ms zuzeka mkra student retention unit date: 11 september 2019 … year... · 2019. 10. 3. · fye...

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Ms Zuzeka Mkra

Student Retention Unit

Date: 11 September 2019

TOPIC: Assignment preparation

Student Retention Unit (SRU)

• The SRU has a mandate to implement and coordinate the First-

Year Experience (FYE) programme.

• The FYE programme aims to provide extended support to

students entering Unisa for the first time by providing essential

information during crucial points in the student journey.

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FYE projects

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A look at the FYE projects

FYE weekly emails

• Emails were sent to each cohort: those registered in January

2019 (returning first-time entering) and those registered in

June/July 2019 (first-time entering students).

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FYE Live broadcasts…

• This is our 11th live broadcast and thank you for joining us.

• FYE live broadcast:

Crucial tool as it bridges the gap between students and the

institution.

Live interaction with the students.

Immediate response to student queries.

If missed, recording can be watched later from FYE website www.unisa.ac.za/FYE.

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FYE mailbox

• The SRU has created an FYE mailbox for students to send FYE

related queries: fye@unisa.ac.za

• The SRU team attends to all queries on a daily basis.

• FYE mailbox uniqueness:

No automated response.

Students receive feedback within 48 hours.

Non first-time entering students also utilise the mailbox.

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FYE website

• FYE website was created to bridge the gap between

students and administrative/academic staff by providing

information related to:

Support services available to all Unisa students

Including all FYE related information on all the various

services provided to first-time entering.

• The website is updated on a regular basis. Visit

www.unisa.ac.za/FYE.

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FYE MOOC

• FYE MOOC piloted in the following regions:

Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Rustenburg and Cape Town.

• Changes made based on the comments received during

the piloting.

• The SRU launched FYE MOOC on 31 May 2019.

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Dr Kodisang

Senior student counsellor

Counselling and Career Development

Get started

with your

assignments

Assignments help you to consolidate what you are

learning and receive feedback on your progress.

Completing your assignments is not a task on its

own – it forms part of your study journey and need

a lot of preparation.

Role of assignments

1. How to start with your studies

2. How to connect with others

3. How to manage your studies

Your study journey

Printed material: organise different

tutorial letters and study guides into

different files (use inventory letter to

check)

Electronic material: create separate

folders for each of your modules and

place the various files in the appropriate

folder.

Step 1: Get organised

Does this sound familiar?

• I never have enough time to ... (study,

rest, spend with my family)

• I don't know where my time goes!

Most of the time...

• you may not have reflected on how you

are using your time

• you do not realise that you have the

time you need for your studies in

your schedule

• What you need to do and when you will do it.

• SMART plans: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and in time goals

• “I will read and make notes of chapter 1 for Economics from 18:00-20:00 tonight”.

• Goals help you to commit to specific tasks and they hold you accountable for what you need to do.

Step 2: Plan your studies

Your tutorial letters and study guides will indicate

to you what you need to study – you will need to

plan when you will study.

Step 2: Plan your studies

Two types of planning

• Long-term planning

• Short-term planning

Why long-term planning?

To gain an overview of the whole year's

activities: submitting assignments,

preparing for an exam, writing exams and

important social events and dates

Weekly planning

• Weekly planning is about what specific things you would want to complete on each day in any given week

• In the previous activity you reflected on how much time you have available for your studies in a week

Weekly planning

• You now need to allocate time for each module in your weekly

schedule.

• For example, you have 3 hours each evening to study and 8 hours

over the weekend - you now need to decide when you will study what.

• As you allocate time during the week for each module, you must keep

in mind that you need to spend 6-8 hours per week on each semester

module that you are registered for (3-4 hours per year for year

modules).

• Make sure that you spend equal time on each module keeping in mind

that some modules may require more time than others

How can you create more time for

yourself?

• Get a piece of paper and draw a table with the

names of the week at the top.

• On the left of the table, you will write down the

hours allocated to each task.

• For example, from 5-6 in the morning, you get

ready to go to work; from 6-7 you travel to work;

from 7-12 you work and from 12-13 you take a

lunch break

This could be daunting – you may not have studied for some time or you are worried about your academic skills (e.g. reading, writing, numerical, IT)

JUST GET STARTED!

Step 3: Start studying

Start with a quick overview of

your study guide – especially of

learning objectives at the

beginning of a unit

Use a textbook where indicated

Step 3: Start studying

Actively engage with your studies:

―Ask questions

―Make links between your studies,

what you know, and everyday life

―Make notes

Step 3: Start studying

There are many different note

making techniques – find one

that works for you

Try Question and Answer

system and mind maps

Step 3: Start studying

Revise at the end and the

beginning of each study session

Use questions from the study

guides and your learning

outcomes to test yourself

Step 3: Start studying

Effective notes:

• need to reflect your

understanding of the module

• will help you to prepare for the

exam

Step 3: Start studying

To recap:

– Get organised

– Plan your studies

– Start studying

In order to get support ...

• You need to ask questions

• Prepare

• Commit and show willingness to get support

• Allow people to help you

• What you give is what you get – in order to be supported you also need to support

Some distractions

• Poor planning and lack of objectives

• Lack of deadlines and crisis management

• Can't say "No"

• Media (TV, magazines, etc)

• Unanticipated events (eg. uninvited guests)

• Online social activities (MXIT, Facebook, Twitter)

Managing distractions

• Use your distractors to your advantage. For example, if one of your distractors is spending time on social networks such as Facebook? Think about how you could use Facebook for your studies?

• Set clear objectives

• Eliminate distractions

• Break big jobs into smaller pieces

• Use a system of punishment and reward

• Draft a formal contract with yourself

What if something happens I did not

plan for?

• Nothing is fixed on your plan

• Be flexible

• Re-prioritise if you get stuck

Overall results of planning

• Coping with academic anxiety

• Reduce exam anxiety

• Keeps you motivated

• Allows you to maintain balance between what is required vs what is available

• Eliminates time wasters because you are aware of them

Contact us

Talk to a counsellor about your learning.

E-mail: counselling@unisa.ac.za

Website: http://www.unisa.ac.za/counselling

For more information about the SRU and the

FYE Programme

Live broadcast feedback:

https://forms.gle/SfJTCphWveLmADL28

Contact us:

fye@unisa.ac.za

FYE MOOC:

mooc.unisa.ac.za

Visit our website:

www.unisa.ac.za/FYE

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