1. Not Enough Time in the Day
Time Management
For
Adult Learners

2. Goals
• To teach learners the
importance of time
management for adult learners.
• To provide learners with a selfawareness of their own time
management strengths and
weaknesses.
• To provide learners with tools to organize and manage
their time.
• To teach learners strategies to prioritize activities, and
minimize procrastination, distractions and interruptions
in their schedule.

3. Objectives
The student will:
• Identify three to five strategies to improve time management.
• Develop a plan to prioritize tasks and eliminate low-priority
items when needed.
• Demonstrate understanding of time-management tools by
creating a detailed schedule for one day.
• Demonstrate transfer of tools and concepts by:
1. Using that one-day schedule as a model to create a weekly
and long-term schedule.
2. Maintaining schedule and modifying when needed.
3. Developing and using contingency plans for unforeseen
interruptions to schedule.

4. Before we start…
• Welcome.
• Meet your instructor.
• Introduce yourself.

5. Human being
Mom and wife
Teacher and journalist
Bakery clerk
Student
Would-be Instructional Designer

6. •
•
•
What went wrong?
What went right?
What do you want to CHANGE?

7. What did you learn? Since your new life as a
student has begun:
• Are you ever a little overwhelmed?
• Would you like some help getting your
schedule organized?
• When you hear the term “time
management,” do you think “What time?”

8. If you answered yes to any of these
questions, you’re in the right place.
During today’s class, you will:
• Reflect on the many, and often conflicting,
demands on your time.
• Create a detailed plan for one day as a model
for later creation of a weekly and semester
schedule.
• Develop strategies that will help you maintain
the schedule you create.
• Adapt your schedule when you can’t follow it
because of the unforeseen interruptions that
inevitably happen.

9. Starting point
• Take out the survey and the schedule
you created for this class.
• Reread them keeping the following
questions in mind.
• You have five minutes.

10. QUESTIONS
• How are you at managing your time?
• Do you have enough time?
• Did you find any “extra time” when you recorded
and analyzed how you use your time?
• Do you get all your work done on time?
• Were you able to stick to the daily schedule you
created before the workshop?
• If not, what went wrong?

11. Now that you’ve thought
about the questions,
watch this short video.
It reviews the RAC activities you
did before the workshop. Then
it maps out some strategies for
the last step of RAC, CHANGE.

12. Well, what did you think?
This isn’t exactly rocket science,
is it?
The terms you heard in the video
sounded familiar, didn’t they?
Let’s take a few minutes to explore
what the terms really mean.

13. Terms
• Time Management
• Schedule
• Procrastinate
• Interruption
• Distraction
• Prioritize

14. Match each term
to its definition.

15. Terms 1. Time management
2. Distraction 4. Procrastinate
Definitions 3. Schedule 5. Prioritize
6. Interruption
Planning the order of and
controlling the amount time spent on specific activities
A written plan of activities and the times they will be done
Something that hinders the continuity of an activity
To organize activities so the most important is done first
Something that makes it difficult to pay attention
To delay doing an activity until a later time

16. Terms
Time
Planning the order of and controlling the
management amount time spent on specific activities
A written plan of activities and
Schedule
the times they’ll be done
Distraction
Something that makes it difficult to pay attention
Interruption Something that hinders the continuity of an activity
Procrastinate To delay doing an activity until a later time
Prioritize
To organize activities so that
the most important is done first

17. Which term is most troublesome for
you?
Most people would pick the tendency to
“procrastinate” as a problem…
Let’s see
what Wellcast says
about procrastination.
Click here to watch the video.

19. Have you found that you sometimes
waste more time than you realized?
Listen to some great ideas
on how to avoid…
WASTING TIME.

20. Check Point
Try this
and see how you do.

21. Take out a piece of paper
and number from 1 to 12.

22. Now answer these questions
Pick the logical answer and write it down.
Click when you are ready to go to the next slide.
1. RAC is an acronym for “record, ______ and change.”
A. Apply
B. Analyze
C. Add
2. Which step is NOT part of the time-management process?
A. Controlling the amount of time spent on specific activities
B. Planning the order of specific activities
C. Delaying doing an activity until a later time
Click to go to the next slide.

23. 3. Chunking is an excellent strategy to plan for:
A. Completing large complicated tasks.
B. Avoiding distractions and interruptions.
C. Rewarding oneself for finishing important
tasks.
4. Which of the following does NOT interfere
with adhering to a schedule?
A. Prioritization
B. Procrastination
C. Interruptions
Click to go to the next slide.

24. 5. Something that makes it difficult to pay
attention is called…
A. A retraction
B. An interaction
C. A distraction
6. “A written plan of activities and the time
those activities will be done” is called…
A. A schedule
B. A form
C. A resume
Click to go to the next slide.

25. 7. The term “procrastinate” refers to:
A. Delaying doing an activity until a later time
B. Eating until you’re full
C. Keeping a list of important activities
8. To keep motivated when trying to keep to a
tough schedule for completing a big task…
A. Keep going until everything is done.
B. Plan small rewards for completing parts of the
task.
C. Disregard the schedule. Take frequent breaks
to prevent fatigue.
Click to go to the next slide.

26. 9. Organizing activities so that the most important
things are done first is called…
A. Distraction
B. Prioritization
C. Interruption
10. Which of the following is NOT a strategy for
getting started on a big project?
A. Pick the most enjoyable part of the project
to start.
B. Tackle the hardest part of the project first to
get it out of the way.
C. Plan to do the whole project in one day so
that it’s done.
Click to go to the next slide.

27. 11. Generally, the first step in prioritizing activities is
deciding…
A. What is most important to do
B. What is easiest to do
C. What is quickest to do
12. An interruption is something that interferes with the
continuity of an activity.
One way to avoid interruptions is to…
A. Work in a room where others are watching
television
B. Work in a quiet room sitting at a comfortable desk
C. Multitask to get lots of things done at one time
Click to go to the next slide and check your answers.

28. Now check your answers.
1. B
2. C
3. C
4. A
5. C
6. A
7. A
8. B
9. B
10. C
11. A
12. B

29. It isn’t easy going to college online…
•
•
•
•
•
Reading
Discussion Posts
Projects
Writing Assignments
You’re not alone: Find a friend, join a study
group
• Flexibility means making detailed plans

30. 1. E-learners read long passages on complex topics with
many new terms. Which is NOT a strategy for efficient
and effective reading?
A. Reading the objectives and discussion topic before
starting so that you focus on what’s important.
B. Reading and taking notes on chapter summaries
before starting to help you focus on major points.
C. Reading assignments in the order they are
assigned.
2. E-learners may suffer from ________ since they work
alone without any face-to-face interaction with classmates.
A. Cognitive overload
B. Isolation
Click to go to the next slide.
C. Lack of intellectual challenge

31. 3. One way to avoid getting behind on assignments in
the flexible environment of e-learning is
A. To avoid planning and do a little work whenever you
have the chance.
B. To plan carefully, include all the details and add
extra time in case things take longer than expected
C. To check the assignment schedule each day and do
assignments on the day they are due.
True or False? Are these statements true or false?
4. If you have an emergency and cannot complete an
assignment on time, you should let your instructor
know in advance and request an extension.
Click to go to the next slide.

32. True or False? Are these statements true or false?
5. Discussion boards are informal exchanges of
ideas.
6. Discussion board posts must be well-organized
and include references to support opinions.
7. Good time management comes naturally to
good students.
8. Always do your best. It is never okay to hand in
adequate work on time even if it’s not your best.
9. Late work is usually graded down.
10.If you don’t hand in an assignment, you’ll end up
Click to check your answers on the next slide.
with a 0.

33. Now check your answers.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

34. Not Enough Time in the Day
Time Management
for Adult Learners
Put Your Time Management Tools
To Work
Daily Agenda
Time
12:00 AM
1:00 AM
2:00 AM
3:00 AM
Day of Week
Notes
4:00 AM
5:00 AM
6:00 AM
7:00 AM
800 AM
9:00 AM
10:00 AM
11:00 AM
12:00 Noon
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
8:00 PM
9:00 PM
10:00 PM
11:00 PM
12:00 AM
Use what you’ve learned to plan
for another day

35. Before you start,
check out this page
from E-How on how to
make a schedule.
Just click and go…

36. Let’s review the E-How approach….
1. Pick a format.
2. Compile your appointments and tasks
specifying the time needed for each.
3. Prioritize appointments and tasks and schedule
the most important first.
4. Plan to use time efficiently. Avoid wasting time.
5. Don’t over-commit your time.
6. Schedule to fit your personality and strengths.
7. Plan enough personal time and rest.

37. Print out the attached agenda – or use
your own agenda, if you prefer – and
complete your schedule.
Not Enough Time in the Day
Time Management
for Adult Learners
Daily Agenda
Time
12:00 AM
1:00 AM
2:00 AM
3:00 AM
4:00 AM
5:00 AM
6:00 AM
7:00 AM
800 AM
9:00 AM
10:00 AM
11:00 AM
12:00 Noon
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
YOU
HAVE
15 MINUTES…
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
8:00 PM
9:00 PM
10:00 PM
11:00 PM
12:00 AM
Day of Week
Notes

38. Great job…
Let’s take a short break
to see how Dilbert manages his time…

39. Some food for thought…
When trying to organise your time there are
two issues: finding the time in the first place
and then using it properly. If you don't do the
second, there is little point in doing the first.
http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/firststeps/nsl_time.html

40. In Summary…
Organize: Use the time you have efficiently
and minimize wasted time
Just do it: Start with one small task
Use your agenda: Include everything
Build in a little extra time in case a task or
appointment takes longer than expected
Take planned breaks but…

41. In Summary…
Minimize distractions and interruptions:
Stay on task when you are “on the clock”
Break up big tasks into small chunks
Reward yourself for small accomplishments
Prioritize: Decide what’s important and
start there
Focus on what’s important, especially
when conflicts arise

42. Save the URL… sites to remember.
Revisit videos on Youtube:
1. A Simple Approach to Time Management:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUk6LXRZMMk
2. Procrastination:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT76GrszuHk
3. Wasting time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmOwSsoodIw
Food for Thought: Problems Unique to Adult E-Learners:
http://www.lc.unsw.edu.au/firststeps/nsl_time.html
Need more practice? Try this activity on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLibyXxsUdY

43. One last thing…
Please take a few minutes
to complete the end-of-workshop survey.
Click here to take the survey.