Another key factor attributing to the successful distance learners is time management. A vast majority of students have to juggle studying with their work commitments and family responsibilities. Time management is all about how you organize yourself in order to make the best use of your time and become more effective. According to Edison(2007), there is no single management “solution” which is best for everyone and every learning situation. The following are some key features of time management which can account for better time management skills for online learners:
· Planning is essential if you have tight timescales to meet. Just as traditional classroom you are expected to attend the classes for which you have registered, you’re expected to put in a predetermined number of study hours per week. The amount of study time should be determined by evaluating your responsibilities and the date of anticipated goal achievement. In order to keep on target with these goals, you should expect consistent communication with the instructor. You can expect prompt and efficient service from the instructor and the learner should understand this is expected of in return. By covering theses expectations during orientation, you are equipped and more likely to remain with the program.
· Where there are large/difficult tasks, break them down into series of more manageable sub-tasks. As you become distance learners, the need to think about how you will balance the workload of family, employment, and community responsibilities with studying. You and I will develop a study plan that will address these responsibilities in order to discover when, where, and how they will be studying at a distance. Within this study plan, you will need to coordinate a communication schedule with the trainer. Please communicate using office telephones, e-mail messages, or instant messaging on an as -needed basis.
· Aspire to do your work at the part of the day when you are at the climax of your energy (Edison, P. 22).