planning of studies, time management and learning · oulun yliopisto todays topics ‒what are...

Oulun yliopisto

PLANNING OF STUDIES, TIME MANAGEMENT ANDLEARNING

Study PsychologistPia Partanen

Academic AffairsFall 2017

Oulun yliopistoOulun yliopisto

Todays topics ‒ What are university studies allabout?

‒ Academic skills and learning‒ Time management and how to use

your time well‒ Sudy techniques‒ Wellbeing as a platform for learning

Slideshow will be found on thewebsite later on.

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Finnish universityversus previousstudyenvironment

‒ Discuss with the person nextto you:

‒ How in your experience dostudies at the FinnishUniversity differ from yourprevious studies?

‒ What kind of new study skillsand methods does the Finnishstudy environment require?

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DegreeGraduation timeand the lengthof the studytime

‒ Both undergraduate and graduatedegree students have the right tograduate in a period two yearslonger than the target time for thestudies.

- for example: bachelor degree (180 credits) targettime 3 academic years + masters degree (120credits) target time 2 academic years + 2 years =7-year study right

‒ Undergraduate student has theright to graduate in a period oneyear longer than the target time.

‒ Graduate student has the right tograduate in a period two yearslonger than the target time.



Studentfinancial aid

‒ Since 1.8.2014, you must complete 5credits per aid month and at least 20credits/study year, even though youmight receive student aid for just 1-3months.

‒ The maximum time for the studentfinancial aid depends on the length ofthe degree and the starting year of thestudies

‒ Check the number of months you areeligible for student aid:§ student financial aid decision from

KELA‒ KELA customer service for inquiry

about duration of aid in months:http://www.kela.fi/web/en/students


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Study related goals

INTERNAL

• Originates from within theself:

• Why do I want to completethese studies?

• What do I do with thesestudies? How do I benefit fromstudying in the future?

• What meaning/value do thesestudies hold for me?

• enhances motivation

EXTERNAL

• Originates from the outside:

• Compulsory courses• Time needed to complete a

degree and the length of thestudy right

• The preconditions of the studygrant

• A student might be unable to setother than external goals


How toapproach yourstudies in aconstructiveway? 1/2

Achievement orientation:

- The desire to show that one is intelligentand capable. Studying is more aboutshowcasing one’s abilities: ”I’m good”only if I reach my goal.

- Support one’s performance in easytasks, but is lacking the support in morechallenging assignments

- Exposes the student for quitting the workin progress when facing greaterchallenges



How toapproach yourstudies in aconstructiveway? 2/2

Learning orientation:

- Focusing on the growth and the learningprocess.

- The student doesn’t look at the grade,rather the fact that one isprogressing.”Becoming better” bylearning new things.

- The student processes informationdeeply and is creatively searching fornew alternative solutions instead ofquitting.

- The work is pleasant and endurespressure.

- Supports challenging study situationsthat require long-term work



Motivation (Deci& Ryan 2000)Ø Intrinsic motivation involves engaging in

a behavior because it is personallyrewarding; performing an activity for its ownsake rather than the desire for some externalreward.

Ø Extrinsic motivation occurs when we aremotivated to perform a behavior or engage inan activity to earn a reward or avoidpunishment.Ø Other peoples needs, approval

Ø Motivation also arises through doing(inside out vs. outside in)!!

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Me as aLearner?

‒ Lack of skill in studying is not apersonality trait, but academic skills canbe learned

‒ YOU can develope your studying skills

‒ How you perceive yourself as a learnerand as a student quides your actions

à Notice that learning skills are worklife skills!



THE FACTORSINFLUENCINGACADEMICSUCCESS


HARD WORK

ACADEMIC SKILLS

IDENTITY


FORMULA8 + 8 + 8 =

STUDYING +FREE-TIME +

SLEEP

WEEKEND 0 + 14 +10



Planning tools Ø OodiPSP (Personal study plan)‒ The whole degree structure à

courses and their timing (what andwhen)

Ø Tuudo mobile app for studentshttp://www.oulu.fi/university/node/42359‒ scheduling tool for students‒ your own updates are also possible.

Ø Paper calendar


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PROCRASTINATION

(Counselling theProcrastinator in AcademicSettings, 2004)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P785j15Tzk


Finding balance in everydaylife‒ Combining studies with work and

hobbies –prioritization!‒ Splitting of goals into subgoals‒ Finishing tasks instead of repeating

courses‒ Procrastination is exhausting, ”it’s not

the work itself that exhausts us, it’s allthe work undone”

‒ Shifting attention to what has beenachieved

‒ Rewarding oneself, self-compassion

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Efficiency inuse of time,tips:

‒ EFFECTIVE HOURS: when are youmost efficient?

‒ CONCENTRATION: silence orbackground music? The ideal timefor concentrating is 20-50 min.,after which a short break is needed.

‒ PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT: couchat home? or library? Not too manytransitions!


POMODORO -technique


Lectures? Ø Up-to-date research information can be found inthe lectures

Ø Knowledge found on the internet – can youevaluate if the information on the web isrelevant? Have you found ”all” the informationrelevant for your task?

Ø Enables participants to discuss the topic orphenomena in question

Ø Makes interpretation mistakes easy to find andpossible to fix immediately

Ø Enriches the given materialsØ Gives a useful platform for groupwork

ü Focus on the lecture (switch off your mobile)ü Be active: ask, challenge, share thoughts, clarify

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WHY MAKENOTES?

‒ The learner takes on an active role!à Information will be processed…already during the lecture

‒ structures thoughts‒ helps processing new information‒ supports recall‒ useful when revising for an exam‒ helpful in structuring written tasks

such as essays‒ forms a base for brainstorming‒ can be used as a data source or data

archive.

Study: The Pen is Mightier Than theKeyboard: Advantages of Longhand OvertLaptop Note Taking (Mueller, Oppenheimer,2014)


Mind Map

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Cornell notes

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Notes:Taken during thelecture or from atext in a personallysuitable way

Hints:•questions•observations•keywords•“core formulas”

Summary: Finally sumup your notes into a fewsentences.


Mind map andconcept mapapps

‒ Cmap Tools (http://cmap.ihmc.us/): freeservice for non-commercial use, can beused for creating mind maps.

‒ FreeMind (http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page): free servicefor creating mind maps. You can alsoconvert a map, for example, into awebsite or a picture.

‒ XMind (http://www.xmind.net): freeservice for creating mind maps

‒ Google Docs (current Google Drive:https://drive.google.com) With theDrawing service you can draw mind mapsor concept maps.

‒ Workflowy (https://workflowy.com)‒ MindNode (https://mindnode.com/)

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Electronictools fortaking notes

‒ GoodReader: reading programcombined with file management,note taking and highlightingfeatures

‒ Notability: application that allowswriting, recording, drawing, etc.

‒ EndNote: application that allowswriting, recording and takingpictures of notes, and markingthem with keywords

‒ OneNote: notebook where youcan save everything you need toremember or keep in order. Allowsaudiovisual recording.



Studyingtogether

In class- Asking questions and explaining things- Informing- Argumentation and feedback- Inner meanings and new perspectives emerge- Observing other peoples ways of working and

adapting to it

Form your own studygroup! à peer support- Group spirit helps you carry on, ”a positive

must”- Group workspace, quiet reading rooms,

computer classes…

Studying together developes team skills=

work life skill



Reading Every field of study has it’s own language,which needs to be embraced as a part of thelearning process.

In time you will learn the core concepts andØ be able to read fasterØ be able to pick up the essential parts of the

contentØ be able to more effectively build a meaningful

whole from the content.Ø comprehensive learning and revision

promotes learning


Foreign-language text

‒ Avoid excessive use of the dictionary

- search for the core vocabulary in thedictionary to understand the mostessential parts of the contentà trust your abilities, you will gradually

learn to read foreign-language text.

‒ It’s important not to cling to difficult words

à it’s sufficient that you understandwhat it’s all about

‒ When you embrace the core vocabulary ofyour own field, your reading of foreign-language text will become more fluent



Writing ‒ Writing skills are one of the most essential skills fora university student.

‒ tool for processing thoughts, brainstorming andexpression

‒ writing can be learned; academic writing has itsown style: fact-based writingà motivated facts, logical conclusions, consistency in the

structure of the text and exact use of concepts.

TIPS:

‒ Start writing even if you don’t feel optimally inspired

‒ Read / study only to the extent that you are able towrite

‒ Write for yourself at first, put your thoughts onpaper even if they are still unclear ordisconnected/fragmented, write uncensored.

‒ Start with the easiest part

‒ If you get stuck, find another part to continue with13.10.2017 Lisää tarvittaessa alatunnisteteksti27


Writing process

Remember, it doesn’t need to beperfect at once!


2. Information seeking:what do you already

know? Mark your sourcesimmediately. Start writing

while reading andsearching for information.

3. Writing: start withthe easiest part.

Start with keywordsor a few separatesentences. Divide

your work intosmaller parts and

several days

4. Modification:evaluate and modifycontinously, refine at

the end.

5. Finishing: set adeadline (and sub-

objectives if necessary).Let it go, ”it’s good

enough”.

1. Brainstorming &planning: choice of topic

(decide and start),defining and limiting the

subject


From theory topractice:programming,designing,arithmetics 1/2

- Read the task -> identify thephenomenon -> make notes of what isknown about it and WHAT WASASKED FOR

- Is the result in the right proportions orrelevant for the outcome?

‒ Tutored exercises!- Given times for exercise/tutorials

(usually several groups during theweek), students work independentlyà correct answers will be given.



From theory topractice:programming,designing,arithmetics 2/2

‒ One completed task is better than tenready-made solutions.

‒ Practice is an effective means of learningand problem-solving.

‒ It’s more important to understand theprocess of solving the problem than get asingle result.

‒ Practical skills can omly be learned inpractice!



During theexam

‒ Attend the exam well rested, remember theimportance of sleep

‒ Read the questions and notice the amount oftime available in relation to the number oftasks.

‒ Make a mind map or a list of topics that youintend to write about in your essay. What isasked and how should you limit the answer?

‒ Start with the easiest task‒ Focus on your own task and performance. If

the presence of others disturbs you, selectyour seat in the front of the lecture hall.

‒ Use all the time that you need regardless ofwhat the other students do.

‒ Before returning your exam make sure you’veanswered all the questions. You can also readthrough your answers.

‒ If you feel nervous during the exam, you canstop for a moment, close your eyes and take adeep breath. Think about something else for awhile and then return to your task.


Rearchstudy:Optimising Learning UsingFlashcards: Spacing is More Effectivethan Cramming (Kornell, 2009)


Recall is easierwhen theinformation isprocessed inseveral differentways

A HUMAN BEING LEARNS‒ 10 % of what she/he reads‒ 20 % of what he/she hears‒ 30 % of what she/he sees‒ 50 % of what he/she both hears and sees‒ 70 % of what she/he discusses with others‒ 80 % of what he/she is experiencing‒ 95 % of what she/he teaches others.

W. Glasser (1992)



Physicalexercise andlearning

‒ Physical exercise- Improves blood flow and oxygen supply in the brain,

increases the level of neurotransmitters and theproduction of neutrophils (chemical that supportsneuronal activity)

- Increases connections between brain cells andstructures and increase the frequency of existingneural networks

- Regular physical exercise increases the number ofcapillaries in the brain and generates new nerve cells,particular in hippocampus, which is the center oflearning and memory

‒ Learning potential increases:- developes attention and concentration- Improves information processing and memory

functions- has a positive impact on academic performance,

informational activities (memory, attention, generalinformation processing and problem solving) andlearning

(Liikunta – hyödyntämätön voimavara oppimisessa ja opettamisessa,Liikunta&Tiede, 2013)

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Sleep and learn!

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Robert Stickgold.,Professor of Psychiatry, HarvardMedical School

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmRGNunPj3c


Counsellingservices

Ø In degree programmes / faculties: degree structure,personal study plan (PSP), courses, etc.

- Programme coordinator/tutor teacher in your studyprogramme

- Student tutor / fellow students- Study advisor (Faculty study affairs:

http://www.oulu.fi/university/faculty-study-affairs )

Ø University level services:

- Study Psychologisthttp://www.oulu.fi/english/studying/supporting-your-studies/student-counselling-psychologist

- Walk-in service and scheduled appointments

à Check the Student Center website for exceptions

http://www.oulu.fi/university/node/34985


Thank you! Good luck with your studies!

planning of studies, time management and learning · oulun yliopisto todays topics ‒what are...

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