Learning Journal – Week of May 11, 2025

Part 1: Reflection on Effective Study Skills

After reading Dr. Bob Kizlik’s article on study skills, I was able to identify three study habits that are currently strengths for me:

• Note-taking: I usually take well-organized notes during lectures and readings. I use a mix of handwritten outlines and digital tools, which helps me better retain information.

• Goal-setting: I tend to set clear short-term and long-term academic goals. Having those in place keeps me on track and gives me a sense of direction throughout the semester.

• Using a schedule: I regularly use a planner and tools like Google Calendar to map out my week, allocate time for assignments, and balance personal responsibilities.

At the same time, there are a few areas where I need improvement:

• Procrastination: I sometimes wait too long to start assignments, especially larger projects. This usually results in unnecessary stress closer to the due date.

• Reviewing regularly: I don’t always review course material consistently and often wait until right before an exam. I’d like to make reviewing a regular part of my weekly routine.

• Critical reading: I tend to skim longer readings instead of really breaking them down. I’m starting to practice active reading techniques like SQ3R to improve comprehension and retention.

Part 2: Time Management Skills & Activity Log Summary

After reading the Indeed article on time management, I found that my strongest time management skills are:

• Goal-setting: I usually break down big goals into smaller, manageable steps and milestones.

• Planning: I make use of planning tools like Notion and Google Calendar to structure my weekly schedule and avoid last-minute stress.

• Organization: I keep my workspace and digital files tidy, which helps me stay focused when working on tasks.

Filling out the activity log helped me see how I use my time each day. I noticed I follow a pretty consistent routine: I wake up at 7 AM, go jogging at 7:30 AM, eat breakfast at 9:00 AM, lunch at 1:00 PM, head to the gym around 6:00 PM, and eat dinner at 8:00 PM. Outside of those routines, I noticed I have a good amount of unstructured time in the evenings. Some days I spend that time playing games, watching movies, or doing tennis practice. On Fridays or Saturdays, I sometimes go out to dinner or socialize.

This made me realize that I could use some of that evening time more productively- for example, by doing review sessions, prepping for the next day, or working on longer-term projects. I’m planning to start using the Pomodoro technique and set one academic goal for each evening to build better habits.

Part 3: Project Management Summary

This week’s video presentations gave me a clearer understanding of project management and why it’s important, especially for academic and group assignments. A project, as defined, is a temporary effort with a clear objective, scope, timeline, and budget. Unlike routine tasks, it’s goal-oriented and results in a unique outcome.

I also learned about the Project Manager’s role, which includes overseeing planning, execution, communication, and ensuring everything is delivered on time and within budget. One of the most useful concepts was the Triple Constraint—time, cost, and scope—and how changing one will affect the others. Another helpful tool was the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), which makes large projects more manageable by dividing them into smaller tasks.

Gantt charts were also discussed in detail. They provide a visual timeline of all the tasks in a project and show when each task starts and ends. I liked how they also help visualize task dependencies and track milestones. This kind of visual aid makes it easier to keep the project on track and communicate progress clearly with a team.

Part 4: Reflections on Capstone Presentations

Watching the Cohort 16 Capstone Festival was a great way to see what kinds of final projects students are able to complete by the end of the program. Here are a few that stood out to me:

1. Security Scan Summary
   This team developed a tool to turn long and complex cybersecurity reports into simple visual summaries in PDF form. I appreciated their focus on bridging the gap between technical language and accessibility. Their automation using Python was especially impressive. One improvement they mentioned was to add support for JSON inputs, which would make it even more flexible.

2. Open Energy Dashboard (OED)
   The team worked on upgrading the frontend of an open-source dashboard, using Redux Toolkit and improving the admin interface. Their application of Agile practices and consistent communication with the project’s lead developer stood out. I thought their work on design and usability was solid, though mobile responsiveness could still be improved.

3. A Bird Song
   This game project told the story of the extinct Kaua‘i ‘Ō‘ō bird through an interactive, side-scrolling experience. It was emotional and impactful. The art and storytelling made the game feel meaningful, and I liked that it raised awareness about habitat destruction. Adding a scoring system or game progression could enhance it further, but overall, it was a powerful example of storytelling through technology.

Final Thoughts

This week gave me the opportunity to reflect on how I study, manage my time, and approach projects. I’ve identified habits I want to build on and others I want to change. Learning about project management tools like Gantt charts and WBS helped me understand how to plan more effectively, especially in group settings. The capstone projects were especially motivating, they reminded me that with solid planning and effort, it's possible to build something impactful.