Time Management, Fall 2010

transcript

Time Managementfor Graduate Students

Donna E. Ekal, Ph.D., Associate Provost

September 28, 2010

What’s in a week?

• 9 hours of coursework & the associated 27 – 36 hours of prep

• 19 hours of R.A. or T.A. duties• Thesis or Dissertation writing• Qualifying exam preparation• Another job• Family• Duties of life • Sleeping, Eating

Goal: To present ideas that will start you thinking about using your time in a different way than before you came

Objectives:1 – to think about time as a commodity to budget and use wisely and learn ways to do that better

2 – to think about the things you are doing during that time and learn ways to do them more efficiently

Today’s Objective and Goals

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Wednesday

‐ Albertsons‐ Prep for one on one with Provost on

Thursday‐ Send out email to AP & LJ for Saturday‐ Meet with MK for her class‐ Start presentation for Wednesday

morning‐ Answer RM emails re: Lumina grant‐ Set up meeting with CW & LH for URRS

report‐ Figure out travel for Houston in October‐ Review four IHEP reports

LongIntermediateShort

Long and Intermediate commitments are fixed on the schedule.

Wednesday

‐ Albertsons‐ Prep for one on one with Provost on

Thursday‐ Send out email to AP & LJ for Saturday‐ Meet with MK for her class‐ Start presentation for Wednesday

morning‐ Answer RM emails re: Lumina grant‐ Set up meeting with CW & LH for URRS

report‐ Figure out travel for Houston in October‐ Review four IHEP reports

LongIntermediateShort

Long and Intermediate commitments are fixed on the schedule.

Short term change every day and give you the great satisfaction of being able to cross them off the list.

Time Management Tips

• Think of Time as a commodity just like $$

• Is this activity worth spending the minutes?

• Pay attention

• Have a positive attitude

• Know thyself

It’s not enough to sit here and say to yourself, “Wow, that’s a great idea.”

You have to be specific. Pick 3 now.

When are you are going to start practicing those? When? How?

The other part …

As a graduate student, how do you spend the bulk of your time?

What do Graduate Students Do??

Other Aspects of Time Management

• Expanding your Vocabulary

• Becoming a better reader

• Overcoming Writer’s Block

• Improving Concentration and Memory

• Working in Groups

• Stress Management

Become a Better Reader

What’s your reading speed?

Stop sub‐vocalizing

Increase your eye span

Do eye exercises

Stop regressing

Adjust your reading style

• Just a bad habit

• Slows speed

• Reduces comprehension

• Pay attention

• Make it go away

Do eye exercises

Stop regressing

• Eyes only read when they are still

• Takes ¼ second for your eye to read one word

• Maximum reading speed then is 240 wpm

• Increase your eye span – increase your reading speed

Our biggest expansion opportunity will come from volume licencing in Japan.

(Our) (big)(gest) (ex)(pan)(sion) (op)(port)(tunity) (will) (come) (from) (vol)(ume) (lic)(en)(cing) (in) (Jap)(an).

This reading example describes 20 eye movements and 20 eye fixations, i.e. 40 different eye operations. This considerable eye work is one reason that slow readers get tired. Increased ocular and mental workload often leads to poor comprehension.

(Our biggest expansion) (opportunity will come) (from volume licensing) (in Japan)

Reading this text takes a proficient reader four eye movements, four eye fixations, and eight eye operations. This is five times less work than a slow reader, requiring much less effort, with better speed and higher comprehension resulting.

Reading

• http://www.readingtransformations.com/members_area/WidenEyeSpanEx1.html

Do eye exercises

Stop regressing

Do eye exercises

Stop regressing

• Regressing is going forward then backward then forward

• Do it consciously if necessary for comprehension

• Stop doing it unconsciously

Do eye exercises

Stop regressing

• Skimming

• Scanning

• Extensive Reading

• Intensive Reading

Getting over Writer’s Block

Concentration Memory

Have a strong intent to focus and remember.

Have a positive attitude.Pay attention.Know thyself.

Working in Groups

Stress Management

Get yourself out of the stressful situation.

What else?Customizing Your Time Management

Improvement Plan

• Financial Planning

• Housework

• Shopping

• Transportation

• Work

• Family

“You must be the change you want to see in the world.”

Mahatma GandhiIndian political and spiritual leader

(1869 ‐ 1948)

Closing Remarks

• Go forth and do great things.

• Fight evil.

Time Management, Fall 2010

Education