February 12, 2021
3 Ways to Track Assignments
With another semester upon us, and the constant stream of homework that flows with it, how does one keep track of a multitude of assignments? Here are some suggestions to record and track the assignments as they come in, so you don’t miss another due date!
Daily Planner: Whether you download and print a template you find online, or create your own out of a notebook and some paper, a physical daily planner is a wonderful option to keep track of those assignments! Write down the coursework that your teachers put in their syllabi, take it with you to class, and jot down whatever assignments pop up in lecture or on Canvas. Then you just scratch the assignment off when it’s done! This method also has the added benefit of you being able to put in any work hours you have, extra curricular meeting times, and anything else you feel needs to be included.
Apps: If you don’t want to lug around a physical planner/notebook, you could try an app on your phone or computer. The simplest would be to input your assignments straight into your calendar app, whether it be the one that is automatically installed, the Google calendar, or any calendar app you have. With this, you can see the time the assignment is due, put any pertinent information in the notes section, and get an alert however many days before the due date.
Another option is the myHomework Student Planner app. The simple and organized interface allows you to view the assignments you insert, due dates, type of assignment, assignment priority, as well as filtering to find which assignment you should work on next. You can also set reminders for upcoming due dates. Available for free on the GooglePlay Store, as well as the Apple App Store, Mac App Store, and other platforms.
Spreadsheets: Using Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel to create an assignment tracker is easier than it sounds. Along with being able to personalize the interface, spreadsheets make it easy to move the assignments around if the due date changes, and they allow you to track what grades you get. In order to start one, you just need 6 columns at the top, labeled due date, class name, assignment type, assignment name, completed, and grade. After you input the assignments from the syllabi your professors give out, you highlight the whole sheet and sort by the first column (due dates). This should put the dates in descending order, so you can view what needs to be done near the top. And if the professors decide to either add or take away assignments, it is easy to just add or delete a row when needed.
