Disability Group Learning Support (DGLS)

Managing your university workload

• In this session on managing your workload we will cover:

– The characteristics needed to be successful at university.

– Your responsibilities at university– Important tips on getting yourself organised – Different resources for organisation

• You are an independent learner at university. • What characteristics are you expected to have?

– Independence– Self motivation– Openness to working with others– Ability to work out things for yourself– Ability to set goals to improve your work– Ability to organise your time– Ability to work out when, how and where you learn best

These characteristics are also what are needed in the work force!

• What are your responsibilities at university?– Daily lectures

– Weekly tutorials, seminars, practical sessions, lab work or workshops

– Assignments which include course work essays, reports and other forms of written work depending on your course

– Examinations: in class assessments and end of the semester exams

– Keeping up to date with reading

– Getting notes and quizzes from Moodle

– Reviewing these notes as they relate to lectures and reading

– And other activities that relate to your courses

• Important tips:– Course outline and reading lists

• Index book for subject terms and definitions

– Allow 6 weeks for a major assignment– It is essential to plan and not leave things until the last minute.

• Getting books from the library

• Reading as soon as list is given

• Working backwards from the due date so you can make weekly plans

• Allowing for other commitments from work, family and the unexpected!

• A colour coded list of assignments• Weekly timetable • Semester timetable• “To do” list• Gmail calendar – text alerts for free• Diary – paper based, PDA or a mobile phone

Conclusion– You should plan and organise your workload– You should have planners, weekly timetables

and “To do” lists– You should understand the importance of

balance in your timetable– You should understand the use of colour in

planning your timetables