Getting Organized

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Self-Reflection Questions

• What is my preference?
• What is my organizational style?
• Why do I use this style?
• How is it working/ not working for me?
• How can I improve my organizational skills?

Issues

Being organized involves having an understanding of the task to be done, the estimated time to complete the task and time available, and the tools needed.

While there may be a connection between neatness and organization, it is not always the case. People have different styles and tolerances, and some people are "selectively organized" in areas that reflect their personal values.

In broad terms, individuals may adopt a style that is "left brain" (logical, detailed, sequential, linear) while others favour a "right brain" (holistic, relational, creative, gestalt) approach or a mix of the two styles. Depending on your personal cognitive style, different strategies will be helpful around "task, time and tools".

Two Different Approaches to Organizing

Left-brain/ Sequential Learners

• Love an orderly approach? Overwhelmed by chaos?
• Do you find it hard to do your best work at the last minute?
• Do you like to finish a task before starting another one?
• Do you like to know where you are heading (i.e. the learning goal or desired end-product) before you get into details?
• Do you like step-by- step increments in acquiring new information?

If you answered "yes" to most of these questions, you may have a preference for a left-brain, or sequential style. These people may find it easiest to learn through auditory presentations and abstract reasoning. Their strategies for organization will favour reasonably detailed and schedule-based techniques.

Right-brain/ Simultaneous Learners

• Do you love to brainstorm ideas?
• Are you good at starting projects but then find your attention wanes and you need the stimulation of a new project or topic?
• Are you someone who just can't see the point of organizing or scheduling every detail of your life?
• Are you oblivious to time?
• Do you find you get sidetracked or engrossed in a reading which is not what you intended to read?
• Is your desk a bit cluttered?

If you answered ‘yes' to some of the above, you might be a right-brain/simultaneous thinker!

Learning Strategies for Right-Brain Thinkers (27 KB)

Strategies

Individually

Scheduling:

• Use scheduling tools: term calendars, weekly and daily planners, study plans.
• Use "found-time": these are small amounts of time between classes or appointments which can add up to many hours over the week!

Administering: Organize your study space/ desk area; your notes in binders with tabs, file folders or note pads and colour-code by course, download notes from the Web before each class, find old exams early in the term.

Analyzing assignment worth: At the beginning of the term review your course outline or syllabus to note the value or weighting of each assignment. Write the assignment AND its weighting on your term calendar.

In a Group

1. Form a study group

• work with 2-4 classmates or friends
• set a regular meeting time and place
• keep all members informed of meetings and agenda
• define objectives of the group: discuss homework questions, "teach" other members how to solve a problem, design potential exam questions and share answers
• rotate leadership
• come prepared
• if members are behind on readings, consider assigning 1 reading per member, and then each shares his/her summary of the reading
• socialize for the first 10 minutes and perhaps last 10-15 minutes as part of the structure of the group, to avoid distractions during the work session

2. Find peer support-use a friend to help you stay on track. Find someone who is very organized as your role model. Find someone you can go to the library with every day.

3. Make a contract to get organized. List what you will do in the presence of a family member, friend, peer mentor, or learning strategist. Have him/her witness it. Review it regularly.

4. Use technology: MSN check-ins with friends, software scheduling programs.

Tools

Course Planner (22 KB)
Task Analysis (22 KB)
Term Calendar (125 KB)
Weekly Schedule (161 KB)
Interactive Weekly Schedule

Whole Braining Learning: Mind-mapping (181 KB)
How to Use Homework Time (25 KB)
The ‘5 Day' Study Plan (28 KB)

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Download Text Script of MP3 (4 KB)

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