Creating and Sustaining an Effective Learning Environment Holistic Support of First Year Third Level Students

Time-management initiative Irons (2003) hypothesized that students can reduce their stress levels and add to overall health by assisting them in recognising where their time is poorly spent. The educational literature also suggests that those students who can manage their life/time successfully can prioritize their work more effectively and efficiently (Irons, 2003 Innis and Shaw, 1997). Drucker (1967) highlights that those students who can manage their time well and prioritize their life/time activities manage themselves well. Flynn & Brunton (2005) undertook a time-management initiative to investigate how students prioritized their time during their first year at college. The study showed that many students prioritized socializing over study. But most students prioritized course work and study over any other activities such as sport, work or family commitments. 20 % of students on the Health & Leisure course prioritized sport but indicated a rise in hours given to self-study as a result of the initiative. However, most of their study time was given to completing assignments and assessments. Brunton & Jordan (2004) found that managing time was a problem as students allowed assignments to build u