KONSEP KEMAHIRAN BELAJAR Kemahiran belajar ditakrifkan sebagai keupayaan atau kecekapan yang perlu dikuasai oleh setiap

pelajar untuk membolehkannya mengumpul, memproses dan merumus maklumat secara kendiri dan seterusnya menuju ke arah pembelajaran seumur hidup. Cara belajar yang berkesan sebenarnya merupakan satu kombinasi berbagai strategi dan kemahiran belajar. Setiap cara dan kemahiran adalah berguna dan sesuai dengan konteks, suasana, masa dan tempat yang tertentu. 2. KEPENTINGAN KEMAHIRAN BELAJAR Banyak kepentingan dan faeedah yang diperolehi oleh pelajar yang dapat menguasai kemahiran belajar. Antaranya ialah: 2.1 Memudahkan seseorang pelajar untuk mendapatkan ilmu secara sistematik dan

bermakna. 2.2 Memupuk minat dan amalan suka belajar dan sentiasa meningkatkan

pengetahuan dan daya intelek sepanjang hayat. 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 Mengaplikasikan kemahiran belajar yang dikuasai dalam pelbagai situasi. Memupuk didplin kendiri pelajara. Melatih pelajar membaca dengan cepat dan tepat. Melatih pelajar mengumpul maklumat dengan cekap. Melatih pelajar memproses maklumat dengan berkesan. Meningkatkan daya ingatan pelajar. Mencungkil serta mengasah bakat serta potensi seseorang. Membantu pelajar memperolehi kemahiran membuat rujukan kepada pelbagai

sumber media.

2.11

Melatih individu menghadapi cabaran pembelajaran dan seterusnya bermotivasi

menghayati pembelajaran sepanjang hayat. 2.12 Melatih dan membantu pelajar supaya dapat menguruskan masa dengan

sebaiknya.

3. TEKNIK MEMBACA BERKESAN 3.1 KEMAHIRAN MEMBACA PANTAS SKIMMING: membaca secara pantas bahan bacaan untuk tujuan memahami idea utama atau tema bahan bacaan berkenaan. Dalam membaca sesuatu petikan, kita hanya memberi perhatian kepada idea penting sesuatu perenggan untuk mendapatkan fahaman umum. Dalam membaca sesebuah buku, fokus kita ialah kepada bahagian tertentu buku berkenaan seperti bahagian pengenalan, daftar isi kandungan, prakata, tajuk utama, rumusan pada akhir bab dan rujukan indek untuk mendapatkan gambaran umum tentang buku yang dibaca. SCANNING: Pembacaan cepat untuk mendapatkan maklumat yang khusus sesuatu bahan bacaan. Pembaca boleh melangkau bahagian-bahagian tertentu yang difikirkan kurang penting. Ketika membaca kita akan menggerakkan mata kita dari atas ke bawah petikan muka surat yang dibaca sambil memberi tumpuan kepada maklumat yang dicari. 3.2 KEMAHIRAN MEMBACA KRITIS SQ4R: Merupakan satu teknik membaca yang dapat membantu pelajar memahami dan mengingat maklumat yang dibaca melalui satu siri tindakan yang berurutan. Teknik ini dibangunkan oleh Thomas & Robinson (1972) berasaskan sistem SQ3R yang dibina oleh Robinson (1961). Teknik ini diakui berkesan untuk membantu pembelajaran dan ingatan pelajar. Langkah-langkah penggunaan SQ4R:

Skim bahan bacaan. Gunakan tajuk sebagai panduanBina soalan mengenai bahan bacaan.Baca. Gunakan soalan sebagai panduan. Fikirkan apa yang dibaca. Hubungkan idea dengan apa yang telah diketahui. Jawab soalan. Hubungkan maklumat dengan sesuatu tajuk. Susun maklumat. Belajar semula maklumat yang sukar.

SQR R R R

SURVEYQUESTIONREAD REFLECT RECITE REVIEW

Survey (Tinjauan): Skim bahan bacaan secara cepat untuk mendapatkan idea secara keseluruhan. Beri perhatian kepada tajuk/sub-tajuk, sinopsis, daftar isi kandungan dan kenal pasti apa yang hendak anda baca atau pelajari. Question (Bina Soalan): Bina soalan kepada diri sendiri mengenai bahan yang hendak dibaca. Gunakan tajuk / sub-topik sebagai panduan. Gunakan kata tanya siapa, apa, mengapa dan di mana. Read (Baca): Baca bahan. Tidak perlu mengambil nota secara ekstensif. Cuba jawab soalan-soalan yang telah dibina. Tambah soalan-soalan baru sekiranya perlu. Reflect (Refleksi): Cuba fahami secara bermakna maklumat yang dibaca dengan (i) menghubungkannya dengan apa yang telah anda ketahui (ii) menghubungkan subtopik dengan konsep dan prinsip sebelumnya (iii) cuba menyelesaikan maklumat yang berkongflik dalam teks (iv) cuba gunakan maklumat yang dibaca untuk menyelesaikan permasalahan yang dikemukakan dalam bahan bacaan (sekiranya ada). Recite (Mengimbas kembali): Praktiskan ingatan anda mengenai apa yang dibaca dengan cara menyatakan idea-idea utama bahan bacaan, mengemukakan dan

menjawab soalan sendiri gunakan tajuk, perkataan yang ditonjolkan / kata kunci dan nota untuk membina soalan kepada diri anda sendiri. Review (Bacaan Semula): Secara aktif semak semula pembacaan anda dengan berfokus kepada soalan-soalan yang ditujukan kepada diri anda sendiri bagi mengesahkan ingatan dan kefahaman anda. Nota atau catatan ringkas anda juga boleh dirujuk. Baca semula bahan berkenaan sekiranya anda tidak pasti dengan ketepatan jawapan yang anda berikan kepada soalan-soalan yang anda kemukakan. KWLH: Teknik ini memberi penekanan kepada pengetahuan sedia ada pelajar, tujuan pelajar membaca dan sumber lain pembelajaran. Taknik KWLH adalah kata singkatan perkataan Bahasa Inggeris yang memberi maksud: K (know) W (want) L (learned) H (how) Apa yang telah diketahui Apa yang ingin diketahui Apa yang didapati selepas membaca Bagaimana maklumat tambahan berkenaan tajuk, boleh diperolehi. membaca secara diketahui (iv) perkara tambahan

Teknik ini bertujuan memberikan pelajar (i) peluang

kritis(ii)mengaitkan pengalaman sedia ada dengan perkara yang dibaca (iii) pertingkatkan minat untuk membaca perkara-perkara yang hendak mengenal pasti perkara-perkara yang telah dipelajari dan perkaradibaca. Langkah-langkah membaca menggunakan Teknik KWLH 1. Kenal pasti bahan yang hendak dibaca. Adakah bahan itu artikel, rencana, petikan, buku atau sebagainya. Lihat sepintas lalu bahan itu, cuba buat jangkaan isi bahan itu. 2. Cuba catatkan maklumat yang telah diketahui berkenaan tajuk itu. Atau cuba sebutkan perkara-perkara yang telah diketahui tentang tajuk. Cuba binaan soalansoalan yang ingin anda dapatkan maklumat daripada teks berkenaan.

yang perlu diketahui lagi (v) peningkatan pemahaman membaca sesuatu bahan yang

3. Baca teks berkenaan dan catatkan maklumat-maklumat yang anda dapati. 4. Semak kembali apa yang telah anda ketahui, apa yang baru anda dapati daripada teks dan jika anda memerlukan maklumat tambahan yang lain, cuba cadang dan sebutkan, bagaimanakah cara untuk anda dapatkan meklumat tambahan itu.

2
Helping your child get organized
Getting organized is crucial for your child, says Linda Winburn, a veteran South Carolina middle school teacher who became the state's 2005 Teacher of the Year. "And the key is parent involvement." Some tips to help your child get organized: Provide a place to study. It doesn't have to be a desk, says Winburn. "A kitchen counter is a great place, especially if mom's in the kitchen cooking." The desk or table surface should be big enough so that your student can spread out papers and books. Make sure essential supplies such as pens, paper and calculator are close by. Have good lighting and a sturdy chair that's the right height available. Help your child develop a system to keep track of important papers. If your child tends to forget to turn in homework or can't quite keep track of how he's doing in a class, it might help to get him a binder with a folder in the front for completed work ready to be turned in and a folder in the back for papers returned by the teacher. "For me, staying organized meant creating a system any system and sticking to it," says Gabriela Kipnis, now a student at the University of Pennsylvania. "I had fun color-coding, organizing and using dividers, but the truth is, all that mattered was that there was a method that I stuck with." Make sure your child has and uses a planner to keep track of assignments.

Help your child get in the habit of writing down each daily assignment in each subject and checking it off when it's complete. Some schools provide these to students, and if not, you might want to work with your PTA or parent organization to provide planners at your school. Encourage your child to estimate how long each assignment will take. He can then plan a realistic schedule, building in study breaks after subjects that are most challenging, and allowing for soccer games and band practice. Helping your child keep track of time spent studying rather than staring at a blank page will help him think about how he's using his time. If he's spending too much time on a subject that might be a signal that he needs extra help or tutoring. Help your child break big projects into smaller ones. A big research project will seem less overwhelming and will be less likely to be left until the last minute if it's done in manageable chunks, each with its own deadline. Communicate with your child's teachers. If your child is struggling with organizational skills, talk to the school counselor or teachers about what might be causing the problems and brainstorm approaches to solve them.

3.
Do you study hard and still do not do well on your tests? Are you tired of your teachers calling home about work you did not do in class or for homework?

So whats your problem?

Do you know how to study? Do you repeat what youre trying to remember to yourself over and over? Do you waste time when studying (You have just finished reading and have no idea what you just read.)

Having trouble getting ready to study (I have to clean the bathroom before I study, I have to watch this one TV show, I have football practice first, etc.) Do you have good place to study? Do you complete ALL of your homework EVERY day? Do you know your learning style? (Visual learners learn by seeing. Auditory learners learn by hearing. Tactile learners learn by feeling. Are you a combination of the three styles? Metacognition. Whats that? Do you know what to do when you do not understand an assignment/problem? Then can you go to the next step when your first solution does not work? Do you change what you do depending on the type of test your teacher will give? Success in school is due to motivation, time management, and good study habits. It basically takes some effort from you. This means that if you want to do well you must be willing to set aside time to study and to do homework. You may have to sacrifice at times. However, believe it or not, you can spend less time studying if you do the right things. We have ideas and tools that will help you. If you would like to learn more about studying and doing better in school click on any of the following. Motivation Suggestions Effective Reading Improving Memory General Study Hints

MOTIVATION

Motivation

Motivation is the key to success in school. Although your teachers and parents can provide you with some helpful hints to enhance motivation, they cannot motivate you. You are responsible for your study habits, for seeking resources and assistance, and for managing your time. You have to want to do well enough to put forth the effort. There are types of motivation. The first one is outer motivation. These are things such as good grades, money, trips, and shopping sprees. You do something good and you get a reward. Self-motivation is doing something because YOU want to and your reward is knowing that you did your best. For example, you are a dedicated basketball player and you practice every day. You work hard and then game day comes around. You score 25 points and have been voted Most Valuable Player at the end of the game. Self-motivation is what made you go to practice everyday and work hard. Outer motivation is the praise, the points scored and winning MVP of the game. Now, ask yourself if you are doing what it takes to be the MVP in class or at home?

The following suggestions will help you improve your study skills

Remember you do not have to do all of this at once. Learn them and be familiar with the suggestions. Make them a habit one at a time. It will become easier to do your work and you will have to take so much time studying.

SET UP A SCHEDULE. For classes that are harder, make sure you give yourself more time to study or do homework. Also make time for recreation and social activities; they are just as important as your grades. START STUDYING FOR 10-15 MINUTES AT A TIME AND THEN BUILD UP TO LONGER PERIODS OF TIME. Start reading/studying for 10-15 minutes. Then build on that by 10 minutes once you become comfortable studying for at least an hour at a time. So work hard, but be realistic. If you can no longer concentrate or remember what you have read, stop. Do not waste valuable time. TAKE BREAKS. Take breaks when studying. Do not attempt to cram! Study small portions of material, take a break and then study some more. You will retain more information when you break it down into smaller portions that you can manage. You do not want to get burned out. REWARD YOURSELF. Reward yourself for studying, learning a difficult topic, or completing a project. Go to a movie, spend time with your friends, or do the things you put off in order to study. You are more likely to study again and concentrate if you know there is a reward at the end of completing a task. FIND A GOOD LOCATION. Where you study can determine how much concentrate. Make sure the place is comfortable, but not too comfortable. Sitting at a desk or table is best. Avoid lying across the bed. You want to try to study in the same type of situation that you will be testing. This helps with remembering the things you studied for the test. USE THE SAME PLACE FOR STUDYING. This will help you with your memory when it is time for a test. It will also help you to concentrate better, because you will be in a routine or habit of studying in the same place. MAKE SURE IT IS A QUIET PLACE. Having a quiet place to study is also important. Playing your favorite CD, or radio station, or even the TV will get in the way of you concentrating on your studies. ELIMINATE THE OBVIOUS DISTRACTIONS. Talking on the telephone is a major distraction when you are trying to study. Other distractions that you should look out for are the radio, TV, video games, family talking around your study area. Even seeing your books for another class can distract you. So put them away until you are ready to study for the next class. Once you get rid of, as many distractions as you can you will improve you study skills. EMOTIONAL MOODS. Try studying in a similar emotional mood you have

during a test. This also increases your memory during testing. When you are too relaxed during studying it does not match the same level of emotions as when testing. This also works in reverse. If you are too psyched-up or tensed during your test, you will not be able to remember what you studied. This is why it is important that you learn to calm yourself down during tests.

Effective Reading
If you know how to read a textbook, you will understand and remember what you have read. There are 3 simple tools that you can do to read more effectively. SCAN: Scan the chapter in the book. Look at the boldface terms, charts, graphs, headings & subtitles, maps, photos & illustrations, summary, and review questions. Scanning provides you with information in a short amount time. You get a quick view of the information and it prepares you for what you are about to read. It makes it easier when more understandable when you actually do read. READ: When you read, have a purpose. This helps you to stay focused and understand what you have read. Ask yourself questions as you read. What does this word mean?, Why is this event important?, etc. You are a detective while you read. Looking for answers to your questions while you read. When you finished reading you should have answered all of your question and the review questions. REVIEW: Once you have finished reading, take the time to go one set further. Go through the scanning process again and look at the bold words, italicized words, charts, pictures, headings, etc. Make sure you understand what you have read. You can even make flash cards of the different headings or events that took place in your reading. You will be amazed how much you remember when it is time to review for the test.

Improve Your Memory

If you want to improve you memory, here are some tricks you can learn.

Acronyms: Acronyms is when you make a word from the first letter of each word to be memorized is used. For example, HOMES for the Great Lakes (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior). Acrostics: Acrostics are phases or poems in which the first letter of each word or line functions as a cue to help you recall the words that you are trying to remember. For example, Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally is used to remember the order of operations in Math. Narrative: Make up a story with the list of words throughout the narrative helps with memorizing. Rhymes: Rhyming can help retention of information. Remember the phrase I after E except after C? Imagery: Draw or imagine a picture of whats being studied, or find one in a book. Mentally refer to the picture when you are testing. Visualization:. Use graphic organizers to help organize and remember information.

Flash Cards: When information is written out on cards you have access to studying at any time.

General Study Hints

(Motivation and Organization)

BE AWARE WITH CLASS MATERIAL INTERFERING WITH EACH OTHER. When memorizing information, be careful of class material interfering with each other. What happens is that you may forget the old material while trying to learn the new material. Try memorizing material for each class on different days. Review the night before, or a few hours before, the test. (time management). GO TO CLASS. If you want to do well in school, attendance is important. If you miss class, you miss what the teacher thinks is important; hence, what is most likely to end up on the test. (motivation) PARTICIPATE IN CLASS. In order to learn more in class it helps to participate in class discussions. Asking questions to clarify and maintain eye contact with your professor can increase your participation and your focus during the class discussion. Listen to your teacher and then try to guess what he or she is going to say next. If the material is difficult, it helps to read the material before you go to class. This helps you follow along in class. (motivation)

IF YOU NEED TO MISS A CLASS. If you have to miss class, let your teacher know. It is very helpful to have a reliable classmate from whom you can get the notes. Exchange telephone numbers (with someone who is passing the class) in case of an emergency. (organization) TAKE GOOD NOTES. Try not to write down everything. All you need are the main points and put in your own words. Write unfamiliar terms. Review your notes as soon after class as possible. You can fill in details that you missed and review the material while it is still fresh on your mind. (organization) USE YOUR TEXTBOOK. Some teachers follow the book closely. In this case it is helpful to take the book with you to class and write down topics or terms and write notes from the book. (organization) TALK TO YOUR TEACHER. If you are struggling in class, talk to your teacher. He or she may be able to give you more help or tutor you before or after class. Most teachers have little sympathy for students who become concerned about failing during the last few weeks of the grading period. (motivation) FORM STUDY GROUPS. Get students together who are motivated to do well in the class. Make sure that everyone is familiar with the material, because you do not want to spend time re-teaching material to people who do not understand. Be careful! Sometimes group session can become chatting sessions. Set yourselves on a goal and then once completed, then have your chatting session. (motivation) START AT THE BEGINNING. Start studying; from the first day you make the change or better yet, the first day of

school. Its never too late, but you have to make the decision to make the change. (motivation) KEEP ORGANIZED. Try to keep your backpack, folders, and locker neat. You should be able to locate papers at any moment when a teacher requests them. Also, keep in mind that some classes require more effort than others. For example, Math and foreign languages are subjects, which require daily work. These subjects build on materials from the day before, so you have to keep up in these classes. (organization)

To Sum Up
Effective studying is an active process. Studying involves a progression to mastering the course material. It requires time management, which in turn may reduce your actual time spent studying. Effective studying can produce a sense of understanding, happiness, and mastery. Just think about it. By you studying in an effective way you not only get good grades, but you will also please your self, parents, and teachers. You also do not miss out on your social life. It is a win win situation.

1. Making a Plan!
Setting goals is similar to drawing and then following a map to a specific destination. You wouldn't set off on a journey without a road map and you shouldn't begin a new school year without goals. Goals help us define what we want and how we can achieve it. When you set goals you are making a plan to succeed. There are two types of goals: long-term and short-term.

Planning a career is a long-term goal. Completing a major report over the weekend is a short-term goal.

Your long-term goals will consist of a number of short-term goals. When setting goals there are some helpful guidelines to keep in mind:

be as specific as possible make your goals measurable so you can see your progress set your own goals, keeping in mind both your strengths and weaknesses be realistic: it's better to plan only a few things at first, experience success and then gradually increase what you ask of yourself

Creating a Study Environment

In order to follow through on your plan it helps to create a place to do your school work at home. When you are creating a study environment you should keep a number of things in mind.

find a place to study and keep it for study only stock up your study area with any supplies you will need (pencils, pens, paper, ruler, dictionary, etc.) control the noise level and avoid visual distracters such as a television set up and maintain a schedule for studying

2. Getting Organized!
After setting goals, the next thing you need to do is organize yourself for success. Ask yourself the following questions to assess your current state of organization.
Do I... have all the materials my teachers have requested for my classes? record all of my assignments in a student organizer or planner? check my organizer or planner each evening for both short-term and long-term assignments? prioritize assignments and time? have a quiet study area set up with necessary supplies at home? have a regular time to work on or complete assignments and study each evening? Yes No

3. Reading Tips! SQ3R

S = Survey or Skim
read the title read the introduction read all the headings & subheadings read all the words under pictures, graphs, charts or maps read the summary or review if there is one read the questions at the end of the assignment read any study guide from your teacher

Q = Question
turn the title into a question ask questions turn all headings into subheadings ask yourself. "What did my teacher say about this chapter or subject when it was assigned?" ask yourself, "What do I already know about this subject?"

R1 = Read
look for answers to questions you raised read all bold, italicized & underlined words reduce your reading speed stop & reread any parts that are unclear

R2 = Recite
take notes oral recitation is triple strength learning underline or highlight important parts (if the material is yours)

R3 = Review
read written notes or outlines you have made write notes in the margins (if the material is yours) periodically, reread the material frequent review prevents cramming

Return to the Study Skills Main Page

4. Passing the Test!

Preparing for a test starts long before the actual test is announced. In order to pass the test you should listen to the teacher, complete all practice (homework), and ask questions. Study regularly to become completely familiar with the information. Ask yourself the following questions to assess your test taking ability. Give yourself one point for each yes answer.

When I take a test, I ... look it over, survey the entire test and read all directions before I begin working. plan my time. do the easiest questions first. complete the harder questions next. know that most statements which use always or never are generally false on true & false tests. Also, if part of a statement is false, the entire statement is false. use the process of elimination for multiple choice. cross off answers as I use them in matching tests. plan my essays carefully. I do the easiest first, jot down important facts before writing, answer the question that was asked, and begin my answer by restating the question. work at a steady pace. check it over before I hand it to the teacher. Total Score

Yes No

Test Taking Strategies

Examinations are a fact of life in college. But the only time an exam should be a trial is when you aren't prepared for it, and the best sign that you aren't prepared is when you have to stay up all night to "cram." Cramming won't do very much for you (except make you so tired that when you take the exam you won't be able to think clearly enough to answer the questions you DO know). Here are some tips to help you develop test taking skills:

BEFORE THE TEST

1. Start preparing for your exams the first day of class. You can do this by reading your syllabus carefully to find out when your exams will be, how many there will be, and how much they are weighed into your grade. 2. Plan reviews as part of your regularly weekly study schedule; consequently, you review over the whole quarter rather than just at exam time. 3. Reviews are much more than reading and rereading all assignments. You need to read over your lecture notes and ask yourself questions on the material you don't know well. (If your notes are relatively complete and well organized, you may find that very little rereading of the textbook for detail is needed.) You may want to create a study group for these reviews to reinforce your learning. 4. Review for several short periods rather than one long period. You will find that you retain information better and get less fatigued. 5. Turn the main points of each topic or heading into questions and check to see if the answers come to you quickly and correctly. Try to predict examination questions; then outline your answers. 6. It may seem "old-fashioned", but flashcards may be a helpful way to review in courses that have many unfamiliar terms. Review the card in random order using only those terms that you have difficulty remembering.
DURING THE TEST

There are also some things to keep in mind when you are TAKING the test. 1. First, read the directions carefully!! Many points have been lost because students didn't follow the directions. 2. Remember to preview the test to see how much time you need to allot for each section. If the test is all multiple choice questions, it is good to know that immediately. 3. Work on the "easiest" parts first. If your strength is essay questions, answer those first to get the maximum points. Pace yourself to allow time for the more difficult parts. 4. Find out if you are penalized for incorrect responses. (This is probably covered in the directions. If not, make educated guesses. If there is a penalty, avoid guessing. 5. When answering essay questions, try to make an outline in the margin before you begin writing. Organization, clear thinking, and good writing is important, but so is neatness. Be sure to make your writing legible. 6. Save time at the end of the exam to review your test and make sure you haven't left out any answers or parts of answers. This is difficult to do under the stress of exams, but it often keeps you from making needless errors.

AFTER THE TEST

1. If the instructor reviews the exam in class, make sure you attend. Many students choose to skip class of the day of the review because "nothing is happening" that day. On the contrary, this is an important class to attend because it helps reinforce the information one more time in long term memory. Even if you aren't interested in the "learning" aspect of the class, it is an opportunity to hear what the instructor was looking for in the answers. This can help you on the NEXT exam. Keep in mind that there are things you can do before, during, and after exams that will help you succeed in the class. You may want to read and complete the Test Taking Checklist to evaluate your development as a test-wise student.

5. Taking Notes!
Notetaking is a skill that requires understanding of what you're doing and practice. Taking notes gives you a written record for review. It forces you to pay attention and it takes organization and effort on your part. The notetaker is an active listener who must condense and rephrase what is being said. There are many different systems for notetaking. No one system is better than another. Find one that works for you and practice, practice, practice! One commonly used system is the CORNELL NOTETAKING SYSTEM.
What is the Cornell format? use a ruler or fold the page to draw a line 2-3 inches from the left margin write notes in the wider section (right side) write questions in the smaller section (left side) indent details under main points phrases are okay do not try to write every word

listen for main ideas & details listen for clues about what to write down (e.g. "The

definition is..." or "Three reasons why..." What are the study tips? Study Tip: Cover up the note column and try answering questions without looking. Do this out loud or with a friend. Active Study Tips: Why should I learn to take notes? write notes recite aloud write questions about note contents

Notetaking is an important and valuable skill to be used throughout school!

6.Time Management Tips!

By applying basic time management principles you can become a more effective and successful student. The first step is to look at your daily schedule and assess where and how you are currently spending your time. After analyzing your current use of time, make a list list of things you need to accomplish in a typical day. Use the list you have made to help you develop a schedule. Allow some unscheduled time in case emergencies arise during regularly scheduled study periods.

TIME MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES

As a student, there are some basic Principles of Time Management that you can apply.
1. Identify "Best Time" for Studying: Everyone has high and low periods of attention and concentration. Are you a "morning person" or a "night person". Use your power times to study; use the down times for routines such as laundry and errands. 2. Study Difficult Subjects First: When you are fresh, you can process information more quickly and save time as a result. 3. Use Distributed Learning and Practice: Study in shorter time blocks with short breaks between. This keeps you from getting fatigued and "wasting time." This type of studying is efficient because while you are taking a break, the brain is still processing the information.

4. Make Sure the Surroundings are Conducive to Studying: This will allow you to reduce distractions which can "waste time." If there are times in the residence halls or your apartment when you know there will be noise and commotion, use that time for mindless tasks. 5. Make Room for Entertainment and Relaxation: College is more than studying. You need to have a social life, yet, you need to have a balance in your life. 6. Make Sure you Have Time to Sleep and Eat Properly: Sleep is often an activity (or lack of activity) that students use as their time management "bank." When they need a few extra hours for studying or socializing, they withdraw a few hours of sleep. Doing this makes the time they spend studying less effective because they will need a couple hours of clock time to get an hour of productive time. This is not a good way to manage yourself in relation to time. 7. Try to Combine Activities: Use the "Twofer" concept. If you are spending time at the laundromat, bring your psychology notes to study. If you are waiting in line for tickets to the REM concert, bring your biology flashcards to memorize.

These are some ideas to get you started. You can read more about time management in one of the books in the bibliography. You can also learn more at time management workshops. In addition, you should know that college students aren't the only ones who have become more efficient workers. Get a headstart and learn how to manage yourself in respect to time NOW.

TIME USE CHART

Directions: Print a copy of the Time Use Chart. Record everything you do during each half-hour period of a week that you choose. (You may even want to divide the blocks in 15 minute periods). At the end of a week, complete the Summary of Activities (you should also print a copy of this) to see how you spend your time. Time 6:00 am 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 NOON 12:30 1:00 1:30 2:00 2:30 3:00 3:30 4:00 4:30 5:00 5:30 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Hours 6:00 pm 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 Midnight 12:30 1:00 1:30 2:00 2:30 3:00 3:30 4:00 4:30 5:00 5:30

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE TIME-USE CHART

Directions: At the end of the week, summarize your activities on the chart below. Once you evaluate where your time goes, print a copy of the Planned Weekly Schedule and fill it in with your course schedule, study time and other activities. Try to follow your schedule to improve your time use.
SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY Class & Lab School Related Study Clubs & Organizations Total Work Social & Recreational Personal TV & Stereo Total Eating, Bathing, Exercise, etc. Health-related Sleep Total Travel Out-of-school Commitments Other Total Hours 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 168 100 MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN TOTAL PERCENT*

*To determine percentage, divide the number of hours in an activity by 168. For example; 56 hours of sleep divided by 168 = 33.3%