Your Year at College

If you are joining us straight from school, and especially if you took the LCE, you might find the PLC experience to be a little different to what you are used to. The college is an adult learning environment, and you will be responsible for your attendance and for keeping track of your assignment deadlines. If you are thinking of continuing on to third level when you finish your Level 5 course, think of this as good practice!

Some tips for a good year: 

• Prioritise attendance. Apart from the course content itself, your teachers will be giving you your assignments and explaining how to do them in class. If you miss class, you will be missing a lot of the support that you need to complete your assignments also. 

• Track your deadlines. Whether you use a paper diary or an app, make a note of your deadlines as you are given them. You may have more than one assignment due around the same time, so try not to leave them until the last minute to start.

• Ask for help if you need it. If you don't understand something that your teacher has said, or if you're having difficulty in class, don't be afraid to say so. If you're having personal difficulties, or if you just need a chat, the guidance counsellor can be a good place to start. Regardless of who you choose to talk to, the sooner you tell us that you need help, the sooner we can do so!

Please note, these apps and websites have not all been tested, so double check before you download. Have you found an app or website that helped you? Let me know, and I'll add it to the list for other students also. 

Getting organised

• Google Calendar To do list and calendar

• Todoist To do list and calendar

• Goblin Tools A fantastic tool that helps to organise your to do list for you, break it down into manageable steps and reduce overwhelm. Just pop everything that you need to do into the text box and let goblin tools do the rest. Always free, and accessible through a browser as well as an app. 

• Habitica A goal setting app in the style of a video game. Earn rewards for completing your tasks!

Exam revision and notetaking

• Quizlet Make your own flashcards 

• Anki Make your own flashcards

• Microsoft OneNote A digital notebook. Included in your college Microsoft account!

• Google Keep Another version of the digital notebook. 

• Joplin A digital notebook, similar to OneNote

• SimpleNote If you're looking for something more straightforward, this notetaking app might be of interest. 

Study timers

• PomoFocus A study countdown timer based on the Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes of study followed by a short break)

• Forest An app that lets you grow your forest for every block of study you complete

• Focus Friend Similar to forest, the app will count down the study time you have left, while your companion knits socks :) 

Many phones have app blockers built in, but there are also standalone apps that can help to block distractions while you study. 

• Freedom Schedule your time and choose what apps to block

• OneSec This app makes you pause before you get sucked into instagram, tiktok, or whatever app is taking your time

• Focus Blocks distractions with a built in timer

As you settle in to the start of term, this can be a good time to get a study system and routine together. You might need to try a few different strategies, but try to settle early and keep the system that you choose going over the course of the year. 

Getting organised

You will be keeping track of lots of different things at college, so whether you have a paper diary or use an app, it is a good idea to make sure that you have some kind of system in place. Take a look at the list of apps below and see if any might suit. The value of a calendar (paper or digital) can also not be overstated!

Finding a study space

The college has a study room and lots of computer rooms that you can use to keep up with your assignments if you have any gaps in your timetable, or time once classes have finished. If you like to study at home, try to set up a space where you will have some peace and quiet, and consider using a study focus app so that you don't get distracted. 

Notetaking

Everyone will have a different system for taking notes, and that is fine! The most important thing is that you choose one system and stick with it. This can be as simple as buying one notebook for each class, or putting a digital system in place if you like to use laptop or similar. The most important thing is that it suits you. 

Routine

When you get your timetable, sit down with and see how you will organise your week. What are your obligations and commitments? What time for study and time for yourself do you have left? If you can put together a timetable for the week at an early stage and stick to it as much as possible throughout the year, it will really help you. 

Planning is the key to managing your study and assignments. Take a look at the study planner below, and try out the step by step approach to managing your academic time. The study record, assignment list and exam preparation list are a good way to keep track of things, or you can find a way that works for you. The most important thing is that you aren't just hoping for the best, but instead making a plan that is clear, precise and focused on very specific topics and goals. 

Make a to-do list

What are the most important things on your mind right now? Try to be as specific as possible. Instead of “study biology” try to pic a specific topic like “revise plant structure” for example.

Decide how much time you have for study today. What topics will you be able to cover?

It is best not to spend too long on one topic. Your schedule might look something like this: 

• 30 minutes: 1 topic

• 1 hour: 2 topics

• 1.5 hours: 3 topics

• 2 hours: 4 topics

Decide what technique you are going to use 

For example:

• Flashcards (making new flashcards or reviewing ones you already have)

• Mind Maps/ Diagrams/ Drawing pictures

• Feynman Technique (imagine you are explaining the topic to a child)

• Sample exam questions (with or without your book or notes)

• Recording yourself speaking out loud

• Walk around the room while using one of the above techniques

• Use a body double (another person who is in the room and can keep you accountable)

Set your timer (and don't forget the parking space)

Next, set your timer for 25 minutes. If this feels like too long, start with 15 minutes instead. If you have to use your phone, put it on the other side of the room. Start studying for the time you have decided. When the alarm goes off, give yourself a 5 minute break and start again. If you get distracted with other thoughts, use the parking space method and write them down on a separate piece of paper. You can go back to them when you are finished studying. 

Write down any gaps in your knowledge

Finally, as you study, you may notice that there are gaps in your knowledge. Write these down and add them to the list for your next study session.