Academic time compression.

[SimuLord]

Background: My accounting professor assigned a long series of practice assignments that basically amounted to an entire month's worth of transactions for a business along with statements and other stuff primarily of interest to accounting students. He said "don't put this off until the last minute, it will take you 20-25 hours to do it."

I devoted a Sunday to it (assuming my usual time compression rate of 2:1 for an assignment and figuring it'd take me 10-12 hours.) It took me three hours and 42 minutes. (yes, I timed it. I wanted to know for my own edification.) And I got an A- on the project (instant grading by the computer system.) That's at least 5.5:1 and possibly as high as 7:1...for quality work.

For discussion: When a teacher gives you an assignment and a time frame, does it usually take you much less time or more time than the teacher estimates? In other words, does "an hour of homework" take you closer to "less time than it takes to take a shit" or "more time than it takes to play a nine-inning major league baseball game"?

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

I always end up using more time that I allocated for myself or the time allocated for me when I am doing an assignment. Especially if I get really into what I am doing (which is most of the time) I add, tweak, graph, extrapolate and spend oogles of time on the "further work" section researching how an experiment could be improved upon.

I do believe though it really comes down to the subject matter at hand. For physics and chemistry assignments, which to clarify are my majors, I spent more time than I though was necessary. While Biology and maths, usually end up finishing before my own deadlines. Again, that really depends on the assignment and how much I am willing to go to get the grade.

 

[SimuLord]

If I actually focus, I'll usually get it done around the given time or shorter; problem is, I'm easily distracted.


Although I often procrastinate 'til the last second, and when pressured I always seem to get it done on time. But I'm slowly working out of that bad habit.

That's not necessarily a bad habit. Sometimes it takes a tight deadline in order to be able to focus. Some people produce better quality work at the last minute than if they'd taken their time.

 

[BonsaiK]

Lecturers tend to err on the side of "teh stupid" because they know what the average beer-swilling University student is like. If you can do it quicker that just means you're either smarter or more dedicated.

My lecturers would never give me work timeframes, they'd just say "do this, hand it up by date x". I'd usually get started straight away but work very slow, and get it done about a week before the due date.

 

[SimuLord]

If I actually focus, I'll usually get it done around the given time or shorter; problem is, I'm easily distracted.


Although I often procrastinate 'til the last second, and when pressured I always seem to get it done on time. But I'm slowly working out of that bad habit.

That's not necessarily a bad habit. Sometimes it takes a tight deadline in order to be able to focus. Some people produce better quality work at the last minute than if they'd taken their time.

Hmm, true for some, yeah. When I have little time left I tend to have a lackadaisical approach though, just wanting to get it finished above all else. I think "that'll do" and settle for the low B in lieu of managing my time and motivating myself to work for that delicious A.

I find that if something can't be done in three hours it's not worth doing (unless it's 8% of the grade and was supposed to take 25

Which is why I tend to wake up at 7 on the morning I have a paper due and start it then. Professors tend not to know unless I tell them. I wrote a research paper in 38 minutes just last week.

 

[burningdragoon]

I wrote a research paper in 38 minutes just last week.

38 minutes? That's awesome. One of my roommates would get most of his stuff done within a few hours of the due time, but nothing that fast. I on the other hand am quite terrible at getting most paper related assignments done quickly. For all my computer science work, most of which is generally difficult to finish within a short amount of time, I would say most of the time I would finish with less hours than expected. Some of my classmates would get things done more quickly sometimes, but usually would be lacking in quality.

 

[MikailCaboose]

Well, homework with IB just piles up so it can take a good chunk of time. Although, I can usually get it done relatively fast.

 

[DuplicateValue]

If I actually focus, I'll usually get it done around the given time or shorter; problem is, I'm easily distracted.


Although I often procrastinate 'til the last second, and when pressured I always seem to get it done on time. But I'm slowly working out of that bad habit.

This pretty much describes me too.

Homework that should take an hour, takes three while I'm simultaneously browsing my favourite sites.

 

[SimuLord]

I wrote a research paper in 38 minutes just last week.

38 minutes? That's awesome. One of my roommates would get most of his stuff done within a few hours of the due time, but nothing that fast. I on the other hand am quite terrible at getting most paper related assignments done quickly. For all my computer science work, most of which is generally difficult to finish within a short amount of time, I would say most of the time I would finish with less hours than expected. Some of my classmates would get things done more quickly sometimes, but usually would be lacking in quality.

I have a gear...sort of an intellectual Limit Break that even I'm like "hell if I know how I just did that."

 

[Marter]

I figured out an "hour of homework" would take about 20 minutes, if I focussed solely on it.

 

[thespianicism]

If I am writing an essay for an exam or something else timed, I am almost always done with ample time. When I have no clear time limit, I perseverate on details to no end and I take FOR EVER.