Time management & Email Etiquette Flashcards
Why is University difficult to adjust to
More work
More freedom
More people in classes
More thinking
More responsibilities
More expectation
Less help
Less free time
Less social life
Less instructor contact
Less guidance
Less hand-holding
Less structure
What is the process of Self Regulated Learning
Self-Regulated Learning describes the process of taking control of and evaluating your own learning and behaviour.
What are the 3 principles that Self-regulation is guided by?
Metacognition
Strategic action
Motivation to learn
What attitude should you have to succeed
Not everyone gets good grades
You may work harder, but receive lower grades
You must ask for help if you need it
You might not be as good as you think you are
Measure success in terms of learning, not in grades
What should be your attitude towards learning
Understand and apply principles and concepts
Interpret the meaning and significance
Think critically and question everything
Take notes, read option material, conduct independent research
Take control of your own education
Learn how to learn for life-long success
What is a professional
Masters and applies specialized knowledge
Behaves in honest, fair and responsible ways
Respects others (times and viewpoints)
Works independently and thinks critically
Protects the interest of others
Works to improve the human conditions
What should be your mindset for Reputation
Today’s classmates are tomorrow’s colleagues
Who you know and what they think about you are among your greatest assets for a successful career
Today’s TA may be tomorrow’s superior
Negative reputations are difficult to overcome
One bad apple spoils the barrel/reputation of organization
Why time management matters
The attrition rate in engineering is quite high
Time management was one of the biggest problems
The first two sems/years are the most difficult
Time management becomes even more important when you start your careers.
What are some Time
Management hints
Combine activities
Quality of time vs quantity of time
Say no to distractions
Avoid perfection
Break large tasks into smaller ones
Plan ahead
Master study skills
Learn to touch type
Master the software
Form a study group
Prioritize tasks
Don’t wait
Don’t neglect eating & sleeping
Take Some Time Off
What are some University Time Management tips
At the end of your 1st week of classes, collect all your course outlines to schedule your semester
List the times for all your classes and where they are located. Also list other recurring activities such as work, volunteer, sports, etc.
Then take a monthly schedule. Fill in the due dates for all exams.
Ensure you do not underestimate the study time.
Check off tasks as you complete them (provides a sense of accomplishment).
If you fall behind, revise your schedule ASAP.
What’s some Effective ways to use your emails
Remember that e-mail IS NOT texting. While texting is informal, e-mail is semiformal (while memos are considered formal).
YOU MUST EDIT what you send out to faculty and staff at SFU.
Phrase your writing as requests rather than demands.
If writing to the Undergraduate Assistant or Advisor, include your student number in the e-mail body (NOT in the subject line). And NEVER make the student # part of an automatic signature!
Make sure to use your SFU email and not your personal email.
Ensure you use an appropriate salutation.
Ensure you spell the recipient’s name correctly
How do you identify yourself
Always include a subject line in your message
At the end of your messages, include alternative ways to be contacted
What format and style of email is acceptable
Avoid typing messages entirely in uppercase
Keep the format simple
To enhance clarity and avoid offending, minimize texting abbreviations and emojis (e.g., “CUL8R” or “ROFLMFAO”).
Include sufficient material from the message to which you are replying,
What is the Etiquette of Cc’ing
To: - Primary recipients
CC: Carbon Copy –
- Added to the email chain, and all participants can see that.
- Use when you want to involve someone into the conversation but aren’t directing your question towards them.
BCC: Blind Carbon Copy
- Added to the email chain, but the rest of the participants cannot see their email
- Avoid when possible as it creates lack of transparency and the person BCC’d may not realize they have been BCC’d
What is appropriate for the length of your email and attachments
If an e-mail message is unavoidably more than a screen long, consider using headings to break up the text.
Or ask for a meeting
Ideally, paragraphs in e-mail are 2-3 sentences in length.
Wherever possible, information that requires more than a few short paragraphs to express should be word processed and sent as an attachment – perhaps as a memo report or proposal.
Questions/requests at the end of long emails are often ignored/missed.
Ask yourself if the people you are cc’ing really need the information. Everyone receives too much spam; avoid adding to it.
