How to Help Students Maximize Their Study Time

Scenario:

You begin grading Johnny’s assignment and notice that much of it was not done, or it was not done correctly. You post Johnny’s unfavorable grade that was based on the rubric, and Johnny is shocked. You have a telephone conference with Johnny, and he expresses his frustration because he devoted so much study time to the assignment. Once he explains how he prepared, you realize that not enough time was spent on an assignment of such magnitude.

Does this sound familiar?

The truth of the matter is most of our students are very busy—involved in organizations and associations, working, having a social life, and even studying, but many students do not know what to do when they study so that they maximize their time and reap positive results.

It is not their fault.

Studying is like listening. It is a skill that must be taught.

Just because you have ears does not mean you are a good listener. Likewise, just because you take a course, it does not mean you know how to study.

Addressing this issue head-on within your course will give students an advantage that they may not have ever had.

Here are six strategies that you can use to help students become less busy and more productive:

1. Encourage students to use a physical planner. Although this is the digital age, writing tasks on paper and utilizing a planner promotes organization skills and also serves as a daily journal of accomplishment, which is extremely motivating.
2. Suggest that students use a binder for the course. Placing all documents from the course—assignments, rubrics, charts, tables, slideshows, articles, etc.—creates a physical replica of the course that also promotes organization and helps them transfer the digital aspect of the course to the tangible world.
3. Create pacing guides for assignments. Providing an outline of action items with timeframes helps students to see how many hours should be devoted to the task.
4. Record weekly instructor tips. In audio or video form, share tips with students that will help them succeed in the course.
5. Create Study-At-A-Glance Worksheets. Breakdown specific ways to utilize their study time (i.e., outlining a chapter or article, watching instructional videos, posting within forums, responding to classmates’ posts, completing projects or written assignments, etc.)
6. Provide YouTube videos on time management and study habits created by Thomas Frank and Time Diet. Video is a great medium for learning. Let the videos do the talking. Your students may receive it better from someone else.

Geesh! That’s a lot, right?

I know it may seem like it, but it is totally worth it.

As higher educators, we are challenged to not just teach or facilitate but to also give our students the training that they need to increase their success rate. Using a combination of these strategies will minimize the “busy spirit” and help them become productive.

Now, it is time for a great laugh.

Watch this video entitled, What Time Management in College Looks Like and share it with your students. It is nine years old but still keeps me in stitches like the first day I watched it.