How to Go Through Adult Education
Juggling Work, Home, and School All at Once…
Bill had everything perfectly scheduled to go back to school. Working 45 hours a week and a single parent, Bill made arrangements for a baby sitter when he had to go on campus for class, and he set aside two hours every weeknight to study after the kids went to bed. His counselor told him to take it easy the first semester, but he was ready to get back to school and earn the certificate that would give him a promotion that would mean more money, and fewer hours at work.
The plan worked for the first three weeks, until one of Bill’s kids got sick. The sitter said she’d come back to be with Bill’s kids once everyone felt better, and taking care of a sick child gave Bill less energy to focus on studying late at night. He managed to make everything work for a couple of weeks after that, but then he had a change in his work hours, making it impossible to get to class.
Bill isn’t alone. The biggest challenges facing many returning students isn’t the start of class – it’s what happens when other parts of their life change unexpectedly once class starts. If that should happen to you, here’s what experienced students suggest you do:
Schedule a better time to study.
If your first plan for studying didn’t work, make a second one. That may sound simple, but many students give up on a plan to study, and simply try to hit the books when they have a free minute – but for students like Bill, that’s almost never.
The key to building your next plan is to understand why the first one didn’t work. If you take another look at your schedule, you may find some holes that weren’t there before, and that makes for a great study time. If you fall asleep studying at night, try first thing in the morning, before, during, or after your first cup of coffee. Many students build in study time by going to campus an hour or two before class, or staying on campus after class is over. Research suggests this may be the best way to study, since the material from class and your study time are back-to-back, making for a more intense learning experience.
Try a different way of studying.
Many students find it hard to stay excited about studying by sitting at a desk and taking notes. A different method that works is the note card technique, where students read a page of their notes (or the book) and jot down questions that might come up on a quiz or test based on what they just read. They transfer these questions to file cards, with one question on the front of a card, and the answer on the back. This creates a portable way of studying that really can be used in your free time, like on a break from work, or waiting to pick up the kids from school. It’s also a way to get your kids involved in studying, where they play the role of teacher by asking you questions and checking your answers. Talk about a great way to model good study habits for your kids!
Get a couple of second opinions.
If changing your routine doesn’t seem to help, it might be time to check in with your adviser or counselor. Many returning students get to mid-semester and find they’ve taken on too much – and while no one likes the idea of dropping a class, it might be best to drop one class in order to succeed in your other courses. Counselors can help you build a plan that will lighten your load and still help you realize success. They can also offer insights into which teachers might agree to give you extensions on papers, or perhaps an Incomplete in a class, so you don’t have to pay for it a second time.
Of course, the other person to talk to is the teacher. You can’t be the first student who’s been swamped with work, and all teachers have been students, too. Asking for their help is a great way to get good advice, and the best way to show you care about learning – and that can go a long way in realizing success in a class.
