| Taking courses online requires all the
skills necessary to be successful in tradition college courses, plus
students need the self-motivation and discipline to be independent
learners.
Here are some time management, and
smart study tips for students taking courses online. Research shows that successful distance
learning students are good readers, good organizers and have good time management skills.
To help you get started with a successful experience in your MCCVLC courses, we encourage
you to review your individual time management skills. You can start by setting up a time
management plan for yourself by following the steps below.
| Identify your goals and
priorities |
The first step to managing your
time and controlling your life is to identify what your goals and priorities are. You need
to decide what you want out of school and what you must do to get it. Is getting an
education high on your priority list? How about your current job, your family? What is
most important to you? |
| Analyze how you're spending your
time now |
For a week, keep a detailed log
of everything you do. Account for all activities: class attendance, study, work, eating,
commuting, recreation, exercise, sleep, etc. Also note when you do these activities. |
| How much time each week do you
spend… |
in classes? studying for classes?
working? meeting the needs of others? exercising? relaxing? sleeping? _________? |
| Match how you're using time with
your priorities |
Now you can evaluate your use of
time. No one can judge your use of time as efficient or inefficient—not even
you— unless you do it in relation to your priorities. |
| Develop a plan to spend quality
time on your priorities |
If you found some time blocks
that are not in line with what you want to be doing to reach your goals, you can begin to
systematically change your life by taking control of your time. Start by building a
realistic time schedule or time budget that gives time to the activities that fit with
your priorities and will help you reach your goals. If learning and getting good grades
are high on your priority list, then you will have to budget time for attending classes
regularly, for preparing, studying, and reviewing, plus additional time for papers,
reports and other special assignments. |
Finally, you must stick
to your time schedule |
Some flexibility is necessary, of
course, to take care of unexpected demands, but if you spend too much time on non-priority
tasks you will not meet your goals. |
Planning Tips for Taking Online Classes:
- Keep a "Things To Do" list and keep the
items in priority order.
- Break major projects into small pieces and tackle
them one at a time.
- Eliminate tasks - Carefully evaluate each task
and, when possible, don't do time consuming routine tasks like re-washing the car weekly
or dusting.
- Delegate or negotiate tasks - Ask yourself "Who else can do this task?">
- Consolidate tasks - Whenever possible do more
than one thing at a time, except thinking! If you're going to the library to prepare your
biology report, also work on your research paper and look up that reference you need for
literature.
- Evaluate your habits - Why do you do routine
tasks in a certain way? Are your routines the most efficient? Could you save time by
changing your routine actions? Could getting up 15 minutes earlier be helpful?
- Know and wisely use your prime working times -
There really are "morning people" and "night owls"—find out when
you're at your best and use those hours wisely.
- Learn to say "No" - There is never
time to do everything we want to do, so we must learn to do those things that move us
toward our goals and say "no" to those that do not.
- Be flexible but remain in control
- Expect interruptions, as they are bound to occur. If you are doing things in priority
order—not leaving big things to the last - you and your schedule will easily survive.
Study Smart:
- Make a study schedule and stick to it - The
best way to ensure that you will have enough study time to meet your goals in each course
is to plan for it.
- Understand assignments and write them down -
Keep all assignments in one place to avoid forgetting something.
- Develop an understanding of your best concentration
times - Arrange your schedule so that you have study time during your peak hours.
- Remember that "study" includes many
different tasks - When instructors talk about the need to study, they mean you should
read review material in preparation for class, complete all homework, and review class
notes, text assignments and supplementary material on a regular schedule.
- Realize that different subjects require different
types of preparation - Lecture classes require that you review your notes right after
class and preview the new topic just before class; recitation classes, like languages and
math, demand more specific study just prior to class.
- Schedule study learning sessions to fit your
attention span - Try studying for 45 minutes and then taking a ten minute exercise
break.
- Begin each study session with goal setting -
Predict specifically what you want to accomplish and then work to meet your goals.
- Study difficult and/or complex material first -
Leave routine and more mechanical tasks for last.
- Vary subjects and type of study for maximum
efficiency - Within a study session do some reading, writing, recitation, etc. to stay
interested and alert.
- Schedule periodic review sessions - To remember material over
a long period of time, you must review the information often. Use all of your available
time. Even small bits of time, like waiting for the dentist, can be put to use, don't be
caught without something to read or study!
|
