In the planning phase of Zimmerman's (1986; 2008) self-regulation theory, you are at the beginning of the self-regulation process, laying the foundation for your success in each task or learning goal. This phase is all about planning, goal setting, and motivation.
There are some suggestions below of things you can try to enhance your chances of success at this stage (Moore et al, 2010). It is important to remember that different things work for different people, and it may be a case of trial and error.
Analyse the Task and Establish if You Have Any Previous Experience: It can be helpful to analyse any tasks set and establish if you have any previous experience with the assessment method. Consider what worked well and what did not. If you are presented with a new task, what can you find out about what is expected? You could try and ask peers to find out if they have any prior experience or clarify any points with academic staff.
Set Achievable Goals: Use the assessment as a goal, but to make it feel more achievable, break it down into smaller targets. Instead of aiming to complete an entire assignment in one sitting, set goals like researching a topic for an hour, drafting an outline, or writing a paragraph each day. This makes the process less overwhelming and gives you a sense of accomplishment along the way.
Personal Deadlines: Allow adequate time to achieve your goals. Setting a personal deadline that is slightly earlier than the official hand-in date can give you a buffer-zone. If unexpected events arise, you will not feel rushed. For example, if your assignment is due on a Friday, aim to finish by Wednesday. This way, you have time to review or adjust work, especially if something unexpected occurs.
Develop a Study Plan: Creating a study plan can be beneficial for both lectures and assessments. Plan your study time and workload for each week and consider using a planner or digital calendar to visualise your schedule. Allocate specific blocks of time for each subject or task. For instance, dedicate Monday evenings to module reading and Wednesday afternoons to research. This can help ensure an even distribution of attention across modules.
Explore Study Techniques: Incorporate various study techniques into your plan. Active recall, for instance, involves testing yourself on the material instead of just re-reading information. Spaced repetition can help reinforce learning over time (Zhan et al, 2018), which supports the better recall of information and a deeper understanding of subject knowledge.
Maintain Motivation: Staying motivated can be challenging. Set up a reward system for yourself—treat yourself to a break after completing a task. Use positive affirmations to build your confidence, reminding yourself that consistent effort leads to improvement.
Using planners effectively can help you develop self-regulation and resourcefulness by providing structure, improving time management, and fostering goal setting (Cottrell, 2019). Here is how you can use a semester planner, weekly planner, and daily to-do list, to stay organised and on top of your tasks:
Semester Planner: Big-Picture Organising
A semester planner helps you get a sense of the long-term picture and encourages you to be resourceful by:
Setting clear long-term goals: At the start of the semester, map out key deadlines, exams, project due dates, and academic milestones. This gives you a roadmap for the entire semester and allows you to break it down into smaller, manageable chunks.
Identifying high-priority tasks: Seeing deadlines laid out helps you prioritise what is most important. By planning for busy periods ahead of time, you can avoid last-minute stress and work.
Anticipating challenges: Noticing busy periods or overlapping deadlines early on gives you a chance to adjust your schedule and seek help if needed. This builds adaptability and resourcefulness.
Tracking your progress: As you complete major tasks or assignments, check them off in your semester planner. This boosts motivation and helps you track your progress over time.
Weekly Planner: Focused Performance
A weekly planner allows you to take your long-term goals and break them down into weekly tasks. It helps you to stay focused and aides regulating your time by:
Allocating time for specific tasks: Each week, set aside blocks of time for studying, project work, or revision. This keeps you on track and helps you avoid procrastination.
Identifying resources needed: As you plan each week, think about what resources (books, materials, VLE resources) you will need and gather them in advance. This reduces distractions and helps you be more efficient.
Building routines: Weekly planning helps you develop productive routines. Whether it is setting aside time each morning for review or blocking out study time, routines make your work more consistent and manageable.
Re-evaluating and adjusting: At the end of each week, review what you accomplished, see where you might have fallen behind, and adjust your plan for the upcoming week. This allows you to reflect and adapt, improving your approach over time.
Daily To-Do List: Immediate Focus
A daily to-do list helps you break down tasks into specific, manageable actions, boosting your focus and self-regulation by:
Prioritising tasks: Each day, write down the most important tasks and tackle those first. This helps you to stay focused on what matters most and prevents you getting side tracked by smaller, less urgent tasks.
Setting time limits: Allocate specific time slots for each task. This not only helps you to stay on track but also encourages you to work more efficiently, preventing tasks from dragging on too long.
Tracking small wins: Checking off tasks as you complete them gives you a sense of accomplishment and motivates you to keep going, especially when you are feeling overwhelmed.
Adjusting as needed: Life does not always go as planned, so a daily to-do list allows you to move things around as necessary. If something urgent comes up, you can reassess and re-prioritise, which builds flexibility and critical thinking skills.
Using these planners together helps you stay mindful of how you are spending your time. Weekly and daily planning will help you to avoid procrastination and manage your workload efficiently (Cottrell, 2015). By using a semester planner, weekly planner, and daily to-do list together, you are setting yourself up for success. You will develop a more organised, proactive approach to your studies, whilst also learning to be flexible, resourceful, and reflective as you tackle challenges along the way.
References
Cottrell, S. (2015) Skills for Success: Personal Development and Employability. London: Palgrave.
Cottrell, S. (2019) The Study Skills Handbook. London: Red Globe Press.
Moore, S., Neville, C., Murphy, M. and Connolly, C. (2010) The Ultimate Study Skills Handbook. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Zhan, L., Guo, D., Chen, G. and Yang, J. (2018) ‘Effects of repetition learning on associative recognition over time: Role of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex’, Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 12, article number 277. Available at: Effects of Repetition Learning on Associative Recognition Over Time: Role of the Hippocampus and Prefrontal Cortex (Accessed: 1 November 2024).
Zimmerman, B. J. (1986) 'Becoming a self-regulated learner: Which are the key subprocesses?', Contemporary Educational Psychology, 11(1), pp. 307-313.
Zimmerman, B. J. (2008) ‘Investigating self-regulation and motivation: Historical background, methodological developments, and future prospects’, American Educational Research Journal, 45(1), pp. 166-183.