Week 2

 

Part 1: Review and Reflect Learning Strategy

Top 3 Strengths:

1. Organized Note-Taking: I naturally summarize information well and can easily review key concepts later.

2. Consistency: I maintain a regular study schedule without procrastination.

3. Active Learning: I engage with content by asking questions and doing practice exercises.

Top 3 Weaknesses:

1. Time Management: Sometimes I spend too long on one task and neglect others.

2. Seeking Help: I hesitate to ask for assistance when I don’t understand a concept.

3. Distractions: I get sidetracked by social media or other online activities.

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Part 2: Preview Time Management Skills

After reading the Indeed article on time management skills, I created an Activity Log to analyze how I spend my time. The article emphasizes the importance of organizing tasks to complete work on time, prioritize projects, and communicate progress effectively. Key tips include:

• Analyzing Your Time: Tracking tasks helps plan schedules accordingly.

• Setting Time Limits: Allocating specific time slots for tasks to stay focused.

• Breaking Down Tasks: Dividing larger tasks into smaller, manageable ones.

By applying these strategies, I aim to improve my time management skills and enhance productivity.

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Part 3: Project Management Basics

Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a hierarchical decomposition of a project into smaller components, making it easier to manage and assign tasks. It integrates scope, cost, and schedule baselines, ensuring alignment in project planning. Each descending level represents an increasingly detailed definition of a project component, facilitating clear delegation and tracking of responsibilities.

Gantt Chart

A Gantt chart is a visual tool used in project management to depict a project's schedule. It organizes project tasks on a timeline, showing start and end dates, dependencies, and progress. This chart helps in planning, scheduling, tracking, and communicating deliverables, deadlines, and resource assignments, ensuring that projects remain on track and are completed on time.

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Part 4: Check Out Previous Capstones

I reviewed three presentations from the Cohort 16 Capstone Festival:

1. Smart Home Automation System

   • Reflection: The project was well-designed, with clear functionality and an interactive demo. The presentation could be improved with more live examples rather than slides.

2. Mental Health App

   • Reflection: The app targeted a relevant issue and included useful resources. The presentation was engaging, but adding user testimonials could strengthen it.

3. Sustainable Urban Garden

   • Reflection: Innovative and environmentally conscious. The project plan was clear, but the slides were text-heavy; visuals could enhance understanding.

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Part 5: Summarize Your Week

This week, I learned how to better analyze my own learning strategies and identify areas for improvement. I gained practical skills in time management through activity logging, and I explored essential project management tools like WBS and Gantt charts. Reviewing previous capstones inspired me by showing how creative ideas can be executed into real projects. Overall, this week has helped me plan more effectively and think critically about my learning process.