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Strategic Transition and Enhanced Preparationfor University Programs Dr. Ashok Kaushal

StepUp Program

Strategies for Transition and Enhanced Preparation for

University Programs

STC9300Module 2


Assignment General CommentsAssignment General Comments•• Academic GoalsAcademic Goals

•• Most want to get off probation and get good gradesMost want to get off probation and get good grades

•• Social GoalsSocial Goals§§Most have social priorities are above academic: Most have social priorities are above academic: ““a friend calls a friend calls

me for a party I will go no matter what!!!me for a party I will go no matter what!!!””§§Some want to be more outgoingSome want to be more outgoing§§ Job huntingJob hunting

•• Personal GoalsPersonal Goals§§Most of you want to loose weight, eat healthyMost of you want to loose weight, eat healthy§§Some have a clear marriage/family plan Some have a clear marriage/family plan –– problems with problems with

Boyfriend or GirlfriendBoyfriend or Girlfriend§§Procrastination, learn to prioritizeProcrastination, learn to prioritize

Some goals are vagueSome goals are vagueLack of action plan Lack of action plan –– How are you going to do it?How are you going to do it?


Goal Setting ExampleGoal Setting Example


Motivation


What is Motivation?What is Motivation?

•• How do you motivate yourself?How do you motivate yourself?

•• What works and doesnWhat works and doesn’’t?t?

•• What drains your motivation?What drains your motivation?

•• Are we inherently Are we inherently ““lazy?lazy?

•• What is your motivation to go to university?What is your motivation to go to university?


MotivationMotivation

DefinitionDefinition: those thoughts and feelings that : those thoughts and feelings that initiate, direct, and sustain actioninitiate, direct, and sustain action

Factors affecting MotivationFactors affecting Motivation

§§ChoicesChoices: attend class regularly vs. missing class to catch : attend class regularly vs. missing class to catch up on sleep or do errandsup on sleep or do errands

§§InitiationInitiation: study before going out vs. delaying: study before going out vs. delaying

§§IntensityIntensity: actively engage in lectures vs. just take notes: actively engage in lectures vs. just take notes

§§PersistencePersistence: determination to understand material vs. : determination to understand material vs. giving upgiving up

§§Thoughts/feelingsThoughts/feelings: be confident about success vs. worry : be confident about success vs. worry about failureabout failure



OpportunityOpportunity

ValuesValues

NeedsNeeds

ExpectationsExpectations

Behaviour Behaviour ActionsActions



Locus of ControlLocus of Control

Reasons for being unsuccessfulReasons for being unsuccessful•• Expectations of Final ExamsExpectations of Final Exams•• Lack of study skillsLack of study skills•• Poor timePoor time--managementmanagement•• Lack of energyLack of energy•• Strict professorsStrict professors•• Lack of support Lack of support –– office hoursoffice hours


Locus of ControlLocus of Control

StimulusStimulus

ChoiceChoice

VictimVictim CreatorCreator

ResponseResponse••BlameBlame--stormingstorming

••ComplainingComplaining

••ExcusingExcusing

••Repeat BehaviourRepeat Behaviour

ResponseResponse••Seek SolutionsSeek Solutions

••Taking ActionTaking Action

••Trying Something Trying Something NewNew



Why Does this Happen?Why Does this Happen?

RESPONSIBILITYRESPONSIBILITY



Individual AssessmentIndividual Assessment

What drains your motivation and what motivates you?What drains your motivation and what motivates you?

List the top 5 things for both casesList the top 5 things for both cases

Use your current classes as an exampleUse your current classes as an example

How would you increase motivation?How would you increase motivation?


MotivationMotivationStrategy for Increasing MotivationStrategy for Increasing Motivation

1.1. Set Challenging but Realistic GoalsSet Challenging but Realistic Goals

2.2. Set Learning GoalsSet Learning Goals

3.3. See the Value in the TaskSee the Value in the Task

4.4. Have a Positive AttitudeHave a Positive Attitude

5.5. Use Positive SelfUse Positive Self--TalkTalk

6.6. Work Hard, Party HardWork Hard, Party Hard

7.7. Use ActiveUse Active--Study StrategiesStudy Strategies

8.8. Break Down Tasks Break Down Tasks –– have a check listhave a check list

9.9. Monitor your LearningMonitor your Learning

10.10.Learn From your MistakesLearn From your Mistakes


Time Management


Time ManagementTime Management

In Theory In Theory

Tracking ActionTracking Action

Time Time Management Management

CycleCycle

Goal Goal SettingSetting

Time Awareness & Time Awareness & Time TrackingTime Tracking

PlanningPlanning

Time AdjustingTime Adjusting

In Practice In Practice Time Time

Management Management CycleCycle


ProcrastinateProcrastinate

ProcrastinateProcrastinate

PanicPanic

Urgency ActionUrgency Action



Effect of UrgencyEffect of Urgency

§§ Adrenaline rush of handling crisisAdrenaline rush of handling crisis

§§ Sense of excitement and energySense of excitement and energy

§§ StressfulStressful

§§ PressuredPressured

§§ TenseTense

§§ ExhaustingExhausting

§§ Sometimes feels exhilarating, being Sometimes feels exhilarating, being usefuluseful

How does it feel?How does it feel?

SelfSelf--DestructiveDestructive



Artificially Created SituationArtificially Created Situation

I just donI just don’’t have the time to exercise, I know itt have the time to exercise, I know it’’s s important, but there so many pressing things right now, I important, but there so many pressing things right now, I

cancan’’t spare the time Maybe when things slow down.t spare the time Maybe when things slow down.

Good ExcuseGood Excuse

But then we ProcrastinateBut then we Procrastinate


Time ManagementTime ManagementObstacles to effective time managementObstacles to effective time management

§§ Unclear objectivesUnclear objectives

§§ DisorganizedDisorganized

§§ Inability to say Inability to say ““NO!NO!””


Time ManagementTime ManagementObstacles to effective time managementObstacles to effective time management

§§ InterruptionsInterruptions

§§ Periods of inactivityPeriods of inactivity

§§ Too many things at onceToo many things at once

§§ Stress & fatigue Stress & fatigue -- all work no playall work no play


Time ManagementTime ManagementThe Urgency IndexThe Urgency Index

00--30 30 Low Urgency MindLow Urgency Mind--SetSet

3030--50 50 High Urgency MindHigh Urgency Mind--SetSet

51+ 51+ Urgency AddictionUrgency Addiction


Time ManagementTime ManagementHow do we spend time?How do we spend time?

Trivia, BusyworkTrivia, BusyworkTime WastersTime Wasters““EscapeEscape”” ActivitiesActivitiesExcessive TVExcessive TV

InterruptionsInterruptionsMany Proximate MattersMany Proximate MattersMany Popular ActivitiesMany Popular Activities

PreparationPreparationPreventionPreventionPlanningPlanningRelationship BuildingRelationship Building

CrisisCrisisPressing ProblemsPressing ProblemsDeadlineDeadline--Driven ProjectsDriven Projects

Urgent Urgent Not Urgent Not Urgent

No

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33 44


Time ManagementTime ManagementReasons for ProcrastinationReasons for Procrastination1.1. "But I Don't Know How" "But I Don't Know How" -- Skill DeficitSkill Deficit

•• Solution: identify the problemSolution: identify the problem

2.2. "This Stuff is Just Plain Boring" "This Stuff is Just Plain Boring" -- Lack of InterestLack of Interest•• Solution: just do itSolution: just do it

3.3. "I Don't Feel Like Doing It" "I Don't Feel Like Doing It" -- Lack of MotivationLack of Motivation•• Solution: make the first step, change your attitudeSolution: make the first step, change your attitude

4.4. "What If I Can't Cut It?" "What If I Can't Cut It?" -- Fear of FailureFear of Failure•• Solution: perceived vs. real failureSolution: perceived vs. real failure•• e.g. you postpone studying for a test; pull an "alle.g. you postpone studying for a test; pull an "all--nighter.nighter.““ Result: Result:

poor grade; "I could have done better if I had more time to studpoor grade; "I could have done better if I had more time to study.y.““

5.5. "You Can't Make Me" "You Can't Make Me" -- ResistanceResistance•• Solution: change attitudeSolution: change attitude



So what are we going to do about it?So what are we going to do about it?

SelfSelf--AssessmentAssessment



First Step First Step -- PlanningPlanning

1.1. Scheduling activities at the right time:Scheduling activities at the right time:

§§ Down time can be up timeDown time can be up time

§§ Preferred work time chunksPreferred work time chunks

2.2. Consolidating all planning in one place:Consolidating all planning in one place:

§§ Long term planning at a glance (semester)Long term planning at a glance (semester)

§§ Short term scheduling (week)Short term scheduling (week)

§§ To do listTo do list

§§ Action plans for each class or projectAction plans for each class or project

§§ Values and goals from the exerciseValues and goals from the exercise


Time ManagementTime ManagementFirst Step First Step -- PlanningPlanning

• Break down activities by type• Discover bottlenecks and

plan accordingly



§§ Time spent = f (quality of work)Time spent = f (quality of work)

§§Rule of thumb: 2Rule of thumb: 2--3 hrs of studying 3 hrs of studying for every hour of class timefor every hour of class time

§§ Still need recreation time: rule of Still need recreation time: rule of thumb 10% of your weekthumb 10% of your week

How much time is enough?How much time is enough?

13 credit hours = 26 hours 13 credit hours = 26 hours 14 credit hours = 28 hours 14 credit hours = 28 hours 15 credit hours = 30 hours15 credit hours = 30 hours

FullFull--Time JobTime Job



High Tech MethodHigh Tech Method

OrganizerOrganizer

RemindersReminders

AppointmentsAppointments


Time ManagementTime ManagementEffective Study MethodsEffective Study Methods

§Do what works for you, but keep this in mind:what works for you, but keep this in mind:

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result." expecting a different result." –– Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein

§§Questions to ask yourself when you studyQuestions to ask yourself when you study

§§WhatWhat’’s my purpose/value in reading this?s my purpose/value in reading this?

§§What do I already know about this topic?What do I already know about this topic?

§§WhatWhat’’s the Big Picture here?s the Big Picture here?

§§What information is important here?What information is important here?

§§How can I paraphrase and summarize this information?How can I paraphrase and summarize this information?

§§How can I organize this information, picture this information?How can I organize this information, picture this information?

§§How does this information fit in with what I already know?How does this information fit in with what I already know?


Time ManagementTime ManagementTime SaversTime Savers

§§ Learn to say NO, be assertive with roommates/friendsLearn to say NO, be assertive with roommates/friends

§§ Avoid procrastinating Avoid procrastinating –– Just do it!Just do it!

§§ Plan the day, the week, and the term and prioritize your tasksPlan the day, the week, and the term and prioritize your tasks

§§ Learn and practice selfLearn and practice self--discipline discipline -- Avoid interruptionAvoid interruption

§§ Learn to listen effectivelyLearn to listen effectively


Time ManagementTime ManagementTime SaversTime Savers

§§ Seek the help of experts (books,advisors, friends, family, etc.)Seek the help of experts (books,advisors, friends, family, etc.)

§§ Have a place for everything; return everything to its placeHave a place for everything; return everything to its place

§§ Study difficult subjects first or get easy ones done firstStudy difficult subjects first or get easy ones done first

§§ Study at the best hour of the day, based on personal needsStudy at the best hour of the day, based on personal needs

§§ Study with intervals, pace yourself and plan aheadStudy with intervals, pace yourself and plan ahead

§§ Have a consistent place to studyHave a consistent place to study



Theory to PracticeTheory to Practice

Tracking ActionTracking Action

Time Time Management Management

CycleCycle


Time Awareness & Time Awareness & Time TrackingTime Tracking

PlanningPlanning

Time AdjustingTime Adjusting



QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

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