Hmm… maybe I should start putting my grading off until the last minute so that I’m more motivated to do homework and study. There’s another productivity boost here: the last minute effect. I have a lot of trouble doing tedious things, unless it’s the last minute. I can grade extremely fast if I need to have them entered before morning so the course coordinator can run an anova on the grades of the different sections, but if I try to grade the weekend before, it will take all weekend.
On the other hand, I’m usually fairly productive doing homework—as long as it isn’t a tedious or especially difficult problem. I also structure studying to take advantage of this—doing problems. When I need to memorize things while studying, I think I already partially take advantage of what patri is talking about—instead of some great studying technique, i just copy and recopy whatever I need to memorize. It feels like I’m avoiding what I should be doing, but i find it helps me memorize things rather well—and I can will myself to do it.
Many people find that alcohol lowers the relevant inhibitions to grading quickly. (eg, repulsion from what the students have written, or the compulsion to leave extensive comments) Also, it combines well with artificial deadlines: go to the bar an hour ahead of your friends.
Hmm… maybe I should start putting my grading off until the last minute so that I’m more motivated to do homework and study. There’s another productivity boost here: the last minute effect. I have a lot of trouble doing tedious things, unless it’s the last minute. I can grade extremely fast if I need to have them entered before morning so the course coordinator can run an anova on the grades of the different sections, but if I try to grade the weekend before, it will take all weekend.
On the other hand, I’m usually fairly productive doing homework—as long as it isn’t a tedious or especially difficult problem. I also structure studying to take advantage of this—doing problems. When I need to memorize things while studying, I think I already partially take advantage of what patri is talking about—instead of some great studying technique, i just copy and recopy whatever I need to memorize. It feels like I’m avoiding what I should be doing, but i find it helps me memorize things rather well—and I can will myself to do it.
Many people find that alcohol lowers the relevant inhibitions to grading quickly. (eg, repulsion from what the students have written, or the compulsion to leave extensive comments) Also, it combines well with artificial deadlines: go to the bar an hour ahead of your friends.
My secret is out!
This sounds like an example of Parkinson’s Law at work: “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.”