Category: Time Management

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More Instructional Support for Adult Learners

Adult learners bring unique characteristics and challenges to the educational setting. It is essential to provide effective instructional support that caters to the specific needs of adult learners. Here are several key strategies that can enhance the learning experience for adult learners, including live consultations, language scaffolding, modeling, gaming, and feedback.

Live Consultations: Live consultations offer valuable opportunities for adult learners to engage in one-on-one or small group discussions with instructors or subject matter experts. These consultations provide personalized support and guidance, allowing learners to ask questions, seek clarification, and delve deeper into the course material. By offering live consultations through virtual meetings or office hours, educators can address individual needs and foster a supportive learning environment.

Language Scaffolding: Adult learners may face language barriers or varying levels of proficiency in the instructional language. Language scaffolding involves providing support and structure to help learners understand and communicate effectively. This can be achieved through techniques such as simplifying complex vocabulary, using visual aids, providing examples, and offering opportunities for practice and application. Language scaffolding ensures that adult learners can comprehend and engage with the content, promoting deeper understanding and participation.

Modeling: Modeling is a powerful instructional strategy that involves demonstrating the desired skills or behaviors for adult learners. By showcasing exemplary work or providing step-by-step demonstrations, instructors help learners understand expectations and develop a clear vision of the desired outcomes. Modeling can be particularly effective for practical skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, or professional communication. By observing and analyzing models, adult learners gain valuable insights that support their own learning and skill development.

Gaming: Gamification elements can greatly enhance the learning experience for adult learners. Incorporating game-like elements, such as points, badges, leaderboards, and interactive challenges, can increase engagement, motivation, and active participation. Gaming elements provide a sense of achievement and promote a friendly sense of competition among learners. Adult learners can benefit from the immersive and interactive nature of gaming, which can enhance their retention and application of knowledge and skills.

Feedback: Providing timely and constructive feedback is crucial for adult learners’ growth and progress. Feedback should be specific, actionable, and focused on both strengths and areas for improvement. Adult learners often appreciate feedback that is meaningful, individualized, and linked to their personal or professional goals. By incorporating feedback loops and offering opportunities for self-assessment and reflection, educators can empower adult learners to take ownership of their learning journey and continuously improve their performance.

-RG

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Support Learning in Online Courses with Structure (Part 2 of 2)

In the last article, we explored the significance of structure in supporting learning in online courses. Building upon that, there are five additional strategies that we, as educators, administrators, and instructional designers, can employ to create a well-structured online learning experience. By incorporating these strategies, we can enhance student engagement, foster a sense of community, and promote effective learning in the digital classroom.

Use Discussion Boards: As an instructor, I highly recommend creating a designated discussion board where students can ask questions related to the course content, assignments, or any other course-related inquiries. By encouraging students to support one another through answering questions and sharing resources, we foster a collaborative learning environment. Regularly monitoring the discussion board ensures that students receive timely responses and feel supported throughout their learning journey.

Consistent Course Announcements: To keep students informed and engaged, I utilize course announcement features to provide regular updates and reminders. Consistency is key, so I establish a schedule for sharing important information. I use announcements to clarify assignment instructions, provide additional resources, highlight upcoming events, or address common concerns. This steady stream of course announcements minimizes confusion and misunderstandings while keeping students informed and engaged.

Consistent Due Dates: As an instructor, I understand the importance of clearly communicating due dates for assignments, quizzes, and other course activities. By establishing consistent due dates, I help students plan their time effectively and stay on track. I state due dates clearly in the course syllabus, assignment descriptions, and course calendar, reinforcing them through regular reminders and announcements.

Use Rubrics: In order to promote transparency in grading, I create rubrics for assignments and share them with students in advance. Rubrics provide clear guidelines and expectations for each assignment, allowing students to align their work with the desired outcomes. By using rubrics, I provide consistent and objective feedback to students, helping them understand their strengths and areas for improvement.

Use Substantial Feedback: As an instructor, I believe that feedback is an essential component of the learning process. I strive to provide students with substantial and personalized feedback on their assignments, assessments, and discussions. By offering constructive comments that highlight their strengths and provide actionable suggestions for improvement, I demonstrate my commitment to individual student growth and enhance their learning experience.

Bonus Topic – Informal Course Surveys: To gather valuable feedback from students, I periodically conduct informal course surveys. These short surveys allow students to provide anonymous input on various aspects of the course, such as content, delivery methods, and engagement strategies. Analyzing survey results provides me with valuable insights into students’ experiences, enabling me to make informed adjustments and improvements to the course.

As an educator, administrator, or instructional designer, supporting learning in online courses requires a structured approach that fosters engagement, effective communication, and meaningful feedback. By implementing strategies such as using discussion boards, consistent course announcements, due dates, rubrics, personalized feedback, and conducting informal course surveys, we can create a well-structured online learning experience that enhances student engagement and success. Through intentional design and consistent implementation, I can empower students to thrive in the digital classroom and achieve their learning goals.

-RG

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Support Learning in Online Courses with Structure (Part 1 of 2)

Online learning has become an integral part of the education landscape, offering flexibility and accessibility to students worldwide. However, the success of online courses heavily relies on the structure provided to learners. In this article, I’ll explore five key strategies to support learning in online courses through effective structuring. Educators, administrators, and instructional designers can use these strategies to create a cohesive and engaging learning experience for their students.

Consistent Course Design: Consistency is key when designing online courses. Establishing a standardized course structure helps students navigate the course materials easily and reduces confusion. Maintain a consistent layout for each module or lesson, including headings, subheadings, and formatting. Consistency also extends to the use of language, instructions, and assessment criteria. When students can anticipate and understand the structure, they can focus more on the content and learning objectives.

Intentional Orientation: Begin the course with a comprehensive orientation module or section to familiarize students with the online learning environment. This orientation should cover technical aspects, such as how to navigate the course platform, submit assignments, and participate in discussions. Additionally, provide an overview of the course structure, expectations, and resources available to students. A well-designed orientation sets the foundation for a successful learning experience by ensuring that students feel prepared and confident from the start.

Online Learning Best Practices: Online learning requires specific skills and strategies for success. Dedicate a module or lesson to share best practices with students. Teach them effective time management, organization, and study techniques tailored to the online environment. Provide guidance on active learning strategies, such as note-taking, summarizing, and self-assessment. Encourage students to create a conducive learning environment and establish a routine that supports their online learning journey.

Low-Stakes Assessments to Learn Navigation: Navigating an online course can sometimes be overwhelming for students, especially if they are new to the platform. Incorporate low-stakes assessments, such as quizzes or interactive activities, that focus on familiarizing students with the course structure and navigation. These assessments should not heavily impact grades but serve as learning opportunities. By engaging with the course elements early on, students become more comfortable and proficient in navigating the online environment.

Weekly To-Do Lists: Provide students with clear and concise weekly to-do lists that outline the tasks, readings, assignments, and deadlines for each week. Break down large assignments into manageable milestones, allowing students to track their progress and plan their time effectively. These lists create a sense of structure, provide a roadmap for learning, and help students stay organized and on track throughout the course.

In the realm of online education, creating a well-structured learning experience is paramount. By implementing consistent course design, offering intentional orientation, sharing online learning best practices, incorporating low-stakes assessments for navigation, and providing weekly to-do lists, educators, administrators, and instructional designers can effectively support learning in online courses. These strategies empower students to navigate the course with ease, stay organized, and engage meaningfully with the content. With a strong foundation of structure, online courses can become dynamic and engaging learning environments that foster student success.

-RG

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Students: Time Management (Part 2 of 2)

Time Management – What is it?

Time management is simply identifying what needs to be done along with how we spend our time and re-organizing our to do list. Here are a few tips to help you take control of your time.

Time Management Tips

While the time management strategies shared previously are broader and more foundational, these time management tips can be used in your daily and weekly study habits. 

Routine

Identify how many hours a week you need to devote to each class. Determine the consistent times in your schedule you will devote to your coursework. This will help you develop the habit of studying at regular times instead of procrastinating and panicking when an assignment is due.

Minimize Distractions

You probably already know what keeps you from focusing, so be intentional to minimize distractions while you are studying. Maybe that means turning off your phone, setting a timer during a study break to limit your social media, walking the dog before you start studying, using noise canceling headphones, finding a separate and quiet place to study, or recording your favorite TV show to watch later. If you don’t manage distractions, what should take you one hour could wind up sucking three hours from your day.

Task Master

Go over the syllabus to become familiar with all of the course requirements, such as number of online weekly discussion posts, as well as all assignments and their deadlines. Create a calendar, either digitally or in a planner, with all due dates. Set up reminders, if needed, to keep you on track. If you are taking more than one course, do this for each one and designate your study times for particular classes.

Small Steps

Making incremental progress and setting goals for a project will help you better manage your time rather than crunching at the last minute and not doing your best work. Some of a course’s tasks can be completed in one study session. Others are more complex and will require reading, research, and extensive writing. Rather than simply putting due dates on the calendar for these assignments, break them down into smaller steps and assign a due date to each.

Take Breaks

Divide up your study times into 30 minute or hour segments, taking 10 to 15-minute breaks in between to clear your mind. Grabbing a cup of coffee, listening to part of a podcast, reading a book, sketching or walking around the block can energize you to dive back in. 

Be careful to manage your break-time also!

-RG

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Students: Time Management (Part 1 of 2)

It can be difficult to do it all as a student. Work, family, friends, and classes all compete for your time.

There will be many times when something will just have to give. So how will you identify your priorities? And how can you squeeze in as much as possible? Time management.

Time Management – What is it?

Time management is simply identifying what needs to be done along with how We spend our time and re-organizing our to do list. Here are a few strategies to help you take control of your time.

Time Management Strategies

To begin to manage your time as a student, there are a few time management strategies that will set you up for success from the beginning of your college career.

Perform a Time Assessment

Using an hourly calendar, identify and write down every task or event in your week, including everyday activities like watching TV, buying groceries, time on social media, or picking the kids up from school (if you are a parent or caretaker). With colored markers or pencils highlight activities that can NOT be moved or eliminated in red. Use a yellow highlight for items that could possibly be moved or taken on by another person. Lastly use the color green to highlight those items that can simply go away.

Reasonable Courseload

Knowing how much available time you have during the week will allow for a reasonable schedule of courses. Typically a three credit course taking over an eight week period will require approximately 10 to 17 hours per week. Schedule accordingly.

Support Systems

Let your friends and family know about your goals and ask them for help with every day tasks that will save you time. For example, helping with cooking, cleaning, shopping or just running errands could save you a lot of time. You may find that these individuals enjoy lending you a hand all while they help hold you accountable. There is a support system close by that may be overlooked in many cases. Your classmates, who can serve as study partners, or your professors, who can help you with questions or obstacles you may face. If you’re not comfortable asking for help, simply ask them for suggestions or recommendations on how to manage your time.

Technology

Whether you use a time management app, a calendar with alerts for deadlines, an app to limit your time on social media, online tools for formatting references, or digital folders for keeping your business, personal and school activities separate, technology can save you time, so use it to your advantage.

-RG

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Providing Constructive Feedback

It doesn’t matter what your position, role, level, or industry, at some point in your career, you’ll most likely need to know how to give constructive feedback at work.

This will certainly be true if you manage a team, you might also be called to give this type of feedback to peers or team members when working on projects with multiple contributors. Keep in mind that providing constructive criticism can be easier said than done – it’s something that many people find challenging, and can be tricky to do well. Here are some of the top ways to provide constructive feedback.

Build Trust – Having a baseline of trust will help set the tone of your future conversations. This will both help you deliver your feedback, and help the other person accept it and put your suggestions to use. It can be difficult to accept feedback from someone you do not trust.

Be Specific – One of the best ways to give constructive feedback is to focus on specifics. Telling someone that their work needs improvement, but not giving details on what exactly is lacking isn’t helpful to anyone. The person won’t know what you’re looking for, so they’ll be frustrated and you most likely will not get the results you hoped for. When providing positive feedback, provide specifics. For example, instead of just saying “great job” or “nice work,” give a meaningful compliment that shows that you really took the time to observe their work and that you truly appreciate their contribution.

In Person – Whenever possible, it is always better to deliver constructive criticism in person during private meetings rather than via email, a direct messaging application, or phone. All of these technologies, while useful in other situations, are much more open to misinterpretation, because they eliminate important context such as vocal tone, body language, and emotional inflection like humor or concern.

It’s Not Personal – When giving constructive criticism, it’s important to remember to distinguish a person from their actions. If it feels like a personal attack, the individual will be more likely to shut down and lose trust in you than to listen to what you have to say.

Be Consistent – When leading a team over a longer period of time, by making feedback a regular part of your ongoing conversations and meetings will go a long way. That means that you will both be on the same page in terms of expectations and performance, and that when something more significant comes up performance-wise, you’ll be better prepared to deliver the necessary feedback, and they’ll be better prepared to receive it.

Timely – Don’t let days or weeks pass by before you give someone feedback on their work, especially when it comes to a specific project. You want the work to be fresh in both their minds and yours, so that the conversation will be relevant and actionable.

-RG

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Top 5 List – Tips To Prepare Students For College

You might be surprised to learn that more than half of first-year college students say they aren’t prepared for college, despite being academically eligible to attend.

College readiness can ensure this doesn’t happen.

By definition, college readiness is the set of skills, behaviors, and knowledge a high school student should have before enrollment in their first year of college. Counselors and teachers play a key role in making sure this happens and can help students find academic success in college. If you’re already a teacher, or studying to become one, it’s important to know how you can effectively prepare your students for college.

Why is College Readiness Important?
The transition from high school to college is a major one. In many cases, students move away from home and embark on a new life chapter—both academically and personally. It’s crucial for parents and teachers to understand why college readiness is important so that they can better prepare students for a successful college experience even before enrollment.

Multiple studies show that college readiness improves a student’s chance of actually completing their degree. But the impact is even bigger than that. According to a report by American College Testing (ACT), high school graduates need to be college and career-ready in order to have a properly skilled workforce that meets the demands of the 21st century.

Below are some ways teachers can equip their students for that next academic step.

How Can Teachers Measure College Readiness?
True college readiness requires both academic and real-world skills. In fact, the ability to solve problems, work in a team, and be resourceful are viewed by some experts as equally important to mastering mathematics and reading. So, while many colleges use ACT/SAT scores or a student’s high school GPA to measure college readiness, there are other indicators or “soft skills” that teachers can look for.

Essential Soft Skills for College Readiness

  • Time management
  • Critical thinking
  • Communication
  • Networking
  • Goal setting
  • Collaboration
  • Problem-solving

Here are five tips you can use to better equip students for college success.

Focus on Executive Function Skills – Executive function refers to the mental skills that we use every day to learn and manage our daily lives. They include things such as memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. These skills can develop at different rates in different students. One way you can help support students in developing these skills is to establish a mindfulness routine that includes regular self-check-ins, self-reflection, intention setting, and gratitude practice.

Make the Classroom More Rigorous – It might be a challenge at first, but updates to the curriculum to include more intensive coursework is key to ensure students are well equipped with the broader set of strategies they’ll need for college. You can do this by implementing a challenging curriculum and assign longer, more complex assignments that involve things such as research, collaboration, and problem-solving.

Another thing you can do to help prepare your students for college is to teach them the value of extracurricular activities or after-school jobs. These things demonstrate to college admission officers that a student is well rounded and capable of handling the responsibilities that come with college.

Consider Social Aspects of College – Teachers can better prepare their students for college by teaching the social-emotional skills that they need to thrive in a post-secondary setting. Assigning group projects that promote collaboration and encouraging students to become involved in school activities, volunteer opportunities, or cultural events can encourage students to flex their interpersonal skills.

Teach Practical Skills – The best way to teach practical skills is to create coursework that allows students to put them into practice. Educators should look for opportunities to incorporate real-world skills into their instruction. For example, if you’re a math teacher, you can teach students how various math concepts relate to financial literacy, budgeting, or even preparing food.

Encourage Additional Preparation Resources – Prep courses and Advanced Placement (AP) classes are two of the best ways to academically prepare students for college. Not only do they give students a preview of what’s to come, but in many cases, students can earn college credit and get a head start on their college career.

Preparing students for the financial responsibility of college is important, too. The Department of Education’s financial aid toolkit offers multiple free resources for teachers and their students.

-RG

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Reflection And Change

Tips for Faculty: Reflection and time to consider change

The pandemic resulted in a dramatic shift in instruction and learning models for college faculty. What began as temporary measures in response to an emergency may end as a catalyst for the transformation of higher education. The end of the fall semester is an opportunity to review and reflect on what is and is not working as institutions continue to navigate uncertain times.

Most campuses will welcome students back for full-time, in-person learning this fall. As a result of continuing COVID outbreaks, many courses are still being offered as a mix of in-person and online learning. The seismic disruption to higher education has resulted in the largest adoption of technology ever, allowing faculty to reconsider how they teach and explore new ways to teach, mentor, and coach students.

For all the upheaval, this has been a time of experimentation. Institutions have had to shake up every process and policy to respond to the needs of faculty and students. It is time to fully embrace technology, particularly with routine tasks. Technology can support faculty in spending most of their time in direct engagement with students in person or online.

This break between semesters is a good opportunity to reflect on new practices that promise flexibility in how instructors teach and assess their students. Questions to consider include:

  • Are there frequent opportunities for students to collaborate and learn from one another?
  • Are feedback loops between students and faculty open and productive?
  • Is course content and pedagogy still relevant after all this change?
  • Have new practices to stimulate student engagement been implemented?
  • Are equity and student success embedded in new practices?
  • Has the focus shifted from instructor-led to student-centered learning?
  • Do students have agency in how they manage their own learning process?
  • Are courses and topics connecting to students’ personal and career goals?

Faculty should be encouraged to take time to review and reflect on how the last 14-16 months have changed their teaching practice.

-RG

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Top 5 List: Improve Service To Others

Top 5 List

Many business owners operate from this mindset related to customer service: “if you can make your customers happy everything else will simply take care of itself”. But what about those small businesses that simply don’t have the resources to create and implement an effective program for customer service that their employees can use? Here are five easy ways that can improve customer service that won’t require any special training or any additional resources.

Be professional – a professional exchange with customers in-person, on the phone, or in an email will have a major impact on how people communicate with you. Be caring, courteous, polite, and attentive at all times.

Thank you – simply say thank you and let your customers know you appreciate them and their business. This can be done with a quick phone call, a handwritten note, a small gift, an email… Or simply remembering them the next time you interact with them.

Accessible – make it easy for customers to reach you or a member of your team. This can be done through email, voice mail, text messaging, and even social media. These are all great ways to make yourself available and to respond promptly.

Ask – ask customers what they need or what can be done to make things right for them. Never put your customers on the defensive by asking why is there a problem here.

Follow up – follow up with customers especially in those cases where you feel a customer may not be 100% satisfied. It’s surprising to see how few businesses actually do this in a way that is personalized or individualized to that particular customer.

-RG

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Top 5 List: Unique Study Habits

Top 5 List

A crucial part of the successful completion of any degree program is studying. And knowing this so many things still get in the way of a successful study session. Finding the right groove that works for each individual can be challenging. The study tips that are provided by advisers and counselors may just not do the trick. Yes, it helps to have a quiet space free of any distractions where the focus can be prioritized. But what else can be added to maximize the use of this time?

Here are a few study habits that may help to get studies back on track:

Video – one of the trending items in higher education today is the use of “study along” or “study with me” videos. These videos don’t exactly teach you how to study, these are videos that have been created by others showing themselves simply studying. These video creators might suggest some ambient noise or soft music in the background to help enhance the environment. These videos simply show others reading, taking notes, reviewing notecards, etc. Those that use these types of videos report that seeing others in the act of studying find that studying becomes contagious and helps them make the best use of their time.

Sing – at one time or another we’ve all had a song get stuck in her head and simply can’t get rid of it. Take the same idea and put it into use during your next study session. You can make up a few lyrics or a simple jingle about the fact you want to remember or even the key points that could help you on a test. This could be a lifesaver when you need it the most. Turn to your favorite track or a familiar melody to help you memorize different skills it’ll be much easier than you might imagine. Have some fun with it!

Music – many students report that simply listening to some type of study music and letting that same music play why they sleep has helped them improve their academic performance. Try some new style of music. Perhaps some ambient noise or simply some instrumental music that you may not normally listen to.

Rewards – consider rewarding yourself after a study session. Just like a high-performing athlete may have one cheat day where they can enjoy a slice of pizza. Perhaps as a hard-working student, you can set aside your favorite dessert when the studying is done. This can even be a small reward if you enjoy a favorite candy, reward yourself with a piece after reading a few pages in that textbook required for your class. If creating notecards is part of your process for studying, consider setting aside a handful of your favorite snacks once you’re done.

Accessorize – creating a Study area includes more than just setting the mood that applies to your desk arrangement or the lighting. This can apply to your study implements. Perhaps having a special set of pens, notebooks, planners, and stationery will help you visualize success and will support your study sessions. Setting up your surroundings including accessories can go a long way towards putting you in the right state of mind to begin your successful study session.

-RG