercise in Mr. Jeff's Class

Students in Ms. Rhonda & Mr. Jeff's class participated in a mock emergency exercise today, complete with makeup and dangling eyeballs. Here, Amanda and Bertha pause to catch their breathe, post-drill, after I ask them to pose. (Check out Bertha's collarbone bruises--gross!)

Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Upcoming Resume Workshop...

Career Services announces its next set of workshops on Friday, September 27. Resume Workshop 8:30 - 10:30 am & Mock Interview Workshop 8:30 - 10:00 am. DO bring a flash drive for resume workshop; DO NOT bring children for either workshop. Get yourself on track for job search success--practice and develop confidence!

Come join Chef Scott & his hand-picked group of amazing IOT Modesto culinary students on Thursday, September 4, as they demo their mad skills at Edible Extravaganza http://t.co/sbHqCcqA2g

— IOTModestoLRC (@IOTModestoLRC)

Follow the LRC on Twitter

Good news! The LRC at IOT is now on Twitter. Follow us at @IOTModestoLRC to get the latest news about your library and the resources available to help YOU.

Free Software Workshops

Do you know how to do a mail merge in Word? How about keeping a list of contacts? Keep your software skills up-to-date by taking advantage of our free Friday workshops, held from 11:30 - 1:30. Email Miss Laura with your workshop choice, name, email address, and program name.

• August 30 Mail Merge-Word
• October 11 Beginning Access
• October 18 Intermediate Access
• November 1 Beginning Word
• November 8 Intermediate Word

The New Librarian in Town

Greetings everyone! I'm Stella Beratlis, your new librarian. You might see me in your classrooms, doing mini-workshops on a variety of student skills, research tips, and writing topics. Or I might just be helping you in the LRC. In any case, I'm eager to meet you and help you with your needs here at IOT. Come and say hi!

GED Prep Classes
 

 

The GED Program is now offering Free GED Prep Classes.  If you are interested, please stop by the LRC or contact Laura Hughes at (209-545-3100, x3185).  Classes do have limited enrollment and one must enroll in the GED program first.  Enrollment is first come first served.

 

 

GED Math Class:  12:30pm-1:30pm (Monday-Thursday).  This class starts May 6th and ends June 27th.  The Math Class will cover all math material covered the GED.

 

THE MATH CLASS IS CLOSED FOR ENROLLMENT AS OF MAY 16, 2013; A NEW MATH CLASS WILL BEGIN JULY 1ST (4:30PM-5:20PM).  THE JULY 1ST CLASS IS OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT.

 

GED Language Arts: Reading Class:  4:30pm-5:20pm (Monday-Thursday).  This class starts June 3rd and endsJune 27th.  The Reading Class is focusing on reading comprehension, but also poetry, literature and literary terms.

 

THE READING CLASS IS OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT.

 

 



 

New GED Test Coming in 2014! All Old Scores Expire at End of 2013.

Stop by the LRC Today!

Stop by the LRC or GED room for help with your GED (GED Room is open from 1:00pm-5:30pm).  Remember, if you have passed any sections of the GED, you must pass all sections of the GED before the end of 2013.  If you do not, your scores will expire. The new test is likely to be more challenging.  This makes 2013 the perfect year to complete your GED.

Highlighting Is a Waste of Time: The Best and Worst Learning Techniques

By Annie Murphy Paul Time Magazine

Click the picture to be taken to the article.