Time Management Insights

Time Management

It has come to my realization that, one of the things that I have learned from this module is the theme of time management. Time is a limited resource that has been accorded to everyone. People of varying professions, be it a school janitor, or a national government leader, need to manage time. This module has brought to my conscience that in order to successfully accomplish tasks both within and outside school, I need to plan my time very well. I have learned that time management is all about being able to plan and organize time dedicated to different activities during any day (Tracy, 2013).

Evidence

One problem concerning time, I have come to learn, is that I keep procrastinating. Retrospectively, there are many tasks I have been assigned at home and in school which I have waited until the last minute to get them done (Morris, 2016). This problem has caused me to waste time and, in some cases, caused me a certain degree of pressure and stress. By definition, procrastination is a problematic habit which automatically results in the needless delay of the priority, relevant, and timely activity until another time or day (Hell, 2011). I have procrastinated by putting certain significant things off beyond reason, such as finishing a chapter in a class reading.

Explanation

Current

I found some practical tips which would help me manage my time and beat procrastination. These tips include making of to-do lists, avoiding distractions, tracking and making the correct estimations of time in an accurate fashion, and coming up with schedules for daily activities (Kapur, 2018). The tips given for proper time management were of great help. Generally, I am now able to plan my days ahead. I have learned to ensure that every minute is well accounted for.

Future

I will ensure to always have a watch on my wrist, as this will serve as a physical indicator of my me to remain aware about time. I plan to carry out more research on time management, because more knowledge about it will make me become an expert in time management. I believe that time management will not only contribute to my success as a student, but also as a professional in my future career.

Independent Learning

I have learned the theme of independent learning from this module. Different people have different ways of learning. Usually, independent learning is associated with other learning approaches, such as student-centred learning, ‘ownership’ and ‘personalisation’ of learning (Kanter, et al., 2012). Independent learning is also referred to as ‘self-regulated learning.’ In order to engage in independent learning more successfully, one needs to have cognitive skills, affective skills and metacognitive skills. Cognitive skills in independent learning include the ability to come up with informal rules of solving formal problems, making classification of objects, and reasoning in a logical manner (Lakin, 2013). Affective skills involve the management of personal feelings, and metacognitive skills involve being able to identify the way I learn and identifying activities which are key to independent learning, like active listening and speaking.

Evidence

Through independent learning, I have been able to identify topics which are of interest – things which I am more curious about apart from what is taught in class. Over time, I have gained the ability to work on my own with little intervention from an instructor, and with elevated confidence. I have learned to rely less on guidance from the teachers because, I have learned that it can create a habit of being overexposed, thus undermining my ability to think for myself (Tait & Knight, 2007). Of course, when I advance in life, there will not always be someone else present to feed me with the information I need (Meyer, 2010). Therefore, I have gained courage to step away from the teacher environment and search for knowledge by myself. Explanation

Current

I found some practical tips which would help me become a good independent learner. One tip is that teachers can develop frameworks from which a student is expected to make different choices about what to learn. It follows the similar idea that a coach would use in a football pitch, by setting up a formation and allowing the team players to express themselves differently in those specific positions. With a given structure and identified limits to learning, I can select a variety of topics to focus my attention and learn independently. This tip helped me understand what independent learning is all about.

Future

With repeated independent learning, I can be able to think outside the box regarding complex matters both in class and in my professional environment.

Planning/Organization

In this module, I have learned about planning/organization. Student planning is very crucial, especially in guidance and counselling programs, which require students to develop their own organizational frameworks. I have learned, using assistance from instructors, how to plan my career, personal and educational life. As a student, poor planning is a developmental problem which is a barrier to effective learning (Gybsers, 2008). Student academic planning involves the careful crafting of goals which comprise three central elements, which are the focus of studies, the intentions and expectations with regard to work load, and strategies to achieve success.

Evidence

Aligning with what I have learned from this theme, I can describe my proposed plan for a Degree and the course which I should register in the following academic sessions. I can consider my ability to become a part- or full-time student so long as I am able to remain in class for the recommended hours per week. Also, rather than focusing on working hard alone, I can reflect on the obstacles which I face, from the past, the present and the future, which will influence my ability to succeed.

Explanation

Current

I have learned a few tips about planning. For example, I have learned about the significance of planning my academic career (Khalid, 2010). This plan helps me align my academics with my target career by outlining ways to achieve the target career goals.

Future

I will be better positions to begin my desired career following the student academic plan. I shall develop the correct networks which will bolster my achievement of my desired career.

Looking for further insights on Thematic Analysis of Missing Person Cases? Click here.

References

Gybsers, N., 2008. Individual Student Planning in the United States: Rationale, Practices, and Results. Asian Journal of Counselling, 15(2), pp. 117-139.

Hell, R., 2011. TAO Timing Task Organizing Time Management. s.l.:Sundial Artwork.

Kanter, S., Harden, R. & Laidlaw, J., 2012. Essential Skills for a Medical Teacher E-Book: An Introduction to Teaching and Learning in Medicine. Elsevier.

Kapur, R., 2018. Time Management - A Case Study. [Online] Available at:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323825275_Time_Management_-_A_Case_Study Khalid, F., 2010. Academic Planning and Management. [Online]

Available at:

Lakin, L., 2013. Developing Independent Learning In Science: Practical Ideas And Activities. Open University Press.

Meyer, W. R., 2010. Independent Learning: A Literature Review and A New Project. Education Online.

Morris, N., 2016. Procrastinate Now: Rethinking Time Management. Tellwell Talent.

Tait, J. & Knight, P., 2007. Management of Independent Learning Systems. Routledge.

Tracy, B., 2013. Time Management. Brian Tracy.