CST 300: Week 2

Part 1: Review and Reflect Learning Strategy

Overview

• Effective study techniques are necessary for the success of any student. Time management in particular can be killer. Procrastination triggers an immediate reward response, while the thought of studying can invoke a dreadful feeling. However, the feeling after completing assignments is much greater than the feeling of procrastination (which is accompanied by a feeling of impending fate).
• The provided document outlines many great techniques for studying. The SQ3R method is one of which I was not aware, although I tend to follow a similar method by default. Techniques for studying have been drilled into my head my entire life, although admittedly there are areas in which I still struggle.
• I agree that there is no magic formula. The tips outlined for studying are only useful for students who plan on implementing them. Success depends on individual drive.

Where I excel

• I always read quickly and with a purpose. Only the most important details from each paragraph are extracted. I skip over extraneous information, but I am careful to make sure I scan all places where relevant information may reside (such as in captions or footnotes).
• Although I am not able to type as quickly as I used to due to a physical limitation, I can still type quickly enough to take effective notes during lectures. I excel at listening to a lecturer and selecting important information to type. I also type questions as they come to my mind so that I can find answers later. 
• My notes are digitally organized and backed up. I use folders to separate classes, assignments, notes, and other documents. I have a habit of reorganizing and summarizing my notes for study purposes. I do not use flash cards unless mandated (such as for use on an exam).

Where I struggle

• I, like many others, struggle with time management. I have managed to survive academically thus far, but I really should adhere more strictly to my own schedule.
• It is recommended not to study within half an hour of sleep. I have, on many occasions, stayed up late studying or finishing an assignment while deliberately fighting the urge to fall asleep.
• Taking breaks every 30-40 minutes is a great idea. I have long known that lengthy study sessions are not recommended because information may not be retained well. Despite this I still tend to study and work on assignments for hours-long stretches.

Part 2: Preview Time Management Skills (Activity Log)

Date/Time	Activity Description	Feeling	Duration	Value
01/13/2021 1:55 PM	Read “New Rules” and take quiz	Intrigued	10 minutes	High
01/13/2021 2:05 PM	Review PPT and take quiz	Frustrated	15 minutes	High
01/13/2021 2:20 PM	Peer review guidelines/quiz	Flat	10 minutes	High
01/13/2021 2:30 PM	Break	Fatigued	30 minutes	Medium
01/13/2021 3:00 PM	Read and respond to discussion	Rested	25 minutes	High
01/14/2021 12:30 PM	Read, take notes, and reflect (journal)	Alert	50 minutes	High
01/14/2021 1:20 PM	Break	Fatigued	10 minutes	High
01/14/2021 1:30 PM	Project management videos/response	Rested	35 minutes	High
01/14/2021 2:05 PM	Reflect on previous Capstones	Alert	45 minutes	High
01/14/2021 2:50 PM	Break	Fatigued	20 minutes	Medium
01/14/2021 3:10 PM	Work on weekly lecture/summary	Rested	1 hour	High

Part 3: Project Management Basics

A project is a temporary team effort which results in a unique, deliverable product. Projects are led by a project manager who must be strong in many areas such as leadership, communication, IT, and finances. Projects are usually split up into phases with milestones to be met before moving onto the next phase. These phases together make up the project life cycle. Unfortunately, the majority of projects are never completed. Failure to manage critical resources like time and money or failure to plan for potential future problems have led to the failure of many projects. A work breakdown structure or a Gantt Chart can be useful tools for breaking down the total scope of a project, tracking deadlines and dependencies, showing completion percentages, and (in general) organizing a potentially large and complex project.

Part 4: Previous Capstones

SimpliFit

• This project was well done. The presenter was extremely passionate about his own fitness and created an app to help other people with theirs. A workout routine is provided for you which focuses on one (or all) of 4 core areas: pull, push, hinge, and squat. A video popup (linked to YouTube) shows you the proper way to perform an exercise. There is a login/register feature, but I am not sure of its usefulness since notes are stored locally.

Thermal Exhaust Port (TEP)

• TEP is a visitor management tool that helps lobby operators record visits. The tool uses a simple website with a database. This project seems lazily put together, and I cannot find any usefulness for the service in its current state.

Stuff Ride

• This was an amazing project and presentation. The app allows people to find other people to transport items for them. Users and transporters register for accounts and enter pertinent information. Users search by day/time to find available transporters. GPS provides real time tracking of the transporter.
• The app is reminiscent of other delivery apps but (to my knowledge) is unique. Of the three apps, this one definitely takes the cake for best presentation and most useful product. It also is the most professionally done and the creators use of multiple frameworks was impressive to me.

Part 5: Weekly Summary

Predictions About 2021

• The software development industry has boomed despite Covid-19. In fact, the lockdowns have helped speed up the digital transformation (which was already moving quickly). Some of the areas which stood out the most to me include cloud computing, quantum computing, and programming.
• Cloud computing has taken center stage during the pandemic because many businesses have been forced to migrate to the cloud. Amazon Web Services is the current leader, but a “multi-cloud” initiative is on the horizon. Quantum computer is also on the move, with many governments and tech giants exploring it or investing in it. In 2020, Honeywell claimed to have created the most powerful quantum computer.
• In the programming realm, Python is overtaking Java as the most popular general-purpose language. However, modern languages like Rust, Swift, and Go are also becoming more popular (especially for mobile development). JavaScript remains king for web development, but Microsoft’s TypeScript is an upcoming competitor.

Introduction to Project Management (2020)

• The project manager is arguably the most important person related to a project. It is his or her responsibility to ensure the project requirements are met while staying within the provided constraints. The project manager is accountable for the success of the project and is responsible for not only their own actions but also the actions of their team members. He or she must have the ability to take on any project, must be able to handle multiple projects at once, and must have outstanding people skills. The project manager is the face of the project and must always be professional and ethical. To be successful, project managers must possess a wide range of skills such as leadership, management, business knowledge, and problem solving.

Final thoughts

• This week has been challenging. I learned a lot about project management, an area in which I have no experience. I also learned a few new tricks for time management (such as keeping an activity log). The industry analysis paper is coming faster than I thought, but I am confident I will meet all deadlines.