>> Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea: Tick, tick, tick.
Is your time wasting away?
There never seems to be enough time to do everything
on your agenda, but don't worry,
Montgomery College has you covered with information
on managing your minutes.
You're right on time for MC101: On the Real!
[ Music ]
>> Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea: Welcome to MC101: On the Real.
I'm Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, Senior Vice President
for Student Services at MC.
Let me think about this, attending classes,
doing homework, performing job duties, maintaining a household,
running errands, being involved in campus,
where do you find the time to do it all?
It's not always easy to juggle all
of your responsibilities while pursuing a degree,
but there's hope.
MC counselors can help you create an academic plan
that fits into your busy life.
>> Ever Grier: One of the things that I say to students
about time, I think it's very important is
that they realize time is the continuum in itself
and it will continue to move forward whether we are engaging
with it or not.
So what we can manage is ourselves.
>> Kimberly Talley: As counselors,
we do a lot to help students manage their time.
There's no need for students to try
to create a schedule on their own.
Our purpose here, at the college,
is to serve students in this way.
>> Dr. Harold Barber: First thing we try to do is
to get a clear idea of the factors which impact
on the student's success and the development of a schedule.
It takes into account the student's level of difficulty
with a particular course,
a student's family responsibilities,
the student's work responsibilities.
>> Ever Grier: To be successful in an academic environment,
scheduling is at the top of the list of how we manage
or how we coordinate or organize our work life balance.
>> Kimberly Talley: So we sit down with students one on one,
we help them create a schedule that's a good fit for them
because having an ideal schedule that's a great fit and that fits
into life well really supports their academics here.
>> Dr. Harold Barber:
The concept of time management pervades all aspects
of our work.
What we try to do for students is to be proactive
so that we don't have to wait till midterm
when their grades begin to surface so we try
to give them the sense of what the expectations are.
>> Ever Grier: I think the big thing is looking at the demands
of the different types of courses that you're taking
and then determining how much time you're going to need
to spend outside
of the classroom being prepared for that class.
Because in college, most of your time in terms
of being a successful student takes place preparing outside
of the classroom.
>> Kimberly Talley: One of the techniques
that we do is we tell students to write
down what is an ideal week for you with your classes
and your time, how would your ideal week unfold.
And then I ask them in the following week to write
down the real week, what does it really unfold like?
And a lot of times, we can see what the discrepancy is
and so the real schedule is very different
from their ideal schedule that they think
that they're living by each week.
And so when we can clear those two things up,
that can really help with time management.
>> Dr. Harold Barber: Each student should meet
with the counselor to discuss their academic plan.
We do for at least two semesters,
sometimes we do it for two years.
>> Ever Grier: Students can actually go online
to Montgomery College's home page and click on counseling
and advising and then go
to the specific campus counseling center
that they're interested in
and they can make appointments online or they can find
out what our working hours are online
or they can even take advantage of the email adviser.
>> Kimberly Talley: As much as we love students
to enter Montgomery College, we also want to have a great plan
for you to exit so you can transfer
or choose the career path that's a really good fit for you.
>> Dr. Harold Barber: It's critically important
that students meet with us to develop a plan.
If they develop a plan, we use the resources
that are available then they can never go wrong as long
as they follow the plan.
>> Ever Grier: So come by, check us out.
We're looking forward to meeting you.
[ Music ]
>> Ozzie Richey: Keep a list of things that I feel are important
and that need to be done.
>> Fatou Matasy: I always make sure
to set my alarm up for everything.
If I have final today, if I wake up extra early
or do whatever I have to do or study a week ahead,
I always set an alarm on my phone.
>> Nick Gholami: Once I started college, I started waking
up a lot earlier, I know it makes me sound old
but it actually -- I get some studies done before class
and afterwards I have so much time.
>> Daniel Murgueytio: I don't just kind of think
about something I have to do but I associate the people I know
with that and that's how I --
it helps me keep tabs of all the things I need to do.
>> Melanie Hubert: I think for me,
I just have to manage my schedule by writing it all
down because you don't realize that the time that you do have
until you like see it on paper.
>> Leon Sherman: Time management,
I'd suggest is don't study so hard,
take three hours a day whenever you study,
and make sure you have some leisure time
to not be so stressed over it.
[ Music ]
>> Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea:
Did you know Montgomery College has more than 130 programs
of study, which spanned the gamut of career fields?
I didn't either.
So what kinds of time management skills do you need
to be successful on the job?
Let's ask some students who are working and studying,
how do they balance their time?
Shelita?
>> Shelita Leonard: Well,
two good time management skills would to be make a list
and to schedule ahead of time, I think those are two good,
essential tools that you need to measure time productively.
>> Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea: Sounds like good advice.
What about you, Cameron?
>> Cameron Schaffer: Well, what I like to do
between balancing school and work is I
like to make a daily planner or a weekly planner
about what I have -- what's due for school, projects
and homework and then what my work projects
that are due for work.
And those are what I like to do for my time management skills.
>> Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea:
Sounds like planning is essential.
Let's find out from our MC professors,
they have some answers as well.
Check it out.
>> Chrismond Sharpe-Mason: Professionally,
I work here at MC as a clinical instructor and a lab instructor
and I also work full time as staff nurse at a hospital.
Working at the hospital, you have to be more
on a priority-based schedule.
You go -- whether it's five to six patients
that we have a ratio, so we go from patient to patient,
depending on what's going on with their condition.
So things can change at the hospital.
>> Keith Mathis: As a professional musician, you know,
time management is just
so crucial 'cause everything is based on time, you know?
We have to manage rehearsal time,
you have to manage your personal practice as well
as group practice, allowing for the equipment to be brought in,
the equipment to be set up.
You know, you really have to factor in time
for something to go wrong.
The bottom line is there's a cost factor
so being on time is a factor.
>> Mario Parcan: I work in the construction management field
and in terms of time management,
there seems to be an overwhelming amount
of documents, decision making,
deadlines that require proper time management skills.
>> Chrismond Sharpe-Mason: As a nurse and also as a mom,
there are lots of things that I do to keep my time managed
but one of the most important things that I do is
to write things down, whether it's on the calendar,
I keep a scheduler with me where every day,
I'll write something down.
It helps to keep my time organized and it helps
to keep me focused on what I need
and prioritize what needs to be done.
>> Mario Parcan: In terms of work performed in estimating
or scheduling, concentrate on the 20% of issues
that have an 80% of impact whether the impact is time,
cost, duration of the tasks.
So prioritize and concentrate on those 20% of items or issues
that represent 80% of your volume of task.
>> Chrismond Sharpe-Mason: You can handle this
if you just write things down, just take your time
to think things through and knowing how to ask for help.
You've got other people that are willing
to help you get your day more structured.
>> Keith Mathis: The whole idea of time managing is crucial
and some of the techniques that I do just to keep me in line is
that always on time, the whole idea is to be extremely early.
And this sort of, you know, relates and correlates
in the class as well, you know, times when you have assignments
that you definitely want to do it sooner rather than later.
>> Mario Parcan: Ask for help.
Ask for help that will help you manage a task more efficiently,
in a more timely manner and that help is available in term
of resources that allow you to define a quick path
to make a right decision.
>> Did you know you could earn college credit on the job?
That's right, Montgomery College offers cooperative education
or co-op courses.
>> Angela Beemer: To be eligible to participate
in the co-op program, you have to have completed 12 credits
in college, not necessarily at Montgomery College,
you have to have completed two courses in your major and have
at least a 2.0 grade point average.
But you also have to have followed through at initiative
because you're going to be the only person in most cases
on the job and you have to be able to follow
through with your assignments and to be able to follow
through with the homework that you have
to do while you're in the course.
And with that homework, it's all geared to what you're learning
and doing on the job and your ability to reflect upon that
and what you're learning.
There's a difference between knowing and doing.
There are three class meetings that you have to attend
in the fall and spring and only two class meetings
in the summer.
>> If you want more information,
contact the Montgomery College Cooperative Education
and Internship Program
at coop@montgomerycollege.edu or call 240-567-1360.
[ Music ]
>> Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea: Now that you know how
to create a perfect academic plan and how to manage your time
at work, what are you going to do with your newfound freedom?
Let's ask some students.
Valeria, what about you?
>> Valeria Canales: With my free time, I like to take pictures
and I like to write poetry.
>> Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea: Now that sounds like fun.
Kaf, how 'bout you?
>> Kafura Wanjeri: Well, I like to engage
with the student senate and work
with the first year experience program and volunteer as well
with the Manna food program.
>> Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea: Well, a fantastic way
to make productive use of your time at MC is engaging in clubs,
organizations and programs
through your campus' office of student life.
>> Jim Walters: The Student Life Offices offer a co-curriculum
where students can address their interests and at the same time,
are moved through a leadership development program.
>> Debi Higbie-Holmes:
The Student Life Office offers an opportunity to students
to learn outside of the classroom,
everything that the students do
in here is a vital part of their education.
>> Jim Walters: It's called a social change model
for leadership development and that's what all of our clubs
and student leadership, governance wise,
are kind of modeled through.
>> Debi Higbie-Holmes: It's learning outside
of the classroom as far as communication skills,
lifelong learning skills, interpersonal skills.
>> Jim Walters: What we're working
on is helping folks find some ways to make choices,
make good choices for themselves and for their communities.
>> Debi Higbie-Holmes: We offer many opportunities
for students here in the Student Life Office- skill building,
leadership building opportunities,
personal development opportunities.
>> Jim Walters: Most of the stuff we try and collaborate
with the directors at the different campuses
so that we have similar kinds of activities.
We do a project lead, which is based on some
of the work of Stephen Covey.
>> Debi Higbie-Holmes: We have the leadership assent program.
>> Jim Walters: The Phi Theta Kappa leadership program.
>> Debi Higbie-Holmes: Being a part
of the student's senate, being club leaders.
>> Jim Walters: We also have student newspapers to, you know,
get the word out to campus about what's going on.
>> Debi Higbie-Holmes: Alternative spring breaks,
we have been going to Mississippi
for the past several years to help with Katrina victims.
>> Jim Walters: A variety of outreaches into the community.
One of the things that we're interested in is kind
of taking theory and applying it to reality.
>> Debi Higbie-Holmes: Working in local hospitals, schools,
we offer a program called Smart Sacks.
>> Jim Walters: Where student organizations will pack food
for children that are on free and reduced lunch.
>> Debi Higbie-Holmes: Students can participate
in a community service project without having to leave campus.
>> Jim Walters: A variety of other programs that kind of grow
up as a result that a student need.
We've been working a group called the National Campaign
to end teen and unplanned pregnancy
because the student leadership at the campus said
that was the kind of deep conversations that we needed
to have and that we needed to support that.
>> Debi Higbie-Holmes: Our clubs
and organizations are very popular, going from the academic
to the social and preparation for careers as well.
>> Jim Walters: These are transferable skills
that we're working on.
This is not all theory, this is day to day skills
that people can employ to solve problems to get issues addressed
and to do it in a civil manner,
even when the issues may be controversial.
>> Debi Higbie-Holmes: The research shows
that students perform better academically,
their GPA's actually higher as a result of getting involved
in activities outside the classroom.
>> Jim Walters: They're more engaged, they have more
of a sense of how their discipline applies to reality.
>> Debi Higbie-Holmes: They have a tendency not to procrastinate
as much, they have learned to manage their time successfully
and therefore, are more organized and detail oriented
in their planning of their day, their week or their semester.
>> Jim Walters: Check us out and see
if there isn't something there
that you might find interesting and beneficial.
>> Debi Higbie-Holmes: Come by and enjoy yourself while you're
in college, as well as earn valuable lifelong
learning skills.
[ Music ]
>> Marianne Mullan: I'm Marianne Mullan and I graduated
from Montgomery College in 2010.
I was born and raised in Rockville,
and I never would have thought that I was going to come
to Montgomery College.
I was a nontraditional student, I was home schooled
and privately tutored, so that came with a little bit
of hesitation, being in a classroom with other students.
But Montgomery College really alleviated all of those fears.
The professors here are so great at helping you along
and just being there for you and wanting you to succeed.
I learned so much at Montgomery College,
it's hard to summarize something like that into a snippet
because it really did give me all the skills that I've needed
to succeed at a four year school.
It was one of the best experiences,
actually I would say perhaps the best experience of my life.
[ Music ]
>> Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea: Well, our show is coming
to an end but before we go,
let's hear some time management tips
from an MC counselor, Professor Peanort.
>> Marcus Peanort: Sure.
I would give you probably three tips in terms
of time management, one would be using a priority to-do list
so you can kind of see where you need to put things
and when you need to take care of them.
Some things are more important than others
so making a priority list is important.
Second thing I would suggest is to use technology.
Some people use planners, a handwritten planner.
I use my phone, a lot of students use the technology
with their iPads and their cellular phones
so I would use your telephone.
And then the last thing I normally suggest to students is
to use your waiting time, so when you're
in the doctor's office, waiting to see your doctor or if you're
on the bus, traveling to school, use that time to study
because it's a perfect opportunity.
>> Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea: Wow.
We have heard some great advice today.
I hope you'll make the most
of the time management skills presented
by our faculty, students and alumni.
Thank you so much for watching MC101: On the Real!
But before we go, let's take a peek at a Balkan
and Middle Eastern music concert performance
on the Rockville Campus.
See you next time.
[ Music ]