Need to develop a new set of skills around working online and managing multiple tasks and deadlines that require planning, scheduling and delivering?
To be autonomous is to take responsibility for oneself.
It has never been more important to be autonomous: never has it been more important to take responsibility for our actions, to take responsibility for what we do and how we behave.
We know, more keenly than ever before, that our actions and behaviour has consequences for those we love, those we live with, work with and those we meet in person and online. We have been educated in recent weeks on how to care for our own health, the health of our families and our communities and particularly those who are most vulnerable. We are proud to be part of a society that takes care of the most vulnerable and we are proud to be autonomous in this way.
Support for students
In the coming weeks SETU will continue to support our learning community to develop autonomy—specifically autonomy as learners. We want to support you to build your strengths and develop and consolidate a new set of skills around working online and managing multiple tasks and deadlines that require planning, scheduling and delivering.
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Create a list: What assignments are set and what are the deadlines? Consider keeping a 'To Do' notebook beside the computer where you jot down dates and tasks as they appear and arise. There's nothing like pen and paper to keep track of the week's tasks. A paper-based ‘To-Do’ list is also very useful when your browser acts up or your bookmarks suddenly disappear!
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Break it down: Break down each task into smaller tasks and then estimate how much time you need for each.
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Schedule: Remember that your circumstances will have changed and what might have been achievable before the Covid 19 outbreak may well not be achievable now, so schedule the work you have to do accordingly.
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Create a study routine and keep to it: Allow for the fact that you may be distracted, bored or bothered and punctuate your study routine with things that will allow you short but important breaks. Figure out what’s a healthy distraction and what’s a ‘distracting’ distraction and work accordingly!
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Organise your workspace: Have what you need to hand – the SETU Library resources (including the databases of journal articles) will be invaluable.
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Make notes and use a variety of sources/resources—if you’re relying on online resources vary your authors as a way of keeping yourself engaged in the ‘conversation’.
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Get offline: You can revise or reflect on your assignment tasks while offline—take time to turn off the computer and write your own notes, or think about the topic you are trying to explore or understand while you are exercising. When you’re back at the computer again write up your thoughts and then develop them working them into the notes you have made from other sources.
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Talk: Make some time to talk online to someone on your course – or organise an online study group. This could take place outside the formal online environment or within it on the discussion page of Moodle (if one is available for that module).
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Build on your strengths and make friends with your weak points: Take time in each study session to work on an area in which you know that you are strong, then also take time to work on something that challenges you.
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Park on a downhill slope: Before you finish each study session make a ten-minute start on the next part of the work—that way you can use this momentum to ease you into the next study session.
Bonus tip: Keep in touch with lecturers and programme leaders, they can offer support and formative feedback and, then, follow the guidance you receive.
Remember the words of Malala Yousafzai: “I will get my education, if it is in the home, school or any place”.
Download
You can download this handy two pager here.