The start of a semester can be exciting and busy as assignments start rolling in. The start of the semester can also be a great time to establish a routine to manage your workload effectively.
To get a good start at managing your time and your course work, take advantage of available online tools, including the tools within your course. And don’t hesitate to access support that is available within your learning management system and from your institution. Developing a solid plan for your studies and making a point of asking questions will help you succeed in completing your coursework.
You can also follow these simple tips:
- Read through the course materials to become familiar with the course requirements. Look for details such as assignment deadlines, quizzes and exams, readings, technology requirements and grading policies. Also, use the course outcomes to give you a broad picture of the course’s key concepts.
- Set deadlines for yourself using the calendar tool in your learning management system. Try setting your deadlines at least a day earlier than the actual due date just in case you run into some challenges or last-minute problems.
- Track your progress using your course checklist. The course checklist tool will list all of the assignments for the course with their due dates. Depending on your learning management system, you should be able to track your progress through the course by clicking off each assignment as it is completed. If your course does not have a checklist, make your own.
- Preview assignments before you complete your weekly readings. This will focus your reading and note-taking. As you read, look for the information that will help you complete the assignment(s).
- Compose assignments and postings as Word documents so that you have a back-up copy of your work saved to your computer. Consider emailing assignments to yourself, too, as another way of keeping back-up copies.
- Understand in advance where and how assignments should be submitted. Ask for help early if you need it.
- Review the feedback provided by your instructor and apply any suggestions for improvement to your next assignment.
- Seek help through your instructor’s office hours, your institution’s student support website or a tutoring service if you are encountering difficulties in your studies.
Lethbridge College offers a number of study supports and tutoring opportunities through the Learning Café. To contact the Learning Café call 403-382-6952 or e-mail learningcafe@lethbridgecollege.ca.
What strategies do you use to manage your course work?
