• Welcome
  • Inside Turning on the Lights
  • Videos & Resources
  • Examples, Feedback & Contact
  • Purchase

Welcome to the
learning culture revolution!



Join the revolution by first viewing this welcome video!


In this inspiring and motivating book, San Diego City College Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Program Director Rafael D. Alvarez, a.k.a. the Corner Man, expertly captures the learning culture using student success stories, testimonials and online videos. Since 2009, learning culture has been used to transform the lives of MESA students. While a learning culture exists in every institution of higher education, Turning on the Lights will ignite a learning culture revolution to empower all students to create their own success in academics and life!


Students - you have many strengths and great potential, but you also have learning gaps. Turning on the Lights applies to learning in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and non-STEM classes, and it provides you the tools for filling your gaps to achieve your goals and dreams. Begin by completing the "learning culture training plan," then use Turning on the Lights to create your own learning culture success story. Enjoy the journey!


Faculty & Staff - your support is needed in this learning culture revolution! With an urgency for addressing inequities and increasing the student completion rates in higher education, student success has never been more critical. Turning on the Lights is an evidence-based book for using learning culture to increase student success, and the cornerstone of the revolution is basic training videos to help students master the learning culture. Click here to learn the impact of the self-paced training. Additionally, lessons learned are provided to facilitate the adaptation of learning culture practices and strategies for use in classrooms, academic programs and support services. Turning on the Lights is also a very effective training tool for mentoring students. Higher education leader Dr. Laura I. Rendon highly recommends "this ground-breaking book not only to STEM educators but to faculty and staff in every field of study who wish to turn on the lights to create success for their students." Stay tuned for details for a Turning on the Lights Teaching & Learning Institute in 2022.


Blog - click here to read more about the impact of Turning on the Lights in a blog by the Corner Man.


May Turning on the Lights empower every student to
create their own success in the bright light of the learning culture!
​



inside turning on the lights



Contents at-a-glance

It matters to this one! Story of the girl and the sea star

Table of Contents

Dedication

Foreword - by Dr. Laura I. Rendon

Acknowledgements

Preface

​Featured Videos

Introduction

Part I. Why Learning Culture?

Part II. Having a Mindset for Learning

Part III. Knowing How to Approach the Learning

- in WHY, WHAT, HOW format

Part IV. Leadership, Internships & Research

Part V. Educational Planning Basics: Things to know!

Epilogue: Mr. Learning Culture!

About the Author

Click the RED links above to preview each individual section.



FEATURED VIDEOS - meet MESA Creators!

  • Corner Man - 2021 Outstanding Engineering Educator Award
  • Mr. Ferrari Francis Rowe - University of San Diego
  • Katya Echazarreta - UC Los Angeles & NASA
  • Luis Garcia - UC Berkeley
  • Nate Wyley - UC Davis
  • Sergio Alfonso Sandoval Escobedo - Georgia Tech & NASA
  • Beto Vasquez - UC San Diego & San Diego State University
  • San Diego City College welcome for military veterans to the learning culture

BASIC TRAINING VIDEOS - enjoy the learning culture experience!

  • Learning Culture Training Plan
  • Part I. Why Learning Culture?
  • Part II. Having a Mindset for Learning
  • Part III. Knowing How to Approach the Learning
  • Part IV. Leadership, Internships & Research
  • Part V. Educational Planning Basics: Things to know!
  • Impact of Online Self-paced Training

RESOURCES

  • Learning culture mini-posters
    • Learning culture elements
    • Important factors for college readiness & success
    • Formula for approaching the learning
  • Inspirational mini-posters
    • The Race - what does it take to finish a race?
    • The Fight - will you be stopped?
    • Hall of Famer - do you have what it takes to be a hall of famer in academics and life?
  • Time management resources
    • Sample time management plan
    • Excel weekly time planner
  • Lessons learned for higher education practitioners
  • Learning culture stand up displays
    • ​Having a Mindset for Learning
    • Knowing How to Approach the Learning
    • Core Praxis Model for a Learning Culture
  • Sample progress reports: 4-week, 8-week and 12-week
  • Promo flyers for students & higher education practitioners


EXAMPLES OF TURNING ON THE LIGHTS IN ACTION

  • Presentation (video) - 2022 AHSIE Best Practices Conference: Learning Culture as a Strategy for Student Success - Moving from Theory to Practice
  • STEM student chapters - in August 2021, the Corner Man provided learning culture training to 3-person teams for San Diego area college and university chapters, who then took responsibility for training other chapter members in the learning culture during the 2021-2022 academic year.
  • Lincoln High School - Dr. Kiki Ochoa is sparking the learning culture revolution with a focus on male students of color.
  • Garfield High School - Emily Neidhart is sparking the learning culture revolution with a focus on students in the college prep program.
  • San Diego City College - led by Director Lance Soukhaseum, Tutorial Center tutors will mentor students in the learning culture.
  • San Diego State University - Assistant Dean Theresa Garcia is sparking the learning culture revolution in the School of Engineering.
  • UC Berkeley - Associate Director Tiffany Reardon is sparking the learning culture revolution in the School of Engineering.
  • UC San Diego - Director Dr. Gerardo Arellano is sparking the learning culture revolution in the Raza Resource Centro.
  • UC Santa Barbara - Director Elroy Pinks is sparking the learning culture revolution through the Office of Black Student Development.

IN THE NEWS!

  • Cover story: The Corner Man - Rafael Alvarez '86 believes every student is a contender in the fight for college success (Harvey Mudd College Fall/Winter 2021 Magazine, December)
  • Column: How a San Diego City College instructor turned his lightbulb moment into a beacon for success (San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/30/21)
  • Fighting for marginalized college students in STEM (Mission Times Courier, 3/12/21)


READER FEEDBACK

  • Click here to provide feedback about Turning on the Lights


CONTACT

  • Click here to request more information or other assistance for Turning on the Lights


Purchase



Price: $30 each (plus applicable taxes and S&H)


Individual

  • Click here to purchase individual copies of Turning on the Lights.

Volume

  • Discount pricing is available for orders of 25, 50, 100, 250, 500 or more copies. Click here to request a quote for a volume purchase.

About the Author - MESA Director Alvarez earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from Harvey Mudd College and a master's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern California. Turning on the Lights is based on his experience as an undergraduate student and as the San Diego City College MESA Program Director. In recognition of his achievements in using learning culture to increase student success, Director Alvarez was awarded the 2012 John & Suanne Roueche Excellence Award from the League for Innovation in the Community College and the 2021 Outstanding Engineering Educator Award from the San Diego County Engineering Council.