I was always the type of student who waited until the last minute to get things done, and said that I’d just do my work ‘later.’ Although my work would get done, it wasn’t to my best ability because I didn’t give myself adequate time to work to my best ability or potential. When I walked into Political Science 121, I knew nothing about politics, and uninterested in the subject, I had already developed the mindset of working hard enough to pass the class.
In CLS 105, we began to discuss task and time management strategies that effectively allow students to organize their class work, prepare for tests, and meet deadlines. I decided that using these strategies in my Political Science 121 class would be helpful, and allow me to be more engaged in the class, so I decided to try it out.
D's Due and Do Organizer
The first strategy I used was the D's Due and Do Organizer. This exercise involves making both a weekly and monthly calendar with 'do' and 'due' categories. The 'due' category marks due dates for all assignments. The 'do' category separates work into reasonable, smaller groups, making it easier to complete work gradually before it is due.
Here is an example of my D’s Due and Do Organizer for this week:
*Steps to make a D's Due and Do Organizer:*
1. Print out a monthly calendar, or buy a planner
2. Identify all due dates in the course you chose
3. Write in all due dates
4. Divide each day into two two columns, DO and DUE
5. Write assignments in the DO column when you plan to do them, and DUE for when they need to be completed by.
I decided to use this strategy for Political Science to see if it would help. I have the class on Tuesdays and Thursdays and a discussion on Friday. Because we have to read for every class, in the 'due' column I would write the readings I have to complete before that class. After class, I would write the next assigned reading for the following class in the 'do' column. Considering I have PSC every other day, I would split the reading into two days instead of reading it all at once.
Overall, I found the D's Due and Do Organizer helpful because it allowed me to divide my work and make it easier to get things done in parts instead of doing everything in one day. Breaking down the reading made it easier for me because I can't sit and read for a long period of time and I personally find the readings really boring and hard to get through. Using the calendar allowed me to see when everything needed to be done by, and by doing the work in sections it was less stressful and a lot less complicated to complete.
20 Minute Test Prep
As an assignment in my CLS class, we had to use the 20 Minute Test Prep in one of our classes. Once again, I chose Political Science because my professor gives a quiz every Tuesday and I need the most preparation. After each class I would review all the material we covered in class that day and then create an outline. On Friday after my discussion, I would take all my notes and outlines and review everything for ten minutes. After that, you write questions you think the professor might ask on the test. One or two weeks before the exam, create an outline containing the topics you have learned thus far and review.
My 20 Minute Test Prep:
The 20 Minute Test Prep was helpful because in the end it helped me create a study guide and questions that could appear on the test. It allowed me to organize all of my notes and adequately helped me prepare for the quizzes. When it came time for tests, I had everything I needed to study for the test and I had been studying for at least one week. This method prevented me from cramming everything and trying to understand the topics the night before the quiz.
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