#self pace

I’m not 100% familiar with other areas, or countries, but where I am currently from self-paced learning is becoming increasingly popular and being implemented in regular high schools as well as adult education facilities and various summer school programs. For my last year of high school I went to a self paced school which was probably the best academic choice I have made, here are some tips on how to be successful in self-paced environments. 

1. Don’t Procrastinate!!!!

Self-paced is a procrastinator’s dream/nightmare and I have seen it go both ways, it honestly can screw someone over big time, but it can also be a good way to alter your procrastinating habits. For me personally I would procrastinate taking my tests and handing in large assignments due to fear, this hurt me in the end because the longer I took on one assignment, the shorter amount of time I would have to complete assignment towards the end of the semester, which most times were harder and/or longer. So don’t procrastinate it screws you in the end.

2. Try to Stick to Imaginary Due Dates.

In my school we had very vague dates to hand stuff in by, these deadlines were the goal to hand things in by, but weren’t exactly realistic if the teacher hasn’t finished teaching all the lessons yet. However, if a teacher said, “this should be in by...” use that as a pretend due date and that it must be done by that day. This way you stay on track and have an adequate amount of time to do all your assignments, tests, or any other thing that is due.

3. Aim for an hour a day.

I actually learned this tip in my online course and applied it to my other courses and it helped a lot! Every day try to work on one of your subjects for a solid hour, whether its studying, doing assignments, or planning a course of action for something; it definitely broke my work up into less intimidating chunks. This really worked for me cause I was one of those kids that never did work at school, I would go to my lessons, participate in discussions, or talk to my teachers at school, any other time I was usually socializing, or preoccupied with something else that pertained nothing to school. Given I would only have 3 classes in the morning I would always just go home and work on each of my subjects for an hour, this was also good because my friends would be in school not disrupting me.

4. Create a Line of Communication With Your Teachers.

My school was rather casual in the sense that the teachers did not view themselves as better than the students and were always ready to help students create a plan that would help them be most successful. This being said start this line of communication at the beginning of the semester as when it comes to work submission deadlines they will usually be a tad bit more giving or understanding for marks and late assignments. Also, if you start a line of communication with your teacher you will 85% of the time be on track cause they will often be on your case on what needs to be done. 

5. Actually Go To Class.

My school wasn’t particularly strict when it came to attendance, but attending class plays a large part in your success in a class just like in regular schools. Though it may be tempting to leave if the teacher is not teaching a lesson at least always check in, update them on your progress, ask for clarification on something you are not 100% sure about, and ask about what is their plan for tomorrow and if anything should be handed in by tomorrow then you can leave. But if you don’t have plans or anything major to do just stay in class and like attempt to do something it shows you care and you want to be in class.

6. Organize Yourself.

This is important in regular school, but even more important in self paced programs as you are in charge of your own education! Planners work great, colour code things, do anything that makes you more organize that way you know what needs to be done, when you do this there is no panic when it comes work submission season there’s no need to worry if you have anymore to do.

7. Enjoy yourself.