Task prioritization is a great method, I use it all the time. The trick is ensuring the task is really a priority, if it isn't you'll just fall even further behind.
If you don't have the time to do something right the first time when are you ever going to have time to do it right the second time? I do a list every day as my needs change daily and I find that starting with the most time consuming first and work towards the least works well for me....Paul T. Rougemont
I personally try to always complete the tasks assigned to me earlier than their due dates since and as we all know the field that we are in, new tasks are assigned to us on a constant basis and as such meeting deadlines is a demanding expectation. As instructors we are always multitasking. We lecture, grade, provide feedback,grade tests and assignments, facilitate discussions, attend meetings, respond to e-mails and phone calls, follow up with students, enter grades, complete professional development among many others. Therefore prioritization of tasks is an important expectation.
I've used these methods extensively for years. Things probably won't change too much. Validation of use is always good. Thanks for the class.
I usually do the task right away, but there are times I do wait and find myself rushing to get things done. This module helps me understand the importance of being on time and not waiting to get things done.
I fine myself trying to work on my tasks as soon has I can, because if I do not I will stress myself out. If it is something that I do not like doing I will put it off.
Based on what I have learned in this module I will take my tasks based on how urgent they are.
Erin, Sounds like you have developed some great methods for task prioritization and organization over time. Great work! It's nice when you have a solid time management foundation to stand on.
Dr. Melissa Read
I use a " to do list" to prioritize because of the ever increasing demands of my job. Because of the module just completed I am going to change two things. I have tended to do the easiest tasks first to get them out of the way. I can see that if there are too many of these tasks, or if I miscalculate the time it takes ,this will throw the whole system off. Secondly, I am going to be more concerned about updating the list on a regular basis.
I have been famous for writing "to do" lists for most of my life. I have personal ones and work ones and prioritize my tasks. I feel that I am skilled in choosing the urgent ones to complete first and deciding on what can wait for my own stress management.
I tend to grade most papers as they come to me. But since I teach an average of 4 courses, I tend to be pretty busy anyways. I try to grade the class, then move to the next one. Once I have graded papers for any class, I will not return to see if anything else came in until the next day. Doing things little by little, makes my Mondays bearable. I do have specific hours during the day that I am online and I will try my best not to go past the set hours, that I have established.
James, I like your thinking. In work and in personal life, we can carefully plan and prioritize. At the end of the day however, sometimes we have to override our plans and do what makes the most sense in the moment. Always allow for the unexpected.
Dr. Melissa Read
Jeff, Sounds like you take a proactive approach and that serves you well. However, I wonder if you ever feel overwhelmed by your work. Some of us struggle with immediacy, the feeling that we have to get everything done right away. This can be as stressful as the feeling of procrastination.
Dr. Melissa Read
I tend to want to get everything done asap. I try to move things off my plate as quickly as possible due to working multiple jobs. If I don't stay on top of it, it will pile up quickly.
Because I live alone I have had to prioritize my task list as far as my animals are concerned, because if I don't take care of them, then who is going to do it? And of course as with anything else, there are consequences for my actions (or lack of actions as the case may be)
When I get up in the morning and after I am dressed, the first thing that I have to do is take my dog for a quick morning walk. Since I live in an apartment I don't have a fenced in back yard to just let him out of the door to run free. My cat's litter box needs to be scooped before I go to work too because he refuses to go in it should it have any solid waste; so this is a daily occurence.
With both of my animals I know that if I don't tend to them before I leave the house in the morning that I will have a couple of nice presents waiting for me on the living room floor when I get home in the evening.
The same thing can be said about their food and water; I must replenish their supply before I leave for the day. Afterall, what kind of a responsible pet owner would I be if I didn't take the time to tend to their needs? In this case I don't think that I have any wiggle room to procrastinate; even if I am running late these are just tasks that must be taken care of daily.
I will try to rank tasks in the future as:
1) Urgent and important.
2) Urgent but not important.
3) Not urgent but important.
4) Not urgent or important.
But I will have an overriding escalation for any task that is stressful even if I cannot otherwise justify it as objectively urgent or important.
I have always been a "to do list" maker, however after reading this module about prioritization, I think I will change how I make and follow my list, great tips about urgency, and importance of tasks. I am excited to make my new list today!
Shara, Instructors must often lead by example. If we can show students we are organized, they will be in a better position to be organized too. I often find that students really want to get organized, they just don't know how. Giving them example methodologies to reaching that goal can be life changing.
Dr. Melissa Read
I do the ones that are easy for me first. I will in the future try to first do the most inportant even if they are hard and that should cause me tohave less stress over worrying about them.
I don't think we can expect our students to prioritize if we don't. They can see what we are doing and how organized or unorganized we are.
Michael, Yes, it's easy to write a to-do list once and then just kind of forget about them. Many instructors end up doing this and the utility of those lists of course decreases significantly. It's important to follow through, where we can, and keep our lists up to date by re-prioritizing.
Dr. Melissa Read
