Do Not Waste Your Time on Social Media!
As access to information becomes easier in the information age, the characteristics of learners at all levels and the expectations from students are changing. Meanwhile, many developed skills make a difference, while the ability to use time effectively is becoming increasingly important.
Professor Yelkin Diker Coşkun, Dean of the Faculty of Education at Yeditepe University, mentioned that many students have problems with using time effectively. Prof Coşkun shared her views on time management.
Structuring One's Own Learning Process
Professor Dr. Yelkin Diker Coşkun highlighted the incredible increase in the number of materials, resources, and books used in the information age over the last thirty years. He stated, "We are in a period where access to information is facilitated. As access to information becomes easier, the characteristics of learners at all levels and the expectations from students are changing. In the information age, it has become important to possess new qualities such as the ability to search for the right information, structure one's own learning process, act according to information ethics, and most importantly, manage time effectively."
We are Wasting Our Time on Social Media
Professor Dr. Yelkin Diker Coşkun noted that the need for time management has increased with the rising frequency of social media usage. She explained, "A significant reason behind many university students' struggles with time is their inability to manage the time spent on social media effectively. Time management involves organizing and planning how to allocate your time among various activities. The limited scope of information students are expected to possess at university and our limited learning speed can create concerns related to academic and social success due to a lack of time management. Especially during midterms and finals, university students may face various problems due to these anxieties."
Professor Dr. Yelkin Diker Coşkun outlined the following steps to minimize these problems:
Implementing a Routine Revision Program: Repeating newly learned information with a rested body and mind is crucial for properly embedding it into our memory. Implementing a general revision program that spreads across the entire academic term, divided into daily or weekly time slots is beneficial. This general revision program needs to be realistic and feasible. Research shows that for newly learned information to be properly stored in memory, it is adequate to review it once within the first 24 hours, a second time within 3-5 days, and a third time after two weeks. This program should be followed for several weeks to evaluate what works and what does not, and adjustments should be made as necessary.
Creating a Realistic Time Schedule: When planning time for academic work, it is essential to allocate intervals for rest, sleep, and social life. It is usual for study times to intensify during midterm and exam weeks, but including activities that can relax us and positively affect our capacity to use our abilities, such as taking a short walk or watching a movie, is crucial. Physical and social activities should definitely find a place in the time schedule to ensure a balanced approach to time management..
The program should support holistic development: University life is a setting rich in cultural and social activities. Students must engage in these activities for their personal development. Nowadays, the most significant elements that add value to a higher education diploma are the diversity gained through participation in cultural events, projects, scientific activities, and social responsibility efforts. Therefore, a schedule should be created with regular planning during the academic term to ensure participation in these activities.
Determine Your Learning Methods and Techniques: Among the many learning methods and techniques available, you should identify those that best suit you and support your study habits accordingly. For instance, techniques such as summarizing or using concept maps can be beneficial. Numerous mobile applications developed for learning and revision can be utilized anytime, anywhere, during appropriate intervals. Some courses may also pose challenges due to a lack of prerequisite knowledge. To address this, researching misconceptions or topics that are difficult to learn or seeking assistance from the course instructor can facilitate the learning process.
Media: Cumhuriyet | DHA | AA | Sabah
