Comments on: The Unsinkable Student Organization System http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/ Decoding Patterns of Success Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sara Carbone http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/#comment-27069 Sara Carbone Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:10:21 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/#comment-27069 I love your insight: "what seems like a smart, comprehensive system to today you, will be later seen as a terrible prison that blackens your heart and steals your freedom by the future you." I am an academic tutor and find this to be the case, particularly for my students who have learning difficulties. For some of them, creating and then maintaining an organizational system feels like a straight jacket they want to avoid like the plague. It sometimes takes me months to even gain access to their book bag. I like the simplicity of your suggestions, as they will work for teens who starts to tune out after anything with more than, say, two steps. schoolnuggets.com I love your insight: “what seems like a smart, comprehensive system to today you, will be later seen as a terrible prison that blackens your heart and steals your freedom by the future you.” I am an academic tutor and find this to be the case, particularly for my students who have learning difficulties. For some of them, creating and then maintaining an organizational system feels like a straight jacket they want to avoid like the plague. It sometimes takes me months to even gain access to their book bag. I like the simplicity of your suggestions, as they will work for teens who starts to tune out after anything with more than, say, two steps. schoolnuggets.com

]]> By: Cassie http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/#comment-26432 Cassie Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:01:02 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/#comment-26432 For powerpoint slides I usually keep them in display folders in lecture order, with only one subject per folder. For subjects with minimal handouts I keep those in a flat file. It's smaller and easier than a folder. The only annoying problem is when water leaks through my bag. For powerpoint slides I usually keep them in display folders in lecture order, with only one subject per folder. For subjects with minimal handouts I keep those in a flat file. It’s smaller and easier than a folder. The only annoying problem is when water leaks through my bag.

]]> By: Iqra http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/#comment-25057 Iqra Sun, 26 Jun 2011 20:35:04 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/#comment-25057 i have recently started reading ur blogs, next year i will be a senior, i need to pull my socks and start working efficiently....the problem is i dont know where to start i have recently started reading ur blogs, next year i will be a senior, i need to pull my socks and start working efficiently….the problem is i dont know where to start

]]> By: Open Development » Blog Archive » Back-to-School Tech Essentials http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/#comment-15714 Open Development » Blog Archive » Back-to-School Tech Essentials Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:58:41 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/#comment-15714 [...] person. Be willing to keep what works, throw out what doesn’t, and go old-school (i.e., with manila folders and notebooks) where it works better for you. The best solution is likely a happy medium between new and [...]

[...] person. Be willing to keep what works, throw out what doesn’t, and go old-school (i.e., with manila folders and notebooks) where it works better for you. The best solution is likely a happy medium between new and [...]

]]> By: Matt http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/#comment-15564 Matt Thu, 19 Aug 2010 03:45:03 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/#comment-15564 Thanks; this will come in handy. I have a question: what do you think about using an iPod Touch for recording homework assignments? Thanks; this will come in handy. I have a question: what do you think about using an iPod Touch for recording homework assignments?

]]> By: Audrey http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/#comment-15328 Audrey Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:19:03 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/#comment-15328 Maybe Porter's tray system would be a good solution to my question, above: print off the article or book, throw it in a manila file, shove it in a tray labeled by course. Maybe Porter’s tray system would be a good solution to my question, above: print off the article or book, throw it in a manila file, shove it in a tray labeled by course.

]]> By: Audrey http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/#comment-15327 Audrey Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:15:20 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/#comment-15327 Question. In humanities grad seminars, I have professors who send whole books as .pdfs: my print outs for one course for one semester would require two four-inch binders, not one folder. How would you adjust this system to handle a huge volume of paper or .pdfs? Question. In humanities grad seminars, I have professors who send whole books as .pdfs: my print outs for one course for one semester would require two four-inch binders, not one folder. How would you adjust this system to handle a huge volume of paper or .pdfs?

]]> By: Mary http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/#comment-10354 Mary Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:37:59 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/#comment-10354 It is much better to leave the unimportant papers floating around your room. This creates a sense of freedom and inspires you when you happen upon something by chance. Tip: Throw away everything but the essentials. Keep happy, interesting documents, poems, photos around in random places. It is much better to leave the unimportant papers floating around your room. This creates a sense of freedom and inspires you when you happen upon something by chance. Tip: Throw away everything but the essentials. Keep happy, interesting documents, poems, photos around in random places.

]]> By: tony arkles blog » Back to School! http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/#comment-9631 tony arkles blog » Back to School! Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:28:02 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/#comment-9631 [...] some of the principles from the excellent Study Hacks blog; in particular, I’m going to do The Unsinkable Student Organization System. For time management, I think I’m going to give The Pomodoro Technique a shot, especially for [...]

[...] some of the principles from the excellent Study Hacks blog; in particular, I’m going to do The Unsinkable Student Organization System. For time management, I think I’m going to give The Pomodoro Technique a shot, especially for [...]

]]> By: jinap http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/#comment-9585 jinap Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:46:01 +0000 http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/08/25/the-unsinkable-student-organization-system/#comment-9585 This is just what I needed! I want to get organised for the new school year and this is really helpful. I have a question for you Cal - from what I remember the first two to three weeks of the new year are pretty slow, content wise. Most of the course content covered during this time doesn't show up on tests, assignments aren't due yet and things move pretty slowly. What can I do during this point of the school year that will really pay off once things start to pile up later (apart from being organised)? Study-strategy wise that is. All I can think of is building up a good automatic schedule to manage my time well, but I wanted to know if there's any tips you could offer with regards to course content and studying during this time. I'm an Economics Major with Minors in Math and Stats, if that helps. I'll also be taking a 'fun' course unrelated to my program. This is just what I needed! I want to get organised for the new school year and this is really helpful.

I have a question for you Cal – from what I remember the first two to three weeks of the new year are pretty slow, content wise. Most of the course content covered during this time doesn’t show up on tests, assignments aren’t due yet and things move pretty slowly.

What can I do during this point of the school year that will really pay off once things start to pile up later (apart from being organised)? Study-strategy wise that is.

All I can think of is building up a good automatic schedule to manage my time well, but I wanted to know if there’s any tips you could offer with regards to course content and studying during this time.

I’m an Economics Major with Minors in Math and Stats, if that helps. I’ll also be taking a ‘fun’ course unrelated to my program.

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