LEARNING IN PSYCHOLOGY
M E E T I N G T H E C H A L L E N G E A N D
C H A N G I N G M Y L I F E!
B y D o r a C h u S i n Y i Last year, I started my Master of Psychology. Once
I started I couldn’ t stop, my time became fully occupied by psychology.“ Group project, research design, presentation, self-learning exercises, report, quizzes, exams, essay … But hold on, the outline said that the exam questions are based on the textbooks and recommended reading. So how many books am I expected to read in the first semester? Oh God! There are altogether 18 books on the list, not including the references I have to read for the group project and individual essay. Another module is better— it only has one assessment and one final exam.”( Although I found out later that this module was more difficult than I thought.) Also, of course, I need to continue my day job. So what have I learnt after the first messy semester?
Be a detailed planner The first way psychology changed me was by teaching me how to spend my time more effectively. Whether you have good grades or not depends on how you plan your study time. Planning monthly and weekly study time ahead of time and according to the course outline is very helpful. I jot down all the assessment deadlines, exam dates, and book chapters that will be taught in each subject. Subsequently, I use these dates as a guideline to plan pre-reading textbooks, assessment preparation, and exam revision time. In this way, I approximate the required study time in my head, which help me fight against procrastination. In line with this, if I begin running out of time, I can make a contingency plan to fix
PHOTO: One of Dora ' s many hobbies is calligraphy. it before it is too late. Another advantage is that I can start and clarify the problems that I encounter during the lessons as soon as possible, which facilitates my understanding of the course materials. Effective time management is even more important for some complex, obscure, or demanding subjects with copious assessments.
Stay involved in my hobbies to keep my mind refreshed and healthy Just making a detailed study schedule is not enough. In the awful first semester, my time was filled with daily work, assessments, and revision. I experienced a period of stress and sleep deprivation, especially when deadlines approached. Putting all my effort in only studying was not a good idea. A balanced daily planner, with designated study time along with sufficient leisure, exercise, social gatherings, religion, and private reflection time can enrich my life. Indeed, I can concentrate better during the assigned study
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