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Advising Script for SmarterMeasure Sub-scalesThis document is prepared for institutions as a resource in interpreting the results of the sub-scale scores of theSmarterMeasure Learning Readiness Indicator. SmarterMeasure is an assessment that measures levels of non-cognitiveindicators of student success. It is used to help students go into the learning experience with their “eyes wide open” abouttheir traits, attributes, availability and skills. There are seven sections to the assessment - Life Factors, Individual Attributes,Reading Rate & Recall, Technical Competency, Technical Knowledge, Typing Speed and Accuracy, and Learning Styles.Utilize the data from SmarterMeasure to enrich theconversation with students. Instead of merely “checking in”or “encouraging” the student, use the data to have a moremeaningful, enriched conversation about their strengthsand opportunities for improvement.This screen capture illustrates the view of the Grit Gridavailable in the Instructor Dashboard. In a conversation witha student, first compliment them on their strengths. In thisexample, the student is strongest in their typing accuracy andthey have an opportunity for improvement in timeavailability. In addition to viewing sub-scales scores on theGrit Grid, student sub-scale scores are available on thestudent’s individual score report and/or via the readinessranges report.1

The following table is a suggested guide for what to say for each sub-scale. The statements involve open-ended questionswhich are designed to prompt reflection and interaction from the student. .Life Factors ScaleSub-ScaleDefinitionWhat to say if it is anopportunity for improvementWhat to say if it is a strengthTimeDo they have anadequate amount oftime each week forcourse relatedactivities?Since you have a limited amount oftime to study, it is important thatyou identify the time that you dohave and make use of even smallunits of time. Let’s talk about thetimes during the week that you canfind to study.It is great that you have enough timeduring the week to study. To stay ontrack you need to be sure to takeadvantage of the times available toyou. Let’s talk about the times duringthe week that you can find to study.PlaceDo they have anappropriate,available place tostudy?It is very important to not bedistracted while you study. Tell meabout the place where you typicallystudy and why it may not be thebest possible place for studying.What other places are available toyou as a study location?It is very important to not be distractedwhile you study. Tell me about theplace where you typically study andwhy you feel that it is a good place tostudy. What other study locationsmight even be better?2

Sub-ScaleDefinitionWhat to say if it is anopportunity for improvementWhat to say if it is a strengthReasonIt is really importantthat we understandwhy we are going toschool. Do theyhave a compellingreason for theireducation?It is really important that weunderstand why we are going toschool. How will your life be betterafter completion of this degreeprogram? What has prompted youto continue your education at thispoint in your life?How will your life be better aftercompletion of this degree program?What has prompted you to continueyour education at this point in yourlife? How do you plan on rewardingyourself when you complete thedegree?ResourcesDo they haveadequatesupport/resourcesfrom their family,friends andemployer?Going to college can be a challenge.Most people need the support ofothers to be successful. What arethe names of the persons you needsupport from to be able to stay inschool? This may include yourfamily, friends or employer.It sounds like you have a good supportsystem for going to school. When yougraduate who are the people that youwill want to thank for helping youthrough the process. This may includeyou family, friends or employer.SkillsDo they perceivethat they haveadequate academicand technical skillsto be successful?Going back to school can be scary.Students often feel that they arelacking in the academic or technicalskills needed to be in college. Whattypes of courses do you feel aremost difficult for you (math, writing,science, etc.)? Tell me about thesupport resources that you areaware of to help you in these areas.Going back to school can beintimidating even for persons who havehad academic success before. Whattypes of courses do you feel are mostdifficult for you (math, writing, science,etc.)? Tell me about the supportresources that you are aware of to helpyou in these areas.3

Individual Attributes ScalesSub-ScaleDefinitionWhat to say if it is anopportunity for improvementWhat to say if it is a strengthAcademicAttributesDo they possess thestudy skills neededfor academicsuccess?One of the secrets of successfulstudents is that they know how tostudy. Tell me about your studyhabits. How do you prepare for anupcoming test? How good of a jobdo you feel that you do with takingnotes and then reviewing them?What study skills tutorials are youaware of?Successful college students often havehabits or study skills strategies thatwork for them. What are some of themethods of studying that have workedfor you in the past? What are somestrategies that you could improve onsuch as taking notes, memorization, orusing a study group?Help SeekingDo they ask theinstructor for helpwhen they need it?Many of us prefer to figure thingsout on our own. It can beintimidating or embarrassing to askthe instructor or someone at theschool for help. What typicallyholds you back from seeking help?In addition to your faculty member,who at the school could you reachout to for help?Everyone needs some help sometimes.There is no reason to be embarrassedwhen you have to ask a facultymember or the school for help. In fact,most faculty members a glad to helptheir students that is what attractedthem to teaching. In addition to yourfaculty members, who at the schoolcould you reach out to if you neededhelp?4

Sub-ScaleDefinitionWhat to say if it is anopportunity for improvementWhat to say if it is a strengthPersistenceDo they stick with atask until it iscompleted?Things that happen in life can bereally discouraging and make uswant to quit. One of the secrets tosuccess as a student is making upour mind early on that we will notgive up no matter how hard itseems. Tell me about a time thatyou resisted the urge to quitsomething? Think about how goodthat felt!It is a great feeling to make it throughsomething that was challenging.School can be challenging and makeeven strong students want to quit. Tellme about a time that you hung in therethrough a difficult situation. Thinkabout how good that felt!ProcrastinationDo they put off untiltomorrow what theycould be doingtoday?It is often really easy to put off untiltomorrow what we could be doingtoday. Most of the time when youprocrastinate is it because the choreitself was too hard/boring or thatother things were too interesting?When you feel the urge toprocrastinate remember that takingsmall steps can prompt you tobigger steps. For example, if youknow you need to get out andexercise, start by just putting onyour shoes.Having control over procrastination isone of the keys to success as a student.What have been some of yoursuccessful strategies to get yourselfstarted on an unpleasant task likestudying? What would you say toanother student who is struggling withprocrastination?5

Sub-ScaleDefinitionWhat to say if it is anopportunity for improvementWhat to say if it is a strengthTimeManagementDo they make wiseuse of the timeavailable to them tostudy?Most people have busy lives. Whenyou add going to school to otherroles such as work and family, therejust does not seek to be enoughhours in the day to do all that youneed to do. Let’s talk about atypical week for you. When aresome times during each day of theweek that you can find time forschool work?There is a saying that “If you want toget something done, ask a busy personto do it.” You seem to be that type ofperson who can find the time to getseveral things done. Adding schoolwork to your already busy routine canbe a challenge for many people. Whenare some times during each day of theweek that you can find time for schoolwork?Locus of ControlDo they feel that ifthey applythemselves thatthey will besuccessful?What is something that you workedhard for in the past but in the endyour hard was did not seem to berewarded? To what degree do youfeel that the same thing couldhappen with continuing youreducation? How can you make surethat your efforts as a student pay offin the short term in your coursesand in the long term after youcomplete your degree?Successful people feel that they are incontrol of their destiny. You seem likeone of those persons who feels that ifyou work hard, anything is possible.What would you say to a student whofeels like no matter how hard they tryin their studies that they won’t besuccessful?6

Reading ScaleSub-ScaleDefinitionWhat to say if it is anopportunity for improvementWhat to say if it is a strengthReading RecallDo they rememberinformation thatthey read onscreen?Many students comment that oneof the hardest things about goingback to school is all of the reading.Is your challenge more with a lowenjoyment of reading or lack of timeto read carefully? When you arestudying be sure to focus on whatyou are reading as you may betested on the content and don’tforget to take notes on what youread.Sometimes even persons who considerthemselves good readers areoverwhelmed with the amount ofreading required in a college course. Ifyou have an assignment that involvesabout two hours’ worth of reading,would you prefer to read it all at onetime or break it up into sections? Howdo you feel about reading on-screen asopposed to reading from a hard copy?Reading RateHow quickly can thestudent read forcomprehensioncontent on ascreen?As you continue your educationrecognize that you will often beexpected to read lots of contenteither online or from a textbook.Instead of focusing too much onhow fast you are reading, focusmore on understanding what youare reading. Practice taking noteson what you are reading as this hasbeen shown to improve your abilityto recall what you are reading.The fact that you can quickly readcontent on screen is a skill that willhelp you as you continue youreducation. But recognize that readingfor comprehension is different thanreading for mere enjoyment. Taketime to slow down and think about thecontent you are reading, maybe eventake notes as you read.7

Technical CompetencySub-ScaleDefinitionWhat to say if it is anopportunity for improvementWhat to say if it is a strengthComputerCompetencyTo what degree canthe studentcomplete basiccomputing taskssuch as formattingan email address,participating on adiscussion board,using a wordprocessor, etc.?It can become very frustrating earlyin a course when you are expectedto do something in your courseusing technology. This could beanything from emailing yourinstructor to participating in adiscussion board. If this were tohappen to you, how would youreach out for support?Consider it a strength that you aregood with doing things on a computersuch as emailing, word processing anddiscussion boards in your course. Howdo you keep current with yourknowledge about technology?InternetCompetencyTo what degree cana personappropriatelycomplete expectedtasks online such assearching forinformation oruploadingdocuments?Even on-campus courses nowexpect you to know how to use theInternet correctly for tasks such assearching for information anduploading files. This is especiallytrue for online courses. If you areasked to do a task online and you donot know how, how would youfigure it out or ask for help?Think about how much using theInternet is different today than it waseven just five years ago. Whatapproach do you take to figuring outhow to use a new technology?8