It's normal to feel anxious about assignments, especially when you want to do well so you can be the best teacher you can be. We recently asked a panel of preservice and new teachers for their tips on how to manage their assignments effectively.
Breakdown what's required
Isabella, 3rd year preservice teacher
Preservice teacher, Isabella highlighted to us the importance of breaking down big tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks.
'I try and create a breakdown of my assignment requirements and cross off each requirement as I complete it. For example, if I have to write an assignment on Early Childhood theories, I will break each theory (e.g. sociocultural theory) into research and theorists. I aim to dedicate specific days to specific assignments so that I don’t confuse myself, however, this isn’t always achievable if assignments are due on the same day,' she said.
Set up a template and update it as you complete the coursework
Ann-Maree, 2nd year preservice teacher
Working full-time while studying part-time means second-year preservice teacher, Ann-Maree needs to use her time wisely.
‘At the start of the semester, I create an assignment template. To do this, first I break the task down by highlighting key words to identify what information I’m going to need. Then, I add topic headings with the question/s from the task sheet, word limits for each section, and criteria from the rubric for a HD (this is my goal, but you can set whatever goal you like!).
As I complete the required readings, I add anything relevant to the assignment into the template under the relevant topic header (with the reference). This saves me time because I don't need to go back later to re-read which allows me to focus my attention on filling the gaps when it comes to researching and writing the assignment,’ she said.
Don't forget to remove all the headings and notes before submitting!
Pace yourself
Daniel, recently graduated
However, it’s critical that you don’t get too far ahead of yourself. Recent graduate and former full-time student, Daniel says, 'Don’t go in too early and too hard! I found what worked best for me was to wait until some of the foundational course content was unpacked before I started getting my head around the assignment. Tutors and online discussion groups are very helpful in providing little hints and tips for tackling each assessment and these generally reveal themselves in the weeks leading up to due dates. In saying that, I always gave myself a few attempts to understand what each section in the assignment was asking of me. At first it all seems daunting and frustrating but the more you break each section down and compile notes and a basic structure of the assessment, the clearer it becomes, and everything slowly starts to make sense.
What worked for me was taking on one assignment at a time and completely understanding the content and expectations of one subject and then finish it before moving onto the next. Allocating time on a calendar for each piece of assessment was crucial, as was seeking the help of tutors and online classmates for clarification and direction. Don't be afraid to ask for help!'
Talk out your ideas with trusted friends
Kelly, third year preservice teacher
Kelly's advice for assignment writing is, 'I look at the first assignments at the beginning of the semester. I break the assignment into chunks and mark these tasks off as I do them.
The most valuable thing I do when preparing assignments is meet up with study friends (usually online) so we can toss ideas back and forth.'
We hope these tips help you to have a successful semester. If you need some inspiration to keep you going throughout the semester, check out James’ story.