Motivation and Learning Strategies for College Success : A Self-management Approach

 GI      $

298 APPENDIX A

Once you evaluate the effectiveness of your data collection meth-

ods and strategies, you will need to ask: “What changes, if any, do I

need to make?” You may wish to change (a) the instruments you use

to record your data or (b) the strategies you use as you attempt to

reduce or eliminate your problem. In addition, you may wish to

change the time frame in which you plan to implement different strate-

gies. During this strategy implementation and monitoring stage, it is

extremely important for you to make a note of all of the changes you

make to your study along the way.

STRATEGIC-OUTCOME MONITORING

Strategic-outcome monitoring is the last step in the self-management

process. At the end of the time frame specified in your strategic action

plan, you will need to refer to your intermediate SMART goal to

answer the following questions: “Did I attain each of the goals I set

for myself?” and “How do I know?” In addition, you will need to

ask yourself: “What did I learn from my self-study?” To answer this

question, you will need to review every document, chart, journal, tally

sheet, or checklist you collect and describe what each piece of evi-

dence tells you. This evidence should help you determine which strate-

gies were the most and least effective in helping you reduce or elim-

inate your problem. In addition, this information should help you

determine if there are any changes you need to make to improve your

academic performance in the future.

Once you complete all four steps of your self-management study,

your instructor will most likely ask for you to write a report describ-

ing the process you used and the extent to which you were able to

modify or change your behavior. You will find the questions in the

Follow-up Activities provide a structure for writing the paper. The fol-

lowing are the questions for a self-management study in time man-

agement:

Self-observation and evaluation. How do I manage my time?

Do I need to change the way I plan and manage my study

schedule? If yes, what problem(s) do I encounter? What are

the symptoms of my problem (i.e., when, where, and how

often does my problem occur)? How much of an impact

does this problem have on my academic performance? What

factors (e.g., beliefs, perceptions, physiological responses,

feelings or behaviors) contribute to this problem? What do

I need to change to reduce or eliminate my problem(s)?

Goal setting and strategic planning. What are my goals?

What strategies will I use to improve my time management?