Online Time Management

Organizational Skills & Work Environment

Two broad habits of mind are to improve upon your organizational skills and to create and sustain a productive work environment. Both habits are important “life skills” that can be applied in almost any setting, but both are truly important skills to develop as an online learner where you typically enjoy more independent time compared to a learner in a traditional environment.

1. Schedule set blocks of time each week for your online course(s). If you are taking an online class, it's convenient because you can participate when it fits your schedule. But unless you block out regular and adequate time each week for your online course, you may not allot enough time in your week or you can even forget you have it!

   • • • If you are taking an 8-Weeks Term, for example, missing even one week can make it difficult to catch up. Use this Time Visualization Chart so that you can block out 6 -9 hours/week for each online course. Fill out your entire course schedule and work obligations, as well, so you can get a realistic look at where you need to spend your time.

       • You can also use this great online Schedule Builder to create a new daily weekly schedule each week.

2. Be persistent and use the resources available to you when you do get stuck. As you progress through your courses, you will face tough questions and academic challenges. Stick with them and see them through to the end. Keep searching for ways to reach your goals, especially when you feel as if you are stuck.

   • Email your professor, if you don't understand something or need help catching up.

   • Reach out to our Online Student Success Specialist, if you are experiencing problems with a course, professor or just balancing your life, in general.

   • Contact Canvas Help 24/7 via phone or chat, if you are experiencing any Canvas issues. Just click the Help icon on the main Canvas menu.

   • If you are on campus and need tutoring assistance or someone to review your papers, use CBU's Academic Services resources

3. Exercise daily time management skills. Develop and use a daily-weekly-monthly planner and make sure you have constant access to that planner to add events when necessary. Create a weekly study schedule and stick to it. Make sure you are aware of all CBU academic deadlines.

   • • Find the full array of CBU academic calendars here.

     • Online tools like Wunderlist or Habitica can also be a great help to you as you strive for better daily time management.

     • Time management apps like RescueTime or Remember the Milk can be super helpful for you to track how you are spending the hours of your day.

     • The CBU Office of Student Success has developed these tools to help you better manage time.

4. Organize your space!

   • • Make your digital learning space well organized. Either OneDrive or Google Drive can help you accomplish superior digital organization for the bulk of your files.

     • Find or create a specific area in your home reserved for study. Try to make this area free of distractions.

5. Download the Canvas Mobile App. From this app, you should be able to see assignments, take quizzes and complete some of your online coursework. But we advise you use a laptop or desktop as your primary hardware for doing Canvas coursework. Some things that are not accessible on the app are available on a computer. However, the mobile app is a great way to check items on the go or to use when you are in a jam and need to submit a quiz or forum immediately.

   • • App download instructions here.

6. Seven Study Habits for Learning Remotely.

7. Watch our fun, one-minute video about succeeding in an ASYNCHRONOUS (doesn't meet in real-time) online course.

   • • If your professor prepares a SYNCHRONOUS (real-time class that meets via Teams) then you must meet at the time scheduled by your professor!