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Beyond Books and Screens

Don't Study Alone: Open Study & Office Hours at WIC

WIC's new Open Study & Office Hours series invites Penn students to drop in, study together, and get help on themes.

wic students

It's easier to get through a tough problem set when there are other people around doing the same thing. That's the idea behind Don't Study Alone, Penn Libraries' reminder that studying is better with company. Inspired by it, the Weigle Information Commons (WIC) and Learning Enrichment are launching Open Study & Office Hours, a new series of drop-in study sessions this semester.

Come work on whatever you've got for class. Our staff will be there if you have questions, and there will be snacks.

When: 3:00 to 5:00 pm on the dates below

Where: Open area of the Weigle Information Commons, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, first floor

Who: All Penn students, faculty, and staff. No registration needed.

Stop by for a few minutes or stay the whole time.

 

This semester's sessions

Each session has a theme. You don't have to be interested in the theme to come, but if it's useful to you, staff will be around to talk it through and answer any other questions you might have.

  • How to Get Organized

    Midterms, papers, and group projects tend to pile up at the same time, and it helps to treat your semester like a project you're managing. Bring your syllabi and upcoming deadlines, and we'll help you break big assignments into smaller steps and map them out week by week. From there, you can find an organizing system that fits how you work, whether that's a planning app on your laptop or a paper planner and pocket folders made from the Educational Commons Maker Space. Staff can also help you put together a study schedule you can keep up with, and share a few tech-free ways to stay focused.

    Event details for September 29

  • Design Tools for Projects

    If you have a class project coming up and aren't sure what tools to use, bring it along. Staff can walk you through what's available in the Vitale Media Lab and the Educational Commons and help you figure out what fits your project.

    Event details for October 27

  • Old School & New School Podcasting

    We'll show you the microphones and recording gear in the Vitale Media Lab and how to reserve them for class. We'll also try something newer: bring your notes from a class, and we'll show you how AI tools can turn them into a podcast-style conversation you can listen to while you review.

    Event details for November 17

 

Want your reading printed?

A lot of students still like to read and mark up readings on paper. If you want a printed copy of a course reading for an Open Study session, fill out our print request form and our staff will print it for you.

Please submit your printing request to us no later than 5 PM the day before our Open Study Hour events. You can pick up your reading at WIC and receive a complimentary highlighter at our Open Study and Office Hours events.

 

Come by

Bring your readings, your notes, or a question you've been stuck on. We'd love to see you at WIC.

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Date

September 24, 2026

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