Friday, February 3, 2012

Chapter 4- The Commitments of an Online Student: Managing Your Priorities Summary

            The primary focus of chapter four is time management and avoiding procrastination. The first part of the introduction explains the meaning of time management as knowing how much time you have, knowing how much time a task will take to complete, and knowing how to fit all your obligations into the time you have. The second part of the introduction explains the different meanings of procrastination. It is not just waiting until the last minute, it is also not knowing the amount of time you will need to do it. Some helpful tips on how to avoid procrastination include planning ahead and being aware of the time you spend on a project.  
Managing your time successfully takes evaluating your situation and figuring out what works. First you will need to answer all of your commitments. One technique that may help is using a personal calendar to keep track of your responsibilities and doing them.
Another time management technique is to say no to requests that are not important and can demand more time than you have to give. Judging the right time to say no depends on your situation. The direct and apologetic approach is best, even offering alternative solutions. Always be honest and forthright.
Asking for help from the online instructor may be needed at times. First, attempt to work through the obstacle on your own. However, know when to ask for help and then use that assistance to achieve your goal.  Be polite and direct, confident and helpful in your own way.
The final topic addressed in the chapter discusses stress management. First, you must take responsibility for the stress by recognizing what causes your stress, how you respond to it, and the best ways you can manage unavoidable stress. It helps to surround yourself with supportive people and treating yourself as a priority. Another section of helpful websites on time and stress management concludes chapter four.
http://faculty.bucks.edu/specpop/time-manage.htm

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