Web-Based Learning: Time Management That Works

A Concept Learning Design

Table of Contents

1. Overview

2. Reference

3. Learning Outcome

4. Program Details

5. Program Plan

6. Curriculum

7. Program Evaluation

Overview

Productivity gurus have for ages told us how to improve productivity. Why, then, do we still struggle with tasks that sap our time? Why, then, are we unable to achieve our goals in the timeline we set? That's because while there is abundant information on what we need to do to improve productivity, very little is spoken about how we can actually go about doing it.

In this program you will find the principles of productivity and also the tools of productivity. Just as the principles without tools are not actionable, the tools without the principles will be ineffective. Combining both, this program finally equips you to manage your time and get things done.

Disclaimer: The resources and materials used in this concept learning experience are the property of their respective owners. I do not claim any ownership or rights over them nor imply any association with them. All resources are used for representation purpose only.

Reference

The Productivity Guide: Time Management Strategies That Work by James Clear

Learning Outcome

Create a daily and weekly plan by classifying tasks based on the Eisenhower Matrix for time management.

Program Details

Duration: 6 consecutive days, 9 hours

Mode of delivery: Virtual (Synchronous) with Asynchronous Activity

Cohort size: 20

Methodology: Backward design

Program Plan

Day 1

Sync Session 1 (2 hours)

Day 2

Async reading and viewing (1.5 hour)

Day 3

Sync Session 2 (1 hour)

Day 4

Sync Session 3 (1 hour)

Day 5

Async activity (1.5 hours)

Day 6

Sync Session 4 (2 hours)

Curriculum

Pre-program activity

Create a list of tasks that you would typically do in a week in different areas of your life. These could be routine tasks, planned tasks, or tasks that might spring up on you unexpectedly. For the purpose of this activity, consider the following areas and the example tasks within each. The longer the list, the better.

Work

1. Tasks

2. Emails

3. Meetings

4. Helping colleagues

5. Research for the new project etc.

Home

Health and Fitness

Social

Virtual Sync Sessions

Sync Session 1 (Duration: 2 hours)

1. Welcome

2. Defining Productivity

   1. What it is and what it is not

   2. What is the goal of productivity?

   3. Optimising for time vs optimising for energy

      1. Based on the book The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz

3. Top productivity strategies - each strategy facilitates the others

   1. Prioritising: The Eisenhower Matrix

   2. Eliminating: A Lesson from Warren Buffet

   3. Pruning: The Ivy Lee Method

   4. Incrementing: The Genius of Anthony Trollope

4. Instructions about async learning on Day 2 and Day 3

Sync Session 2 (Duration: 1 hour)

1. Interview with either a founder/co-founder or a C-Suite executive

   1. Aim to gather real-world practical insights in managing schedules.

2. Q&A session

Sync Session 3 (Duration: 1 hour)

1. Walkthrough of the Eisenhower Matrix using Notion

   1. The walkthrough will also help those preferring to work with pen and paper instead of a tool.

2. Q&A with learners

   1. (Optional) Considering the class size of 20 learners, they could be split into 2 breakout rooms to better facilitate the discussion.

3. Instructions about the activity to be done on Day 5

Sync Session 4 (Duration: 2 hours)

1. Activity Debrief

2. Poll

3. Recap

4. Next Steps/Conclusion

Async Activities (Duration: 1.5 hours)

Reading

1. 7 ways to be more productive

2. Summaries of books on productivity

   1. Getting Things Done by David Allen

   2. Essentialism by Greg McKeown

   3. The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch

3. Articles on Productivity

   1. Listed articles from the reference

Viewing

Tools for Productivity: Notion

1. Getting Started with Notion

2. Eisenhower Matrix in Notion

Duplicate this Notion template.

Activity (Duration: 1.5 hours)

Plan your week using the Eisenhower Matrix.

For those preferring to work with a tool:

1. Revisit the list of tasks and activities you created in the pre-program activity

2. Duplicate the Notion template for the Eisenhower Matrix in your own Notion workspace

3. Record your weekly tasks in the Notion database

4. Classify your tasks and activities based on urgency and importance and create the Eisenhower Matrix for your tasks

5. Capture and share your matrix

For those preferring to work with pen and paper:

1. Revisit the list of tasks and activities you created in the pre-program activity

2. Classify your tasks and activities based on urgency and importance into the following quadrants:

   1. Urgent and Important (Do)

   2. Urgent but Not Important (Delegate)

   3. Not Urgent but Important (Schedule)

   4. Not Urgent and Not Important (Eliminate)

3. Capture and share your matrix

Post-program

Provide the following resources to the learners to continue their journey towards peak productivity.

Summary (Includes a visual)

1. Classify tasks based on the action needed to be taken - Do, Schedule, Delegate, Eliminate.

2. Eliminate tasks which are time wasters and are not aligned with your goals.

3. Restrict the number of actionable tasks to maximize focus. Fewer priorities lead to better outcomes.

4. Improve motivation and build momentum by breaking down long-term projects into small tasks achievable in a short amount of time.

5. Form supporting habits to sustain productivity. Good habits create a chain reaction of good outcomes.

Best Practices (Includes a visual)

1. Schedule time to plan daily and weekly tasks.

2. Complete the most important task at the time of the day when you have the highest amount of energy.

3. Identify and eliminate/block distractions.

Further Reading

1. Summary of Atomic Habits by James Clear - recommended because productivity needs to be sustained through habits

2. The Ultimate Guide to Productivity by Ali Abdaal - recommended for further guidance on applying what is learnt in this program

Program Evaluation: Measuring the Effectiveness of the Program

Assessment

Assessing the outcome of Day 5’s activity submitted by the participants.

Assessment criteria:

1. Correct replication or re-creation of the Eisenhower Matrix

2. Successful classification of activities into the different quadrants of the Eisenhower Matrix

Engagement

1. Tracking and comparing participants’ attendance and interaction in each of the Sync sessions

2. Tracking participants’ contribution in discussion forums

3. Tracking the views of the reading material and plays/replays of the video resources provided

Feedback from participants

1. Capturing the rating for each Sync session at the end of each of it

2. Post-program survey to:

   1. Rate the clarity of content delivery

   2. Rate the usefulness of the content

   3. Measure the time spent on the program

   4. Capture open-ended comments from participants on their perceived effectiveness of the program

   5. Capture open-ended comments from participants on suggestions for improvements in the experience

   6. Capture the NPS score