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Ms Zuzeka Mkra
Student Retention Unit
Date: 11 September 2019
TOPIC: Assignment preparation
Student Retention Unit (SRU)
• The SRU has a mandate to implement and coordinate the First-
Year Experience (FYE) programme.
• The FYE programme aims to provide extended support to
students entering Unisa for the first time by providing essential
information during crucial points in the student journey.
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FYE projects
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A look at the FYE projects
FYE weekly emails
• Emails were sent to each cohort: those registered in January
2019 (returning first-time entering) and those registered in
June/July 2019 (first-time entering students).
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FYE Live broadcasts…
• This is our 11th live broadcast and thank you for joining us.
• FYE live broadcast:
Crucial tool as it bridges the gap between students and the
institution.
Live interaction with the students.
Immediate response to student queries.
If missed, recording can be watched later from FYE website www.unisa.ac.za/FYE.
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FYE mailbox
• The SRU has created an FYE mailbox for students to send FYE
related queries: [email protected]
• The SRU team attends to all queries on a daily basis.
• FYE mailbox uniqueness:
No automated response.
Students receive feedback within 48 hours.
Non first-time entering students also utilise the mailbox.
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FYE website
• FYE website was created to bridge the gap between
students and administrative/academic staff by providing
information related to:
Support services available to all Unisa students
Including all FYE related information on all the various
services provided to first-time entering.
• The website is updated on a regular basis. Visit
www.unisa.ac.za/FYE.
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FYE MOOC
• FYE MOOC piloted in the following regions:
Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Rustenburg and Cape Town.
• Changes made based on the comments received during
the piloting.
• The SRU launched FYE MOOC on 31 May 2019.
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Dr Kodisang
Senior student counsellor
Counselling and Career Development
Get started
with your
assignments
Assignments help you to consolidate what you are
learning and receive feedback on your progress.
Completing your assignments is not a task on its
own – it forms part of your study journey and need
a lot of preparation.
Role of assignments
1. How to start with your studies
2. How to connect with others
3. How to manage your studies
Your study journey
Printed material: organise different
tutorial letters and study guides into
different files (use inventory letter to
check)
Electronic material: create separate
folders for each of your modules and
place the various files in the appropriate
folder.
Step 1: Get organised
Does this sound familiar?
• I never have enough time to ... (study,
rest, spend with my family)
• I don't know where my time goes!
Most of the time...
• you may not have reflected on how you
are using your time
• you do not realise that you have the
time you need for your studies in
your schedule
• What you need to do and when you will do it.
• SMART plans: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and in time goals
• “I will read and make notes of chapter 1 for Economics from 18:00-20:00 tonight”.
• Goals help you to commit to specific tasks and they hold you accountable for what you need to do.
Step 2: Plan your studies
Your tutorial letters and study guides will indicate
to you what you need to study – you will need to
plan when you will study.
Step 2: Plan your studies
Two types of planning
• Long-term planning
• Short-term planning
Why long-term planning?
To gain an overview of the whole year's
activities: submitting assignments,
preparing for an exam, writing exams and
important social events and dates
Weekly planning
• Weekly planning is about what specific things you would want to complete on each day in any given week
• In the previous activity you reflected on how much time you have available for your studies in a week
Weekly planning
• You now need to allocate time for each module in your weekly
schedule.
• For example, you have 3 hours each evening to study and 8 hours
over the weekend - you now need to decide when you will study what.
• As you allocate time during the week for each module, you must keep
in mind that you need to spend 6-8 hours per week on each semester
module that you are registered for (3-4 hours per year for year
modules).
• Make sure that you spend equal time on each module keeping in mind
that some modules may require more time than others
How can you create more time for
yourself?
• Get a piece of paper and draw a table with the
names of the week at the top.
• On the left of the table, you will write down the
hours allocated to each task.
• For example, from 5-6 in the morning, you get
ready to go to work; from 6-7 you travel to work;
from 7-12 you work and from 12-13 you take a
lunch break
This could be daunting – you may not have studied for some time or you are worried about your academic skills (e.g. reading, writing, numerical, IT)
JUST GET STARTED!
Step 3: Start studying
Start with a quick overview of
your study guide – especially of
learning objectives at the
beginning of a unit
Use a textbook where indicated
Step 3: Start studying
Actively engage with your studies:
―Ask questions
―Make links between your studies,
what you know, and everyday life
―Make notes
Step 3: Start studying
There are many different note
making techniques – find one
that works for you
Try Question and Answer
system and mind maps
Step 3: Start studying
Revise at the end and the
beginning of each study session
Use questions from the study
guides and your learning
outcomes to test yourself
Step 3: Start studying
Effective notes:
• need to reflect your
understanding of the module
• will help you to prepare for the
exam
Step 3: Start studying
To recap:
– Get organised
– Plan your studies
– Start studying
In order to get support ...
• You need to ask questions
• Prepare
• Commit and show willingness to get support
• Allow people to help you
• What you give is what you get – in order to be supported you also need to support
Some distractions
• Poor planning and lack of objectives
• Lack of deadlines and crisis management
• Can't say "No"
• Media (TV, magazines, etc)
• Unanticipated events (eg. uninvited guests)
• Online social activities (MXIT, Facebook, Twitter)
Managing distractions
• Use your distractors to your advantage. For example, if one of your distractors is spending time on social networks such as Facebook? Think about how you could use Facebook for your studies?
• Set clear objectives
• Eliminate distractions
• Break big jobs into smaller pieces
• Use a system of punishment and reward
• Draft a formal contract with yourself
What if something happens I did not
plan for?
• Nothing is fixed on your plan
• Be flexible
• Re-prioritise if you get stuck
Overall results of planning
• Coping with academic anxiety
• Reduce exam anxiety
• Keeps you motivated
• Allows you to maintain balance between what is required vs what is available
• Eliminates time wasters because you are aware of them
Contact us
Talk to a counsellor about your learning.
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.unisa.ac.za/counselling
For more information about the SRU and the
FYE Programme
Live broadcast feedback:
https://forms.gle/SfJTCphWveLmADL28
Contact us:
FYE MOOC:
mooc.unisa.ac.za
Visit our website:
www.unisa.ac.za/FYE
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