Getting Organized and Planning Your Time

*2.5 Minute Read     

Empower yourself!

To be successful in an online course, you need to take an active role in your own education.

A simple way to take control of your learning in a remote or online environment is by managing your time wisely. Most online courses meet “asynchronously” which means there are no set times for your “classes” – you are expected to log into your courses, complete the work and submit your assignments by a specific due date.

That’s good news, because it gives you the flexibility to work your own pace (sort of) and at the time that works best for you.

But this can also be a problem if you tend to procrastinate (“I have plenty of time, I can do it later!”) or if you haven’t set up a routine or if you are used to having your instructors remind you of due dates.

Coming up with a plan that works for you can put you in control!

Some tips to keep you focused and organized:

• • On the first day, review the syllabus for each of your courses.
  • Starting Day 1, use a calendar (or calendar app) to note due dates for all assignments.
  • Block off time each day for reading, writing, studying and working on assignments.
  • Add any holidays or events, and important dates from the academic calendar Links to an external site..
  • Log into your course at least once a day.
  • Develop a long-term plan for completing your major assignments.
  • Make a daily "to do" list.
  • Reward yourself whenever you complete something on your list!
  • Don’t forget to check your calendar daily!

Once  you've gained control, keep up the momentum!

Now that you’ve gotten yourself organized, use your skills to stay on top of your work. Don't wait until you find the time to squeeze it in! You’ll find that it’s much easier to “keep up” than it is to clean-up the “pile up”!

Set your overall goals at the beginning of the semester and check in with yourself weekly.  Remember, it’s up to you to make sure you’ve allotted enough time to complete your work so you’re not starting an assignment the day before it’s due.

You can avoid the chaos by setting priorities! Watch the short video for some good advice.

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If you’re having trouble holding yourself responsible, pair up with a friend or classmate to act as your "accountability partner" -- you can check in with each other to make sure you are both on staying on track! By being organized, proactive, and self-aware, you can get the most from your online class even when life outside of school becomes chaotic.

"I'll stop procrastinating, tomorrow . . . "

Still having trouble finding time to get things done? Watch this video Utah Valley University to learn how to use the pomodoro method -- a simple technique that can help you manage your time and get things done!

 

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