Color Coding and Homework Organizers

Color Coding

With respect to time management, color coding has two applications. Color coding may be used to organize information on time planners and to evaluate one's use of time.

Organizing Information

When recording information on semester, monthly, weekly or daily grids, use different colors of ink to designate different types of activities. For example, one may record classes in black ink, assignments in red ink, work in green ink, and social activities in blue ink. A related approach is to write all activities in one color of ink but use different highlighters to distinguish types of activities.

Evaluating Time Management

Color coding also provides a means of quickly evaluating how effectively time is used.

• Try highlighting all classes in one color and all studying outside class in another color. If time is used effectively, there should be twice as many hours of the latter than the former.
• Or, highlight all academic activities in one color and all social events in another color. If there are more hours of the latter than the former, one should reexamine one's priorities and budget more time for academics in the future.
• A third approach is to xerox the original planner and then use highlighters to keep track of when tasks were accomplished. If a task was completed on or before the due date, mark it with one color. If a task was completed one to two days after the due date, mark it with another color. Use a third color to mark tasks completed three or more days after the due date. If there is more of the third color than the others, one is not managing time very well.

Homework Organizer

The chart below may be used to organize the due dates of assignments in each course. The "homework organizer" is adapted from Mengel (1992).

Put a copy of the homework organizer in the front of one's three-ring notebook for each class. Post copies on the bulletin board of one's room. Check the chart daily for reminders about upcoming assignments. Cross off assignments as they are completed.

HOMEWORK

LABS

PAPERS / PROJECTS

TESTS / QUIZZES