EGR 105 Foundations of Engineering I

Time ManagementFall 2008

Speaking of Time…• “Time is money.” • “I don’t have the time.”• “I need to be on time.”• “Don’t waste my time.”• “How much more time do I have?”

• “My time is valuable.”

What About Time?• Only 24 hrs in each day• Cannot create more time in a day (i.e. 25 hrs in a day)

• Need to use time effectively• Need to “invest” time wisely• Need to budget time just like money

Question

Can you create more time?

Yes…Well Sort of…

• You can–work more effectively–work more efficiently

• Therefore, you can–“make more time” in your schedule

Another Question

Can you manage your time?

Observation

"You can't manage time, it just is. So "time management" is a

mislabeled problem, which has little chance of being an effective approach."

So Then…..

What Exactly Do You Really Manage?

You Really Manage

Your activity during periods of time

How to Manage the Clock?

By deciding

• What result is desired (outcome)• What to do to get result (goals)• How to do it (prioritize)• When to do it (timing)

One More Question

So then how do you manage your activities?

How Do You Do It?

By defining outcomes andphysical actions required

tomanage what you do.

Goals vs Outcomes

What’s the difference?

Goal

• a single step on the road to an outcome

• all steps/goals should be easily achievable

Outcome

The desired result that the goals help

you achieve

Why Goals and Outcomes?

• If you only have goals you cannot achieve an outcome because you have no idea where you are heading.

Why Goals and Outcomes?

• If you only set an outcome and have no goals then the outcome remains too far away and you soon give up trying because you feel it is unobtainable.

Exercise (15 minutes)

• Outcome - be debt free in 2 years• Goals - what are they for this?

(break into groups of 3-5)• Determine a clear set of achievable goals

to accomplish this outcome• Be able to defend your goals

Open Discussion of Exercise

What Outcomes Are You Planning For?

• Short-term– Today– For this class– For this semester…….

• Long-term– For this year– For your degree– For your employment– For your future– For your life…….

Open Discussion of Your Outcomes

What Are Your Goals?

• Short-term– Today– For this class– For this semester…….

• Long-term– For this year– For your degree– For your employment– For your future– For your life…….

Open Discussion of Your Goals

Learn to Manage Activities

• Place a high value on your time (activity management), goals, and outcomes

• Schedule your activities (time)• Make a serious commitment to

your study activity (time)

Priorities

Need to determine and set your priorities

to be able to effectively manage

your activities

How Can You Do This?

Some suggestions from Stephen Covey(time management training and planning)

“Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”

Priority Management (Stephen Covey – Seven Habits of Highly Effective People)

• Decide what has high personal value (school, family, health, work, etc.)

• For each thing needing to be done decide– How urgent is it? (Requires immediate attention; doesn’t

require immediate attention)– How important is it based on personal values?

(Important; or not important)• Unimportant things whether urgent or not

Ignore!

Priority Management (Stephen Covey – Seven Habits of Highly Effective People)

• Things that are both important and urgent (crisis management) must be tended to

• Things that are important but not urgent – tending to them is the key to overall effectiveness

What To Avoid

“The tyranny of the urgent”

What Does That Mean?

Avoid being busy with things that are seemingly urgent but are not important

….If not….

You will be very busy all the time - but you will accomplish very little!!!

Managing Activities (Time)

• Lets focus on managing your activities (time) as a student –Studying–Preparing for and taking tests

Making Up Your Weekly Schedule

• Block out all of your commitments(family, classes, meetings, part-time work, time to get to and from school, time for meals, etc.)

• Remainder of time is available for one of two purposes – 1) study; or 2) recreation

• Schedule study time to avoid wasting time

Answer Four Questions

• In scheduling study time, ask yourself: -When should I study - now or later? -Where should I study? -What subject should I study?

-Who should I study with?-myself (alone)-with others (important and beneficial)

Benefits of Scheduling Your Study Time

• See if you are overextended• More likely to keep up in your classes• Gives feedback as to how much you are studying• You’ll learn what you can do and can’t do• You’ll feel that you have more time• You’ll feel much less stressed-out over school

How Many Hours Should You Study?

• Depends on– How difficult is the course?– How good a student are you?– How well prepared are you for the

course?– What grade do you want to receive?

Preparing For Tests

• Schedule time for review• “Scope out” tests• Practice under time pressure• Avoid cramming - no all-nighters• Get a good night’s sleep• Make sure you have the right materials/tools• Arrive early and get settled• Look over the entire test before you start

Learning Modes

• Solitary – You learn by yourself• Collaborative – You learn with others

“My anecdotal research indicates that about 90 percent of first-year engineering students do virtually 100 percent of their studying alone.”

Ray Landis

Why Do Students Study Alone?

• “I learn more studying by myself.”• “I don’t have anyone to study with.”• “It’s not right. You’re supposed to do

your own work.”• “I can figure it out by myself.”• …. other reasons?????

Benefits of Group Study

• You’ll be better prepared for the engineering “work-world”

• You’ll learn more• You’ll enjoy it more• You’ll learn more by discussing and

working problems together

Strategies For Using Time

•Develop blocks of study time–About 50 minutes?–How long does it take for you to become

restless?•Take breaks

–Some learners need more frequent breaks or a variety of reasons

–More difficult material may also require more frequent breaks

Strategies For Using Time

•Schedule weekly reviews–Individually–With study groups (important)

•Always prioritize assignments–When studying, get in the habit of beginning with the most difficult subject or task

Strategies For Using Time

•Develop alternative study places–to maximize concentration–free from distractions (quiet)–Or maybe you need background noise

•Use your time wisely–Think of times when you can study

"bits" as when walking, riding the bus, etc., in addition to time blocks

Strategies For Using Time

•Review studies and readings –just before class

•Review lecture material –immediately after class

(Forgetting is greatest within 24 hours without review)

Strategies For Using Time

•Schedule time for critical course events

–Papers, –Presentations–Tests–Quizzes–Lab reports–Etc.

Habits

Vince Lombardi (great football and leadership coach)

"Winning is a habit. Unfortunately so is losing."

Question

How do you create winning habits?

Problem Is…

Most people don't plan to fail; ….they just fail to plan.

So What Do You Do?

• Develop a plan to manage your activities (time)• Be committed to your plan• Be flexible in your plan• Establish realistic outcome(s)• Determine achievable goals for your outcome(s)• Obtain and use a planner

Now What?So what’s your

game plan to succeed in your

engineering studies?

…now is the time to get started on this….

Assignment• Obtain a planner…and…start using it• Set outcomes and goals for yourself

-Short-term -Long-term• Establish your priorities • Make a plan to budget your time• Manage your activities• Complete the weekly time sheet handout

– Each week for the entire semester– Track your daily activities - adjust as necesary– Learn how you are spending your time

• Commit to developing winning habits for success