Length: 15-20 minutes

Outcomes

After this lesson, you will be able to: begin developing strategies to prepare and participate in classes develop a range of strategies that will help you plan and manage your time and studies

After this lesson, you will know: the expectations of you as a student in each particular class the differences between the classes what you will need to bring and prepare for class what you'll need to successfully participate in classes

Summary

As a university student, you will be expected to demonstrate a level of independence in managing your studies along with the other aspects of your life. It is important therefore to learn how to manage your time, energy and motivation as well as developing your learning skills through your time at university. For many students, this is a significant step in their academic development as they may not have previously been in this position before. This module will look at what is expected from you as a student and some strategies for you to start developing or adapt to your own learning to help you with studying.

Studying and Time Management

A university student will have many competing factors as they study through the duration of their degree, these may include social, work, as well as family, on top of their own studies. Learning how to properly manage these varying aspects becomes even more important during times of high stress and which factors you should prioritise.

It is important to figure out where university fits into your lifestyle, for some people it may be the most important thing, for others it may well rank below other more important commitments. It all depends on the individual, but it is important to understand how you will react and what mindset you will be taking into study so that you can prepare relevant strategies to help you achieve your goals.

“X amount of study = X grade”

This general idea that a certain amount of studying means you will get a certain grade is not an uncommon belief. Intuitively it makes sense, however as the over used adage says “quality over quantity”.

Each individual is unique, and it would only be fair to approach each individual in a unique way. Instead of having one “Golden Method” for Studying and Time Management, it would be more prudent to have one “Golden Method” for Studying and Time Management for each individual.

Below you will find a list of tips and tools that may help aid with your Time Management, and the key is to find or develop a way that will work for YOU.

• Diaries/Planners/Calendars: for those of a conscientious mind, diaries/planners/calendars may be the way to go. They’re great for keeping track of social events, assignment due dates and personal items.
• Online Calendars such as iCal or Google Calendar can be an alternative to a diary/planner/calendar, especially if you’re not a technophobe! These calendars also have in-built alarm functions to alert you to due dates and other important events
• Checklists/To-Do lists may be more suited for the few that steer away from the rigidity of a calendar/diary

Once you’ve settled on a method of how you will organise your time, a method of using that time wisely would be your next consideration. Again, below you will find a list of tips and tools that facilitate quality learning, and the key is to find or develop a method that will work for YOU.

• Comprehensive note taking for those who prefer structure
• Summative note taking for those who prefer “free thinking”
• Mind maps can help organise and bring into focus how topics of Units may interrelate or not
• Study groups are a neat way of studying (given you’ve found an appropriate group of peers)
• Family and friends can be a good source for study. If you can explain something to them and ask them to explain it back to you, then you can be confident you’re studying is working
• Meaning and contextualisation are key for keeping your information embedded in your mind; reorganising lecture material to reflect something meaningful and relevant to you increases the odd that you’ll remember it

Classes

You will encounter a range of classes at university, some will have different expectations and will require different levels of participation. Below are descriptions of the main types of classes you will encounter but remember each subject may differ slightly so use these as a guide of what to expect. Let's take a look at the classes:

Lectures - these are often held in the larger rooms, commonly known as lecture theatres, and is where most of your content for your subject will be delivered. They involve one or more 'lecturers' who will talk on a subject or topic for that specific lecture while students take notes based on this talk. It is best to ask questions and any discussions you may want to have for tutorials, as tutorials are specifically designed to have these interactions and discussions. Lectures are mainly aimed at delivering content rather than discussion and due to the larger number of students it is not the most ideal place for starting discussion. That is not to say you shouldn’t answer questions if the lecturer asks a question however!

Tutorials - these smaller, classroom-sized classes are where you can discuss and ask the questions relevant to the content you are studying. You will typically analyse the topic or content in much more depth than lectures, and have the opportunity to partake in meaningful conversations and debates with other students in the course. The tutor will help facilitate any discussion and they will usually be the primary contact point for any questions you have on the course. Most tutorials will expect you to have prepared for the class by reading or viewing certain readings and material before the class, so that you can engage in the discussions taking place. There will also typically be a participation element to the marks, so engaging in meaningful conversation is an important part of this!

Practicals - generally differ to tutorials in that they are more hands based, and as the name suggests, practical. Different subjects will have slightly different practicals ranging from experiments in labs for subjects like Chemistry to observing animal behaviour in Psychology. They provide a means to apply the theory presented in lectures and/or tutorials in a practical way. Sometimes this will entail certain safety requirements, so make sure you take note during your first tutorial or lecture.

Workshops - these classes are a combination of tutorials and practicals.

Seminars - these classes are a combination of lectures and tutorials.

Participating in classes

To get the most out of subjects at university, you have to be engaging with the content as well as the discussions taking place within your classes (for most subjects, this will take place in the tutorials, practicals, workshops or seminars). Engaging as a student allows you to better understand the topics being discussed and how they apply to you and your chosen field. To do this successfully, you will need to prepare for your classes by completing any set readings