Effective Self-Study Management: Prioritise and Plan for Success

1. Transition Skills Managing self-study time, prioritising and planning

2. Managing self-study time -   prioritising and planning Do you know that effective independent learning is a key requirement for success in higher education? Do you know that managing your self study time and prioritising and planning your academic work will promote effective independent learning? If you answered ‘no’ to either of the above, you could benefit by developing your skills to manage and to get the most out of self-study time.

3. Managing your self-study time A key characteristic of UK higher education is the emphasis placed on the responsibility of the student for their own learning (QAA 2015). In higher education, a higher percentage of your time is left for you to manage and this is called self-study. The degree to which that self-study is directed varies. Simply attending all of the classes on your timetable will not be enough for you to be a successful learner.

4. Try this activity: creating a baseline time tracker In all aspects of your life it is important to manage your time. Now that you are studying in higher education more of your studying is done outside of class meetings on your timetable. This self-study may be on your own or with other students. Using the handout or activity, consider yesterday (or another day of your choice) and add into each of the 30 minute slots what you were doing, for example, sleeping, eating, travelling, studying, in class, reading, surfing the internet with friends, watching telly, working, with family, exercising etc Work out the totals and then what percentage is spent per activity? Identify how much time is not allocated to anything and consider how this time can be harvested for self-study. 15 minutes

5. Some facts about using time in higher education

6. Prioritisingand planning your time and activity Think about your week ahead as an empty jar which you are going to fill with tasks and activities. Given that the assumption is that your overall objective is to be a successful student, every task and activity can be reviewed to decide if it is very important, important or not important. Important Not important Very important

7. Prioritising very important tasks

8. Try this activity: creating a time management grid A time management grid can be used to help you to prioritise and manage your tasks and activities. Using this tool will help you to make sure, for example, that you don’t miss deadlines for coursework but you also plan ahead to make time to properly review your academic work and make time for longer term objectives such as end of year exams. Use the template provided and complete the following steps: • Identify everything you need to do in the coming 4 weeks. This is effectively a task or ‘to do’ list. • Consider the urgency and importance of each task and then type each of your tasks into the appropriate quadrant. • Re-order the tasks in the urgent and important quadrant so that the most urgent task is at the top of the list. 15 minutes

9. Try this activity: time management grid Quadrant 1 Quadrant 2 Quadrant 3 Quadrant 4

10. Supporting effective independent learning By adopting a good strategy to manage your time and by prioritising and planning ahead using some of the tools provided in this workshop, you will better equip yourself to become an effective independent learner. Being an effective independent learner is a key requirement for success in higher education. • Deep understanding Deeper Understanding:By managing and planning your independent study time you can develop deeper understanding of the subject material because you find out more than you are told in class. • Independent Learning Skills Development: Graduate capabilities and employability skills can be enhanced. • Sense of belonging • Develop skills Sense of Belonging:A sense of belonging to the academic community and the institution can be developed along with networking with fellow learners.

11. Strategies for independent learning • Use these strategies to improve your time management, prioritising and planning skills Organise your self-study time to make it effective Start by increasing your awareness of how much time you need to spend on self study and how you currently spend your time. The first place to look for more time is in time that is currently wasted Plan your academic work and prioritise the most important tasks and activities • Some things you can try • Short time periods of 30 to 50 minutes can be very productive • Don’t confuse being busy with being effective • Consolidate your learning by using strategies for review and recall • Some things you can try • Create task and to do lists • Revisit these lists to keep them dynamic • Plan to complete ahead of deadlines to give yourself some wriggle room Never underestimate the importance of leisure time Developing skill in dealing with urgent tasks can be very useful but after a deadline is met, always reflect on how you could have better managed achieving the task