Study Habits: APEC Learning Hacks

Written By: Bienne Guillean Velasquez

As Quarter 1 ends for the school year 2022-2023, many of us face challenges—stress, meeting the deadline, being pressured, failure to manage time, mental breakdown, and lack of sleep. Some failed with their open assessments, integrated/performance based assessment and other subjects. Some didn’t meet their expectations for themselves, and some lost themselves in the process. As a student who faces challenges, has a lot on their plate, and has finally made it through the first quarter, here are some tips and hacks that I did to survive quarter 1.

During the start of every quarter, I intend to do all the tasks for each subject. And this must actually be common for us, students. For me, to maximize the time, what I do with the materials is first: if it’s a video, I answer while watching it and listen to the speaker. If it's reading material, I read first, then answer. And if the question confuses me, I answer while reading. On the other hand, for graded activities, which are the open assessment and integrated performance based assessment or performance-based assessment, to properly handle this, I create a list that consists of the deadlines for the open assessment and integrated/performance-based assessment and a checklist for my OAs and I/PBAs. I focus more on the graded task; so during my free time, I take my OAs and do my PBAs. Luckily, the open assessments are unlimited. And since it has unlimited takes for a certain period of time, I also make a list to track my scores and always aim for a perfect one.

In a group task, especially in PBA or IPBA, to do it in advance or not be late in submitting it, I use the independent study time allotted to us. And then plan in advance for a meeting for us to collaborate with each other. I also remind my groupmates regularly, and as leader, I assign separate deadlines to them. With those, whether they help or not, mine and my groupmates' grades won’t be affected, and our progress won’t be delayed.

APEC Schools taught me to always aim for success and excellence. APEC is actually a good school since it gives its students time for their personal lives. We are not just students; we are also a sister or brother, a sibling, a daughter/son, a grand-daughter or grand-son, and a friend. APEC gives us time for other matters. Taking OAs, doing IPBAs, and answering tasks can be done on time if we don’t procrastinate. Mindset, Character, and Habits, also known as MCH in APEC Schools, are extremely important and valuable to us; Dreaming Big, Focus, Grit, Ownership, Professionalism, Proactiveness, Mindfulness, and Self Regulation must be ingrained in our minds and hearts.