What to do? A Review of the Academic Time-Based Decision-Making Literature

Abstract

Time-based activities at Universities are shifting toward a more transactional approach, yet there is little understanding of the time management capabilities of students in adapting to a more flexible structure. Although many studies report on efforts to address engineering students being stressed, surfacelearning oriented, and prone to missing class, few studies address how these relate to students’ time management. In an effort to explore how students value, prioritize, and spend their time, this paper proposes a new term, “Academic Time-Based Decision-Making” (ATBDM), which lies at the crossroads of time management, selfefficacy, and self-regulated learning. Factors influencing ATBDM are currently mostly speculative, although class scheduling, social norms, and the internet and social media are frequent causal suggestions. It is also unknown as to how ATBDM is conducted across the breadth of students, which skills or “tools” are employed, and whether the process or influencing factors change over the course of time. A research study to explore why and how engineering students make academic decisions is proposed. By providing deeper insights into the factors influencing ATBDM, it may be possible to develop more effective support or intervention to assist students in making balanced and positive choices.

Learning Not Burning (Out): Sustainable Time Management in Engineering Education

“…The term "Academic Time-Based Decision-Making" was created to encompass both time use and decision making in an academic context [1]. It differs from "time management" (which is not well defined itself [1], [7]) in that time management has tended to focus on individuals' actions, whereas ATBDM considers both individual and systematic forces affecting academic time allocation and use [1].…”

“…ATBDM draws on a diversity of theories in motivation, procrastination, decision-making, time management, social time use, and behavioural economics to attempt to explain reported phenomena [1]. Also included in the development of ATBDM were analyses of power structures and embedded assumptions in existing time management lore [2].…”

“…Also included in the development of ATBDM were analyses of power structures and embedded assumptions in existing time management lore [2]. A prior CEEA paper containing an ATBDM literature review noted that a cultural shift towards hyperindividualism, and a "gig economy" style academia, may be contributing to observed trends [1].…”

“…"In second year I remember a prof told us 'your schedules are garbage'" -Student interview participant Over the past several years, multiple CEEA papers have been presented on topics related to student time management, decision making, and wellbeing. These papers appear to indicate trends towards propensity of surface learning, reduction in class attendance, reduced academic honesty, and increase stress and burnout among Canadian engineering students [1]- [6].…”

“…Two prior papers have presented summaries of the literature in this area, which has been called "Academic Time-Based Decision-Making" (ATBDM) [1], [2]. This paper will build on that research by presenting some initial results from a study on undergraduate engineering ATBDM and then discussing their implications and impacts on student mental health issues and academic capability.…”