DSS Academic Skills Training Programme

Time Management

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Difficulties People Can Have

• Meeting assignment deadlines• Conflicting demands of various subjects• Using time in the most efficient ways • Balancing college and life outside of college:– Family – Work/employment– Travel– Leisure and Sports

• Getting started on study.

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Time Management Issues

• Only part of your week is formally timetabled – what are you doing with the rest of the time?• What time management difficulties

have you experienced?• Are you productive

or a procrastinator?

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How

do

you

use

your

tim

e?

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Using All Available Time

Formal study sessions complemented by informal learning and listening sessions work best i.e. Sample day:– Attend all lectures and tutorials– Immediately after, read over and edit lecture notes– Gather prescribed readings from library and from

Blackboard– Listen to or read texts, notes and handouts while

travelling home– Prepare for next day’s scheduled sessions.

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Problem Solution

Not meeting deadlines? Diaries & planners (online, mobile based or print)Calendars (online, mobile based or print)RemindersTask analysisReflection

Priority setting Make lists of ‘Things to Do’Colour code and use symbols:‘Most Important’ ‘Things That Can Wait’

Procrastinating Working backwards from deadlines

Insufficient or wasted time Reflection on and analysis of use of time

Not relaxing? Make time for free time as a ‘reward’Earn and work towards these ‘rewards’

Studying V Completing Assignments

Insert study oriented work into each weekIdentify long and short term goalsBecome familiar with past papers and timetables

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Diaries and Planners

• Paper diaries – page a day, week per view• Weekly & monthly planners –Word templates• Wall planners – Easons• Google calendar – part of UCC email account• Calendar on mobile phone:

Insert appointments, deadlines and reminders

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First Things First

In order to study you need to know:– What needs to be studied?– How to access that information?– When you study best?– What time you have available to do it?– What other commitments do you have?– How the exams work?

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Set your PrioritiesHave you:• Made a list of everything you have to do? • Colour coded tasks by those that are:

1. essential and those that 2. can wait?

• Identified the most urgent item?• Worked out the best order to do things in?• Figured out how long each task should take?• Marked your essential tasks on a diary, planner…?

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Task Analysis

1. What is my goal?a. Do I have everything I need to achieve it?b. What do I need to do before starting this?

2. What are the rules and guidelines associated with task?c. What is the word count or exam duration?d. When is it due/how long do I have?

3. What are the steps to achieving it?e. What first? Second? Third?

4. How will I know when it is done?f. What are the indicators of success?

5. What next?

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Reflection• What tasks did I achieve?• In what timeframe?• How effective was I?• How positive or negative was the outcome – improved or worse marks?– lower or higher stress levels?

• What else did I manage to fit in?• What tasks work well together?• What would I change?• What would I do again?

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Column 1 (fill out during study) Column 2 (fill out after study)

Date:Where:Time I am starting:Study conditions:

Were the conditions, time and place the best possible?Could I improve anything?

How long am I going to study for? How long did I study for?

How many breaks will I take?Time of breaks?For how long?

When did I take breaks?Did I stick to the break time? If not, what do I need to do to get back to study?

Interruptions that occurred1.2.3.4.Time finished:Total time work:

How could I prevent these interruptions?

Actual time spent really studying?

Thoughts and observations about study habits and time management

Reflection Tool

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Time Saving Tips

Organize files by dates:• Incorporate date into file name– This will help you determine which is the most recent

document in the folder, without having to open the file and read through the content. For example, a file named “Poverty 12Oct07" would indicate a version of the Poverty file dated October 12, 2007.

• Version numbers – Distinguish between documents that have been reworked or

changed. Examples would be “Poverty v.1" and “Poverty v.2." This also makes it easier to pick out the most current file.

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More Time Saving Tips

• Store related documents together,– Store Word documents, presentations,

spreadsheets, and graphics related to a particular project in a single folder – don’t group all presentations in one and all spreadsheets in another.

– Much quicker to find and attach documents for particular project.

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Keys to Successful Studying

1. Based on SMART goals 2. Well paced, efficient and consistent3. Controlled environment 4. Utilises a range of memory techniques5. Focused on repetition and methodological

activities i.e. PRR

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Rewards

• Become goal oriented: – “When I have this finished I’ll…”– “When I get my assignment in I can…”– “After my exams, I will….”

• Goals should be:– Daily, weekly and monthly– Long and short term– Well worth it!

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Common Pitfalls and SolutionsDifficulties SolutionsFinding the Time to Study Start early on assignments;

Study consistently • During all reading weeks• ‘Break’ times

Understanding what’s needed Read Book of ModulesReview lecture notesEmail/speak to lecturers and tutorsRead past papers

Dealing with exam itself Download your timetableRead past papersFind exam venue early and visit itStrict in-exam time management

Stress Management Study consistentlyBreaks and rewardsExercise, Sleep and Eat