Videos on Time Management for Online Learning: A 3 Part Series
Part 1 – Structuring your Workday:
Managing your time when learning online can be very challenging! But good news! It’s not too different from managing your time when you’re on campus. In this video, we help you learn how to manage your time efficiently by providing strategies on how to structure your day like an official workday (i.e. a 9-5 workday). This will help you designate time for work, but also for important things like eating meals, spending time with your family, and connecting with friends online – just like you would if you were on campus.
Part 2 – Managing Time and Space, Communicating:
In “Structuring your Workday“, part 1 of the Time Management for Online Learning series, the video covered the idea of structuring your day like a workday – a strategy for efficient time management. In Part 2, the video addresses the importance of “space”. Where you are working, in addition to the time you set aside to work, is a big consideration. Find out how to protect your space from distractions and learn how to communicate with the people you live with to create a new plan with boundaries and expectations.
Part 3 – Using Time Intervals for Balance and Efficiency:
Getting your work done in intervals might be a more flexible, time efficient strategy and give you ways of adapting to fluid work situations and contexts, such as learning online. Learn about intervals, switching between tasks, and cognitive biases we’re all prone to that make it difficult to manage our work flow. Don’t forget to check out Part 1, which focuses on the importance of managing time, and Part 2, which focuses on the importance of managing space.
Don’t forget to check out our resources on Getting Organized in Time and Space.
The Perils of Multitasking
When you’re participating in classes remotely, it seems like there are even more distractions than in regular classes (email, messages, movies, shopping, etc.) and you might be tempted to multitask. Most people think they can multitask effectively, but the simple truth is that most people cannot.
How can you move towards “monotasking” instead?
People think they are “multitasking,” but most often people are “microtasking” instead. This means they are switching back and forth rapidly between tasks–NOT doing both tasks at once. In fact, we are often in a constant state of “continuous partial attention” – where we may not be focused on anything in particular! When learning online, it may be inevitable that we “switch” between tasks, so learn how to take control of your focus and manage multiple tasks efficiently – while staying engaged with the material and staying connected with your friends, your classmates, and the community at large!
Learning from Online Lectures and Discussions
Successful online learners have a growth mindset! They are flexible, tolerate the inevitable technical problems that arise, ask for help when they need it, do regular work for each class, and persist when things are hard.
Take notes just like you’re in a normal class.
Watch the LSC’s videos on Cornell Notes for good general note-taking tips.
What are some good strategies for reading in online classes?
This video covers how to learn in a lecture and reading course when you’re doing it online. In a typical reading based course, you can expect to attend the lecture, take notes, see some powerpoints, do some reading (before or after class), and demonstrate knowledge through either papers and/or tests. However, when you’re not physically going to classes, what are some tips and strategies for tackling this type of course? Learn what you can do before (preview reading) and after the class (active), how “lectures” and “reading” are connected, and how to engage in them together, rather than separately.
Don’t forget to check out our resources on Learning from Online Lectures and Discussions!
Being Flexible
Throughout this situation, you’ve already demonstrated that you can be flexible. Nice job! We all—your classmates, your professors, your friends, your family—are dealing with changing our routines and figuring this out as we go.
In order to make this work as well as you can, figure out how you can develop new routines that support your needs. Try new things. See what works.
There’s a great TED talk called “The Power of Belief” that offers some great advice about developing and maintaining your Growth Mindset.
It’s important to establish a new routine when your environment, schedule, context, space, and/or situation changes. Figuring out how to get work done and manage your time and space can be daunting! Know how to set realistic expectations and be prepared for the process to be iterative. Setting new plans and goals is important, but keep in mind that tracking your progress and process are just as critical. Learn how and what strategies to use in tracking your work in this video on finding a new routine.
Don’t forget to check out our resources on Being Flexible.