The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education has been unprecedented. Due to the absence of in-person interaction with students, the influence of teachers on students has decreased significantly. Therefore, the new normal requires students to be self-disciplined about their education.
In the virtual classrooms and on the learning portals, students have to perform most of the learning tasks by themselves. Often such learning sessions suffer due to connectivity issues or other interruptions. Students have to dedicate extra hours to minimise damage to learning caused by disruptions, and they also have to complete their regular tasks.
Self-discipline, motivation and consistency are required to stay on the learning track and meet the academic goals. Pomodoro Technique is a method that students can use to organise their self-learning sessions for the maximum productivity and effective time management.
What is the Pomodoro technique?
Francesco Cirillo came up with the “Pomodoro method” in the late ‘80s. In simple terms, the Pomodoro technique involves breaking your learning sessions into short but intense periods.
Each intense session block is called a “Pomodoro”.
For example, instead of sitting for one hour straight, you break a task into four sessions of twenty minutes with each session having a gap of five minutes for relaxation.
At the start of one session, you set a timer for twenty minutes and set to finish the decided task for that session. After twenty minutes you stop writing (reading/solving etc.) and take a break of 5 minutes, then after the break, you start the new course.
Benefits of Learning in intense, short and focused sessions separated by breaks include:
Increased motivation: The short sessions and the feeling of accomplishment at the end of each session motivate you to achieve more, increasing your productivity.
Enhanced focus: A Pomodoro keeps you focused on the task by eliminating the distractions.
Higher determination levels: Short sessions don't make you feel the time pressure and opportune breaks freshen you up.
Enhances Time management: The Pomodoro technique allows you to plan your sessions accordingly and helps you understand the value of your time. When followed effectively, you can deliver a balanced outcome.
Does the Pomodoro study method work?
You bet! However, like all things, it may not work for some students, but for the majority, it can do wonders.
A research conducted on software developers about the effectiveness of the Pomodoro technique found the technique to increase productivity significantly due to fewer distractions.
How you can use the Pomodoro technique for studying?
To start with the Pomodoro technique for active learning, first, create a plan the day before you want to organise your learning sessions according to the Pomodoro method.
Then at the scheduled time, set a timer for the duration you decided for a Pomodoro (keep them about 20-25 minutes long). To keep watch of the time, you can use a mechanical timer as recommended by Francesco Cirillo.
In case you run out of time, and your task is yet unfinished, Francesco Cirillo recommends pausing. Francesco Cirillo also suggests that you don't move to the next mission even when you finish your job early and have time at hand.
When the timer hits and your time is up, take a break of 5-10 minutes.
Using their LSRW skills, students can learn or study pomodoro techniques. LSRW skills of learning include speaking, writing, listening, and reading. When it comes to learning skills, the LSRW skills of learning often involve listening first, followed by speaking, reading, and writing. As a result, the LSRW manner of learning is widely used to describe these skills. They can break their study in LSRW ways and learn accordingly.
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