Homework 1 (HW1)

Creating a realistic, balanced semester schedule

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to explore and reflect on how time is used, where time can be redistributed, or adjusted, to allow for tasks and activities that are important and have value.

Goal

The goal is to create a realistic and balanced schedule conducive to academic success and personal health and wellness.

Learning Objectives

1. Explain how you currently use your time and (if relevant) how you want to use time differently.
2. Creating a comprehensive weekly schedule that reflects your priorities, expectations, and demands.

Assessment

Students will be graded on completeness and adherence to the assignment and submission instructions. The grading rubric is available with the assignment.

Submission Expectations

Students are expected to submit the completed assignment to the appropriate assignment on Canvas by or before the due date. Documents should be clearly formatted and professional. PDF files are recommended; Pages is not an acceptable format. Schedules must be electronic, pictures of paper/hand drawn schedules will not be accepted. Schedules should fit on 1 (ideal) to two pages maximum. Include color coding and a key. Narrative must be in 12 point font, 1" margins, double-spaced.

Assignment Components

You'll propose a realistic and balanced schedule conducive to your academic success and personal health and wellness. If you're already including the following elements in a schedule you use weekly, you can use that as your foundation. However, it's likely that the schedule you create for this assignment is one that you don't currently follow but by thinking through your priorities and responsibilities you could/will use your time in the ways you've designated.

You may develop your schedule using any platform or application that you desire, but your ultimate product needs to include all of the following components:

1. A list identifying and explaining at least 3 key priorities (things that are important to you ex. passing all classes this semester)
2. A list identifying and explaining at least 3 key responsibilities (things you must do ex. taking siblings to/from school) in your current schedule.
3. A visual display (table or spreadsheet) of a weekly schedule that clearly shows all 7 days and 24 hours per day and includes the following:
   • Think of the dimensions of wellness and how you can dedicate time to those that are important to you.
     1. 1. Tasks and activities on the schedule and the amount of time expected for each
        2. A visual "color code" and key to clearly identify different types of activities outside of the key priorities and key responsibilities.
        3. Classes, reading time, study time, assignment time, work, sleep, personal routines, wellness, social time, and all other relevant activities.
        4. Your 3 key priorities and/or activities tied to them (ex. if passing all your classes is a key priority this semester, what goes into that? For instance, attending classes, reading for class, assignment prep, research/writing, etc. All of those would be included in your schedule)
        5. Your 3 key responsibilities
        6. Your classes + homework, reading, study, assignment prep time in purple.
4. A narrative conclusion reflecting on the completeness, accuracy, and reality of your ability to implement the proposed schedule. Minimum two paragraphs (five to seven sentences per paragraph).
   1. Identify areas where you may struggle and where you can seek support and/or assistance.
   2. Explain what you can and will do to revise your schedule if it is not working.
   3. Identify at least 2 places where you may have some flexibility to accommodate last minute changes to your schedule.
5. Extra credit opportunity: Projects with an exceptional visual presentation may receive extra credit