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Pamela Gustafson

U. of Northern Iowa, U. of Wisconsin Whitewater

Jen Zeman

University of Maryland University College

Effective Time Management

Posted by Phyllis Stith on July 30th, 2008

Students enrolled in online classes have the responsibility of managing their time effectively to ensure success in higher education. Adheringto the following measures will help students meet course requirements and deliverables:

Preparation

Students should make a checklist of needed textbooks and supplies before the start of class to avoid falling behind. They should alsolog into classes at the beginning of each week to preview the assignments and course related messages. In addition, a hardcopy of the scheduled assignments should be made (preferably in a planner) so that they can be completed in a timely fashion. Once a task is completed, it should be checked off. It is important to note that students should spend at least 2 to 3 hours per week on each assignment; additional time may be required to complete difficult tasks. And last but not least, non relevant Internet surfing and personal emailing should be avoided.

Avoid Distractions

Distractions can cause students to lose focus and noise control methods should be implemented as a means of prevention. As such, students should study in an environment that is conducive to learning and does not leave room for disturbances. In addition, cell phones and instant messaging should be kept at a minimum during study time because these tend cause students to move away from the study materials.

The Advantages of Down Time

There are times when students will have the potential to use down to their advantage such as when they are doing laundry, waiting on the bus, etc. As a consequence, this time should be spent doing things that are relevant to educational pursuits. For example, students may choose to log into their online class to set up the week’s study agenda when they wake up on Monday morning. In addition, the student may choose to read during bus rides or while doing laundry; all of these will serve to help the student make the most of their time.

Tags: Time Management