January 30–February 5, 2008, Number 479
Staying On Track
Here at Michigan Tech, your student has now entered the third week of classes for the spring semester. The general atmosphere on campus has been jovial as the statues continue to rise above the many snowdrifts in the area, but before your student enjoys the winter season, he or she must remember to put their studies first. Before many of us students know, our first tests and exams for this semester will be coming up, which for many of us will be within the next few weeks. This article will discuss tips that can help your student with keeping up on homework and studying.
One of the biggest factors for staying on track with homework and tests is time management. I realize that many students have been told to manage their time, but most don't know how to do that effectively. A start to managing your time can begin by using a planner to keep track of the dates in which you have assignments due and for the tests scheduled for this semester. In each class the professor usually supplies an outline for the class detailing what reading is assigned and when the tests will take place for that class, so each student is forewarned about exams. Once your student gets their schedule in order it is important to make sure that they set apart time to get the assignments done within an appropriate time frame that won't make them feel rushed to complete it. I'm not saying that your student should solely focus on their studies, but create a schedule that allows them to have plenty of study time and some time to do extra curricular. Time management is, in my opinion, a balance of keeping up with schoolwork and allowing time for enjoyment.
Michigan Tech has an online test designed to examine a person's level of time management skills. The questions are designed to get people thinking about how well they prioritize their daily tasks as well as provide suggestions for doing better with scheduling. ExSEL has a great document on Time Management Activities (pdf).
Along with a schedule of assignments and exams, the professors usually provide office hours and their personal emails to allow students to seek help. If students can't meet at the time that the professor has scheduled office hours they can email and set up another time. Many professors are there to help and will try and work out something that fits both their schedule as well as the schedule of the student. With the average class size being fairly small at our university, many professors get to know their students and are very personable in giving assistance towards homework and study aids.
There are multiple avenues for your student to find help with their homework. Located throughout campus are areas called "learning centers". For those parents who do not know what a learning center is I shall briefly explain them. A learning center is set up for students to come and receive help on their homework problems. Learning centers are staffed by students that have been interviewed and are able to give assistance in many of the courses that are taught here at Michigan Tech. The learning centers that are available consist of the Biological, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, and Writing. There is also a Modern Language Lab set up to aid students who are taking a foreign language course offered by the University. I highly encourage everyone that attends Michigan Tech to take advantage of these free services that the University supplies to the students. It is a great avenue for getting help in the classes that your student is taking. More information about the learning centers can be found in the Student Handbook.
It can be really easy to fall behind in classes if you don't take the advice I've provided. Working on setting up a schedule will allow your student to manage their time effectively. The many avenues of aid (learning centers, professors, etc) are all great tools that have been set up to aid in the success of students at Michigan Tech. Once your student has completed their homework assignments, they will have many more opportunities to get outside and enjoy the Winter Carnival events as well as other things that are happening on campus.
If there are any questions about this article or anything at all don't hesitate to email me at my personal email address. Ideas for articles are welcomed.
Until next week,
- Michigan Technological University
- 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931-1295
- 906-487-1885