St. Cloud State University

Time Management - Learning Techniques for Tutors and Mentors

Some students need help in organizing their work schedules. Some questions to ask are:

I. Assessment

1. Where do you study?
2. When do you study? A student should review notes within 24 hours of taking them. They should review notes as close to the class period as possible to assist retention. The time of day when the student is most alert is the best time to study, especially difficult subjects.

Some instructors claim that if students treat school like a job and get to campus at 8:00 a.m. and utilize all free time during the day to study until 5:00 p.m., they will get all their work done. And then they have the evenings and weekends open for leisure pursuits.

There are a number of Web sites with time management strategies:
time management Web sites
procrastination Web sites

II. Assistance

Have students take a time schedule home and record time spent on study activities for one week. Analyze this schedule with them.

Do the students procrastinate? Have students take a couple of assessments from the internet site and discuss their results with you.

©2004 Dr. Gretchen Starks-Martin, St. Cloud State University