Fall semester is gaining on us!

There are 78 students enrolled in my freshmen computer information systems course. The curriculum calls me to teach Microsoft Office. The students will have a chance to learn how to use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Exchange. They will also learn how to write a college paper in the MLA style. But the most worthwhile thing I can teach them is how to manage their time. Maybe, just maybe, I might be able to help a few avoid that dreaded disease freshmenitis.

Time management is more than writing your schedule down. You’ve got to check it every morning too! You also need to think about your priorities and maintain a to-do list. The to-do list may be the most important thing. There a very positive feeling as you check things off that motivates you to do more.

Carnegie Melon University’s Computer Science department recently released a new vod entitled Time Management to the iTunes U. Randy Pausch is the guest speaker. He does a powerful job of discussing the principals of time management but the vod is one hour and sixteen minutes long. Too long for my 50 minute class period. Still I’d like my freshmen to view it. How can I do that?

Easy. Post the vod to Blackboard and have students view it on their own time. Of course there has to be an incentive and that going to be points on a quiz.

The first step is already complete. I went out to iTunes U and downloaded the vod. I reviewed it on my Mac and evaluated it. I jotted down a few quiz questions and even wrote a learning objective. The next step is to upload it to the course on my campus Blackboard server. I could direct the students to go out to the iTunes U and find it but why complicate things. By uploading to our Blackboard server it will be available even when the Internet is down. Finally I’ll post it to the students as a required vod and warn them it will be on their weekly quiz. They will thus be required to view it on their own time but when?

Most folks don’t know it but Microsoft Exchange has a schedule component to it. We tend to use it as an email tool only but its a powerful time management tool. It can even automate appointment scheduling. So this is the perfect time for my students to view the vod.

Of course by presenting the topic I’m on the hook to model positive time management behavior. That is just part of being professional. It may also be a good idea to spot check their schedules and to-do lists.

My hope is if we can teach freshman to manage their time early maybe we can improve student retention.

Bye bye freshmenitis?!