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Step Three: Lay Out a Timetable for the Semester |
Brian: So, now that I have determined my goals and listed the obstacles to them, I can get on with the timetable, right?
Deena: Before we do that there are a couple of tasks we need to finish. First, you need to gather some materials if you don't already have them. Here is a list of what you need. When you have these materials, I'll help you get started with a semester calendar. Okay?
Brian: Okay! Then, I'll see you later.
Materials Brian needs to gather:
List of personal appointments, birthdays, and social acclivities
The benefits of using a planner
Now that you have spent some time thinking about your goals and the obstacles that you will need to overcome, let's think about how you will use the time available to you to reach your goals.
Time management begins with the use of a calendar or planner, daily lists, and taking the time to write down everything that you must do so that it gets done. If you sleep 7 hours a night, you have 119 hours a week left to allocate to the things you need to do. That, of course, includes everything from going to class to eating, attending athletic events and social activities, studying, etc. Schedule everything that you must do within the 119 hours a week and then stick to your schedule.
1. Obtain or draw your own month-at-a-glance calendar. Each block should be big enough to hold seven to ten words. 2. Obtain or draw your own weekly calendar. Each space should indicate time in hour or half-hour increments and be big enough to hold five to eight words in each time slot. 3. Get a copy of your college academic calendar to obtain a listing of important dates in the semester such as registration dates, drop/add dates,exam schedules, etc. 4. Have the syllabi (course outline) for your courses so that you can record due dates for papers and other class assignments.
5. Gather all of your personal information about birthdays, social events, doctor appointments, etc.
Deena: Okay, Brian, I see you made your own monthly calendar. That's all right as long as the dates are correct.
Brian: They are, I checked them.
Deena: And you have your data too. That's good. We can begin our second task, transferring the data to your semester calendar. That will give you a global view.
Brian: The big picture! Here's the stuff I have to do for my English class.
English Class
September
3 Topic due via e-mail
10 Paper 1 due; Quiz 1
11 Topic 2 due via e-mail
18 Quiz 2; Paper 2 due
October
1 Third topic due via e-mail
8 Quiz 3; Third paper due
15 Fourth topic discussed via synchronous electronic conferencing
22 Quiz 4; Fourth paper due
29 Fifth topic due via e-mail
November
5 Fifth paper due
12 Quiz 5
19 Guest Lecturer - Have questions prepared
26 Break
December
3 Final paper due
Deena: Good. Now use the monthly calendar you made and go through the Penn State calendar for the semester and transfer important dates and deadlines like Spring Break, Drop/Add, and Finals week. Then go through your class syllabi and transfer major exams, due dates, and meetings; basically the events that you must do and that do not change. Add other important dates and times such as a doctor's appointment, social activities, and birthdays. You should then keep the monthly calendars in a planner as a reminder of classes, appointments, meetings, and errands.
These things seem simple and obvious, but consolidating all your calendars (academic, course-based, personal, and family) into one helps you keep track of your time and get things done on time.
Return to the Time Management Lesson page by closing this page or go directly to the next section of this module.
