Online training plus daily app diaries may help students manage time better.

The study

1. 01

   Who took part

   73 students at Deakin University in Australia, out of 234 who filled in the first questionnaire. About 7 in 10 were women, and their ages ran from 17 to 58, with an average of about 26.

2. 02

   What they did

   Three groups each got something for three weeks. One had online lessons on goals, planning, distractions and reflection. One kept a daily diary on their phone, before and after each study session. One had both. A fourth group got nothing.

3. 03

   What happened

   At the end, the group that did both lessons and diaries scored higher on time management than the other groups. The lessons on their own made people more sure that their effort makes a difference. Diaries on their own did not beat the group that got nothing on any measure.

What the study found

1. HelpedTime management

   At the end, students who did both rated their time management higher than the rest.

   • Action: Take a time-management coursetested
   • Action: Track your progresstested
   • Rule: Every daytested
   • Rule: Get a remindertested

   Small randomised trial of 73 university students in Australia · vs students who had only one, or nothing · they rated themselves · ⚠ many people dropped out; only counted people who finished; summary claims more than the results show

2. HelpedMotivation

   After the lessons, students felt more sure their effort would make a difference to their studies.

   • Action: Reflect on how you performedtested
   • Action: Learn better study strategiestested

   Small randomised trial of 73 university students in Australia · vs students who got nothing · they rated themselves · ⚠ many people dropped out; only counted people who finished; summary claims more than the results show

3. No differenceOther outcomes

   Diaries alone did not beat the group that got nothing on any measure.

   • Action: Track your progresstested
   • Rule: Every daytested
   • Rule: Get a remindertested

   Small randomised trial of 73 university students in Australia · vs students who got nothing · they rated themselves · ⚠ many people dropped out; only counted people who finished; summary claims more than the results show

Source