As part of my Study Skills portfolio, Julie Khamis has asked me to construct a weekly time table which is to include between twelve and sixteen hours of study time. It must show a balance of interests and achievable short term study goals to career towards the long term objective of academic success in the Access course.
ProcedureI started by constructing two time audits in the form; weekday and weekend. Then divided the half hour time slots between the categories “Fixed time”, “Moveable”, “Leisure”, as my week worked before the start of the Access course. Next I calculated the hours spent and converted it into percentage of time spent, using the formula 1/2 hrs /48 x 100. When I completed the audits I was able to put the information into timetables, this time adding the category “Study time” and using the formula No hrs/ 168 hrs in a week x 100 to convert into percentage.
Findings
- Weekday Audits* Fixed Time = 15.5 hrs = 64%
- Moveable = 4.5 hrs = 19%
- Leisure = 4 hrs = 17%
- Weekend Audits
- Fixed Time = 16.5 hrs = 69%
- Moveable = 3.5 hrs = 14%* Leisure = 4 hrs = 17%
- Weekly Timetable* Fixed Time = 130 hrs = 78%*
- Moveable = 14 hrs = 8%
- Leisure = 10 hrs = 6%* Study = 14 hrs = 8%
Conclusions
From analyzing my findings I can see that most of my time is fixed (overall 78%). On Wednesdays and Fridays I have the least amount of variety with only 2 hours and 3 hours of leisure time respectfully. This is mainly because I am in college all day on these days. This restricts my time considerably.
For this reason, I have not chosen Wednesday or Friday as a day of study. This would not be practical on balance as I would not be able to sustain this timetable for the long term. On Saturdays and Sundays I have more of a variety of time; fixed, moveable and study, but no leisure time. This is because my children are home from school, so days are not as fixed or planned so a lot of time is moveable.
Because of this I have the freedom to change tasks around at short notice and can study when they are asleep. Tuesdays and Thursdays I have enough time in the day to have two sessions of study with fixed times in between. On these days I only have college in the mornings so my time is free to study as well as having an hour of leisure in the evening; which on balance is a healthy and sustainable amount of variety to continue with for the long term. Mondays have the most variety with all four categories included in the day.
The time is nicely spread out with enough leisure time and moveable time to give me the freedom to feel refreshed enough to study in the evening. From analyzing the whole completed timetable, I feel I have a well rounded, sustainable study plan. All categories are shown in a good, healthy amount for each. All the important time management issues like study and fixed times take priority while also allowing more sociable times to still take place.
It’s the contribution of all four categories that lead to overall success in the Access course. This creates a manageable long term, achievable target study plan. Without this the weekday would become too stressful and it would be unlikely that I would achieve my end objective of completing my Access course.
Recommendations
My long-term objective is to successfully complete the Access course with distinctions; with these my aspiration is to be accepted into my first choice University degree course.
I hope to accomplish this by the end of the college year 2012. To achieve this I will have to prioritise my time efficiently and commit to a few short term goals. The steps I will aim to take are; knowing my strengths and weaknesses, I have completed the questionnaire to find out the best learning style for myself and I’m found to be an auditory/visual learner. I will use these styles in my study times.
Complete homework in the next allotted study time directly following the lesson, as to not forget important details, to reinforce lesson subject and to achieve the best possible grade in the assignment. Always rewrite lessons notes in folder, repetition helps to reinforce learning. Getting a good amount of sleep, I’ve ensured I’ve not organized study time too late as to impact on rest. The short-term goals can be measured for success in the grades I achieve for assignments.
If these are positive then I can be reassured I am going in a good direction towards my overall objective of being offered a place at University. Individually people differ. Depending on the learning style they prefer and other commitments it might be necessary for a person to have their study time at night or only for half-hour or hour blocks depending on personal circumstances. This does not mean to say that their overall objective may be compromised.
Evaluating all my work so far I feel it would be impossible to maintain a long term study routine without the balance of all four categories. In the short term, it may be possible (exam week) but for long-term success and perseverance it is healthy to have a balance of interests or you will end up stressed and fatigued. Things like 30 minute study sessions are good in between other activities to refresh in your mind the lesson or tidy up notes, without stressing yourself out at committing 2/3 hours to study periods. Committing too long in any study will only slow your enthusiasm and you will end up not being able to concentrate.
This is a waste of the time because you achieve very little. The sensible study is the key, make use of time management. Little and often seems to work best.
