This month’s resource highlight blog post was contributed by Pam Rees, Director of Grand View University Library.

Most institutions offer some version of a First-year experience or college success course. A year ago, College Success was presented as a potential resource of interest on this blog. It was highlighted as one of Pressbooks’ most downloaded titles. However, it had several areas of concern, including dated materials. In this post, a similar but more recently published title will be discussed.

This text, Academic Success, Australian Edition aims to cover the same content, but in a less dated and more comprehensive manner. It is edited by Wendy Hargreaves, Cristy Bartlett, and Kate Derrington, all from the University of Southern Queensland.

Overview

Academic Success is divided into five parts:

• Part A: Successful Beginnings addresses what it is like to be a new student at an Australian university;
• Part B: Successful Foundations introduces basic skills in English language, techniques for accessing and working with information, and understanding academic integrity;
• Part C: Successful Study Skills presents the everyday; core skills that successful students use while at university;
• Part D: Successful Assessment meets the challenges of tertiary assessments; and
• Part E: Successful Futures.

Each of these sections is likewise divided into smaller topic-based components that could easily be linked to a reading list or instructional module, and the table of contents is specific and easy to navigate.

Strengths:

• It is appropriate for students struggling with transition issues as well as well-prepared students.
• Each of the five sections contains bullet points, graphs, visual aids, and a listing key points to reinforce the concepts presented.
• Offers a section that introduces the use of rubrics, and how to read and understand their meaning.
• Specific section that addresses considerations surrounding success in the online world including use of technology, digital literacy, and digital safety.  
• Navigation between sections is fairly basic, but there is an embedded search function which allows users to locate individual concepts without having to remember where they are within the sections. 
• Addresses issue of importance for traditional and non-traditional students.
• Very comprehensive but the structure makes it reader friendly.
• Repetition of key concepts makes it easier for students to absorb in spite of the comprehensiveness

Considerations:

• A few of the terms used might be difficult for students who are struggling with academic concepts.
• Published in Australia, so there are minor language usage idioms, but the reader would not have trouble understanding the content.
• Likewise, there are Australian references, but the concepts are universal to experiences of al first-year students.
• Doesn’t offer much in the way of classroom activities.

Comparison 

Overall, both texts cover the topics most beneficial for first year students. Both have been given positive reviews. Academic Success, Australian Edition includes some additional content such as an emphasis on math skills and preparation and a section on online safety. It also has a more holistic approach to the discussion on learning which includes a section on fixed and growth mindset. However, a few of the terms used may be difficult for some students and references to Australian culture may also be distracting. Therefore, College Success may be better suited for a students who are struggling with academic and transition to college. For those who want to adapt Academic Success for an entry level or U.S. audience, the book is available for download in EBook, PDF, and Document formats.