Work

Developing Time Management Competencies for First-Year College Students Through Experiential Learning: Design-Based Research

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Time management is a critical competency for first-year college students, yet many struggle with limited self-regulation, and existing interventions are often short-term and weakly grounded in theory. This study explored how a design-based research (DBR) approach integrating experiential learning and digital tools could strengthen students' time management skills. From 2021 to 2023, 238 first-year students at a research university in central China participated in a three-month hybrid Freshman Orientation Seminar, with data collected from daily submissions via a WeChat mini-program. Over three iterative DBR cycles, the intervention combined experiential learning theory with authentic time management practice, guided by quantitative and qualitative evidence to refine the pedagogical model. The process yielded six design principles and a supporting digital tool. In the final iteration, students demonstrated substantial gains, including improved planning, greater task completion, more accurate time allocation, and higher satisfaction with time use. These findings suggest that sustained, theory-guided experiential learning, when supported by digital tools, can significantly enhance time management competencies. The study contributes practical strategies for embedding self-regulated learning into higher education through technology-enhanced experiential approaches.

Source: Behavioral Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/bs16010027

Authors: Kunyu Wang, Mingzhang Zuo, Xiaotang Zhou, Yunhan Wang, Pengxuan Tang, Heng Luo

Institution: Central China Normal University

Language: English

Topic: Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods

Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,654