Student Time Management Research

Keywords: research time management, time management recommendation

This chapter presents the discussion of the findings based on the study conducted. The summary of major finding of the study on how part 8 TESL students of UiTM Shah Alam is concluded in this chapter in order to know better how the students manage their time and provide recommendation and suggestions for further research.

The analysis of the findings from the data collected for this study is obtained from part 8 TESL students of UiTM Shah Alam. The ages for the respondents were between 22 years to 31 years of age. However, the difference of the respondents age do not reflect the effect on the study as it is made only to know how the respondents manage their time throughout their study. The results of the current CGPA for the students varies and most of the respondents obtained 3.01-3.50. Respondents’ performance might be affected by the way they manage their time, as what they do is actually affected by how much time that they have.

The way part 8 TESL students of UiTM Shah Alam manage their time differs from one another. Data collected by questionnaires shows that the way they manage time differs. This result is shown based on the answers that the respondents gave for the section B of the questionnaires. For the answers in section B, most of them agree to the same answers with high frequencies. Based on the answers given by the respondents, most of the students follow time to complete their assignment. It can be concluded that the students manage their work and do it according to the time scopes that were given to them. Nevertheless, the respondents stated that they have some problems in finishing their task, due to time constrains. According to some of the respondents, this happens because the students receive many assignments for their current semester. However, for the question that inquires about whether the respondents have sufficient time for both academic and their social life, half of them agree and the other half is not. The part 8 B.Ed. (Hons) TESL of UiTM take some minor subjects during their period of study which are counseling, literature and lastly, music. The workload given to them might be different according to the subjects that they take in which leads to different time usage for their task. However, most of them have clear ideas on what to accomplish for each assignments given to them. This shows that, it is up to them on when they are doing their tasks and assignments.

Relating the previous statement, many of the students are experiencing problems in coping with other activities in their life throughout their study. This shows that they are affected much by the tasks has been given to them. Many of the respondents stated that they do keep their assignments and task given to them and come shortly to it shortly before due date. According to some respondents, they do their work before the dateline. However, they usually come up with the task right before the due date in which might produce time constrains for them. Apart from that, they also deal with the same tasks and assignments several time even though the tasks and the assignments given are simple and can be done easily. This is true for most of the respondents who answered the questionnaires. Due to this factor, only some of them agrees that their workloads are low if compared to the time that they posses. Majority of the respondents disagree with this, where they think that the workloads are many. This is caused by the way they manage their daily life. Nevertheless, most of the students do have confusions on which task they should perform first as they have many works due. For the way they manage their time, most of the students agree that they have thought of changing their way on managing time in order to suit their needs better. Do the part 8 TESL students of UiTM have the same pattern of time management.

For section C of the questionnaires, the questions are made to investigate on in what ways does time management affects part 8 TESL students of UiTM performance and learning outcomes during their study. First, from the answers given, the respondents agree that their time management has positively helped them to relax. This is true to most of the respondents, which reflects how they feel about the way they manage time. According to the answers provided by the respondents in the questionnaires, most of the respondents agree that they will make good preparation for the tasks or assignments given if they have sufficient or more time. Good preparation for their tasks will happen if the students have enough time to complete them. This is stated by most of the respondents in the questionnaires given, where this will happen when the students feels like doing so especially whenever they have ample time. Most of the students also agree that they manage time according to the way the people around them, and the time is suited accordingly so that they may perform the tasks and assignments given together with their friends. This show how the students cope with their time and task so that they may conduct discussions among themselves. Time management of the students may as well be related to the time where they manage their assignment. Most of the students will spend time on simple tasks, keep themselves up to date with their readings, and reassess their tasks or assignments whenever they feel like having free time. However, many of the respondents are not able to do their tasks and assignments without rushing at the last minute. If the students have assignments that have been due a long time before, they will do it whenever they feel like doing so in which whenever they have free time, according to most of the answers given by the respondents. For this section, the respondents agrees that they suits their time more to the way they finding time for entertainment and socializing, but not suiting it for finding time to complete their tasks and assignments.

The next section of the questionnaires is section D. This section is made to find the appropriate answer on how part 8 TESL students of UiTM cope with the academic and social life during their study period. Similar with the previous section, the questions included related on how they manage their time. Based on the answers given by most of the respondents, they do procrastinate in completing the tasks given by the lecturers. This may affect their class attendance, where based on their answer in the section they agree that they have been absent for their classes because of their need to do things such as unfinished assignments or task. To make the flow of the workloads simpler, the students do some division of tasks and assignments according to priority, as what the respondents reacts to a question in the section. One of the respondents also agrees with the statements that the division of works will provide some spaces for them to do works according to importance. To cope up with time constrains, the students also seek help from their friend or other people in order to complete their tasks and assignments. Most of the respondents agree with this and they even form discussion groups for particular subjects regarding their tasks and help their friends who are in need to finish their tasks. To cope with the academic and social life during their study period properly, the students should be able select appropriate time and tasks given to them, but in this section, most of the students accept inappropriate or unreasonable work requests. This matter has definitely limiting their time to perform previous task. On the other hands, half of the respondents, do some reading or their work during their free time such as while waiting for public transportations or during gaps of classes. These acts surely provide the students more time to do other works.

The study was undertaken to evaluate the part 8 TESL students of UiTM Shah Alam time management conducted this study. This study is important in order to assess how students manage their time during their study and how it would affect their performance and achievements. Other than that, the findings of the study may be useful for the students if they want to further they study or even when they work later on, where they can reflect on their time management skills and adapt it later. This can assist and help in giving advantages in improving their performance and studies in the future.

After doing the study and completing the data, several conclusions can be made based on the findings. According to the data collected, part 8 TESL students of UiTM have different pattern of time management. This can be stated by analyzing data collected. It can be said that, part 8 TESL students of UiTM Shah Alam do their work based on priority. The management of time by the students are in the same pattern where it is related to their amount of workload and their social life. The findings of the questionnaires managed to answer the first research stated previously.

To obtain the information needed on how do part 8 TESL students of UiTM cope with the academic and social life during their study period, the data shows that the students use their time mostly to suit their needs for social life and entertainment. They manage their time mostly to have good preparation and to get more time to relax. However, time allocation for assignments and tasks will be prioritized if the number of task is high. The students will reassess their work and tasks if they have free time. Thus, for the second research question, the question is answered as the research uncovers how the students cope with the academic and social aspects of life base on their time management skills throughout their study.

For the last research question, in which is to determine how time management affects part 8 TESL students of UiTM performance and learning outcomes. Part 8 students tend to make time available for socializing and not for their tasks. The data collected shows that in order for the students to perform well and do their work; the students seek help from others. They form study groups to discuss about academic matters. To makes time, the students fills in the gap of free time with readings and other things such as doing assignments. The students discuss on the academic matters and exchange ideas during group discussions. Here, we can conclude that the third research question is answered.

This study has given an idea on how the students manage their time during their period of study. The following are recommendation based on the findings for this study. First, for the students, they should somehow re-evaluate their time management skills. In this scope, the students should focus more on the time they allocate for studying, revising and finishing their task.

On the other hand, socializing skills of the students should be taken into account. They should know how to socialize well. The time allocated to socialize should be equal to the time allocated for their academic matters. The students should discuss more on difficult tasks or assignments to make it easier to be done. It is recommended that the tasks and assignments given should not be taken lightly, and should not be kept until the last minute or near the submission date.

The faculty can also use the findings from the research to evaluate the amount of work given to the students. A good programme on time management skills can also be held in order to improve the students’ time management skills. With adequate time, the students will be able to manage their time well. Each individual should promote good time management to one another. This is because, a good time management skills can lead to a successful academic, the increase of productivity and decrease the amount of tension in doing their work (Lay & Schouwenburg, 1993).

The study examined the way part 8 TESL students of UiTM manage their time. For this research, the research is only limited to only part 8 TESL students of UiTM Shah Alam. One recommendation for this research is to expand the number of the respondents for the study. The findings of this study could be defined better and more accurate as the larger number of the respondents will give more data needed.

In addition, other respondetns can also be included for this particular study. Students who are studying TESL in UiTM Shah Alam ranging from part 1 to part 8 students. For this particular study, it can be further done by making the same research to analyze on how TESL students of UiTM Shah Alam manage their time as a whole. This will make the data collected varies and better conclusion can be made. Better implementations of academic and social activities could also be made later based on the research recommended.