1. Higher Education Seminar Series January 14, 2014 Presented by Tricia Seifert Building Your Term Work Plan

2. Agenda  Challenges of the Academic Term  The Keys to a Successful Term  Creating Your Ideal Term  How to Plan  How to Create the Support You Need  Post-Workshop Resources

3. The challenges of Academic Term are:  Balancing class/work/personal demands with making headway on your writing projects  Prioritizing tasks: what to focus on when  Something always seems due TOMORROW so it’s hard to plan for the coming weeks.  Knowing how much time to allot: it always takes longer and knowing when it’s okay to stop.  Multi-tasking – being able to work on multiple projects at the same time while making progress on each  How to start something big (and maybe the fear of doing so)  Finding time to relax  How to plan for the unanticipated Challenges of the Academic Term

4. You have always thought that if you just did “X”, you would have a more successful term. What is the “X” for you? Identifying clear goals that are realistic in a term timeframe Networking – building my community Exploring new activities/hobbies Early thinking about topic for end-of-term paper Reading in the field, relevant literature Focus so as not to get distracted by work, etc. Making time to reflect on past courses, reading, -- how does it all fit together, connect to my research Making space/time for creativity, in the moment opportunities. Slowing down to sense the connections. Guilt free, brain down time. The Keys to a Successful Term

5. Exercise 1: Describe your ideal work day.

6. What about your ideal day is particularly attractive to you? How does it differ from what you do now? Reflecting on Ideal Work Day

7. Create a Plan for Your Academic Term: 1.Identify your goals 2.Map out the necessary steps to accomplish your goals 3.Introduce your projects to your calendar 4.Choose an appropriate accountability and support system 5.Work the plan How to Plan

8. Step #1: Identify Your Goals 1.Launch survey, manage data collection – end of February 2.Write methods and results for TA study paper w/ Carol – during spring break 3.Write paper for SAS global for ACPA – DUE March 31 Goals should be SMART! Specific Measurable Attractive Realistic Time-based How to Plan

9. Step #2: Map out the steps to your goal Goal 1: Launch survey, manage data collection Steps: 1.Submit and get ethics approval (where necessary) from participating institutions 2.Have all communications translated 3.Create pre-notification “poster” for each institution 4.Create online survey instrument 5.Test online survey instrument across multiple platforms 6.Develop sampling protocol and send to institutional liaisons 7.Field questions (ongoing) 8.Follow response for multiple surveys once launched How to Plan

10. Step #3: Introduce your projects to your calendar How to Plan Goal 1: Launch survey, manage data collection January 14-20Submit and get ethics approval (where necessary) from participating institutions Have all communications translated January 21-26Create pre-notification “poster” for each institution Create online survey instrument Jan 27-Feb 2Test online survey instrument across multiple platforms Develop sampling protocol and send to institutional liaisons Field questions (ongoing) Feb 25Launch survey

11. Create The Support YOU Need What Do YOU Need to Feel Accountable and Supported? Types of Structure you can connect with or create Other people working with you Write on Site Daily contact & enthusiasmOnline Writing Group Weekly accountability & ongoing problem solving Writing Accountability Group A taskmaster to crack the whip and hold you accountable Individual Writing coach Copied from K. Rockquemore, “Every Summer Needs a Plan” slidedeck.

12. Post Workshop Resources 1. National Center for Faculty Diversity and Development http://www.facultydiversity.org/ The format for this workshop has come from my own experience with the Faculty Success Program and particularly the “Every Summer Needs a Plan” workshop presented by Dr. Kerry Ann Rockquemore. 2. Academic Coaching and Writing http://www.academiccoachingandwriting.org/ 3. UofT Writing Centre for Graduate Students http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/writing-centres/graduate-students 4. OISE Student Success Centre http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/ss/OISE_Student_Success_Centre_%28OSS C%29/index.html