Hi  Fernando,

Many thanks for creating this thread and bringing such an interesting topic up for discussion. I must confess I’m still learning how to manage my own time more effectively. I sometimes feel that when it comes to theory like putting everything that need to be done on a list, distributing activities in 24h, prioritizing, maximizing time, and so on and so forth are easier said than done. In other words, putting theory into practice is the hardest thing to do (at least for me ;-)). I myself can only learn it by doing – on the job.

Anyways, I can’t think of any other way of learning to improve our time skills than by turning our job into a routine and then constantly evaluate our own performance. Undoubtedly, our students’ comments and suggestions are always welcome to help us with that.

However, routine reminds me of mechanics … Is creativity a plus when learning to manage our time? 

Thanks again for breaking the ice, Fernando! :-)

Best,

Bruno

Hello Bruno,

Thanks for taking the time to write!

I agree that more usually than not, theoretical concepts on time management may not be so easy to put into practice. However, I can think of at least one principle which, in my opinion, has proven very helpful: staying focused, rather than multitasking.

Because a great part of my daily routine takes place online, applying the above principle has meant I now turn off twitter, facebook, skype, etc and focus exclusively on the task at hand, say, moderating contributions.

Personally, by focusing on one task at a time, I feel that I've become more productive and less stressed out. Additionally, there's the satisfaction and reward of going back to your to-do list and putting a tick next to the accomplished item.

As for your witty question (Is creativity a plus when learning to manage our time?), my guess is that being continuously too pressed for time stifles creativity (and may lead to burn-out), but too little pressure may lull people into inaction. The tricky thing is, obviously, finding the right balance.

Let me say goodbye for now with one of my all-time favourite sayings,  

"Procrastination is the thief of time"

"Easier said than done, eh, Bruno?

Cheers,

Fernando Guarany
Natal : RN : Brazil

Hi Fernando,

Thank you for taking the time to reply to my comment. :-)

I fully agree with you that staying focused (exclusively on a task at a time) is a very nice strategy. Again, imagine how hard it is for our students to do that. They’re all natural multi-taskers – specially when they’re logged on. Don’t you all think that Time Management Skills (TMS) should be taught in school?  Or maybe something like Learning/Studying Strategies: find out how you learn best!?  I think students should be empowered with these skills from the very beginning of their formal academic life.

Anyway, thanks again for the cartoon and the sayings, Fernando. Very thought-provoking! Keep on sharing! :-)

Have a nice weekend,

Bruno

Hello Bruno,

I'm enjoying the dialogue :-)

You're right: being born into Generation Net, our students may be aptly called "multitasking natives." It's a fact that many of our students (try and) perform multiple activities simultaneously - just take a look at them at cybercafés or "lan-houses"! However, I'm far from convinced that such practice is so beneficial as it might seem at first glance. Actually, a recent study carried out at Stanford University seems to reveal that multitasking "may impair one's cognitive control." [Stanford.edu]

Bearing this reality in mind, I regard your question, "Don’t you all think that Time Management Skills (TMS) should be taught in school?" as very timely and extremely important. My answer is a resounding YES! I couldn’t agree more when you say that students are empowered by the early inculcation of effective study habits and principles. Unfortunately, I fear that many of us have got so bogged down with teaching the subject that we've often forsaken the indispensable task of training pupils and fostering learner autonomy.

As a self-professed quote lover, before I close this comment with a question, I'd like to offer you an enthralling quotation by late Dorothy Sayers who was herself a student of modern languages:

"Is it not the great defect of our education today that although we often succeed in teaching our pupils "subjects," we fail lamentably on the whole in teaching them how to think? They learn everything, except the art of learning."

Finally, Bruno (and all), in practical terms, what are some of your ideas to foster "learner autonomy" and help our students "master" the art of learning?

Fernando Guarany

Natal : RN : Brazil

Hello Ivone and all,

Sorry for the late response.

Bruno, in my last comment I forgot to thank you for sharing the interesting video on Time Management - Many many thanks! :-)

Picking up from Chris's reminder on time-fillers for the end of the lesson, I'd like to share my all-time favourite activty when there's some time left near the end of the class: talking. We simply try and chat as naturally as possible about anything that comes to mind. I can recall more than one occasion when the conversation was flowing so well that it continued (in English) after the bell rang.

Re How can we train students to stay focus?

I guess that possibly by helping students reflect on the way they study, for instance. In practical terms, teachers could make a point of regularly discussing the topic of multitasking/staying focused in class and help students reflect on its implications and relate what they discuss to their study habits and lives.

I'd like to close by thanking you for sharing the link to the excellent article "Promoting diversity through children’s literature". I couldn't agree more with what you say about storytelling: our students can benefit so much from it! I once did a dramatic reading of A Christmas Carol to one of my groups over a semester. They really enjoyed it and learnt a lot.

Have a wonderful week!

Fernando Guarany

Natal RN Brazil