The emphasis of this week’s activities was on strengthening learning techniques, time management skills, learning project management tools, and learning from past capstone projects. From the learning strategy document that has been provided, my strongest strengths included good communication skills, being organized, and adherence to deadlines. My fields of improvement included delegating responsibilities, remaining focused but not multitasking, and the need for improved critical thinking in solving problems.
As I learned time management skills from the Indeed article, I looked back at how I spend the time that I have and constructed an activity log in order to more effectively monitor daily routines. From this exercise, I noticed that I effectively manage urgent tasks but tend not to give long-term planning and reflection time. I aim to implement methods such as the Pomodoro technique and time blocking in the future in a way that boosts focus and productivity. I have included a screenshot of the completed activity log below for reference.
The week’s highlight included the project management concepts. I learned the significance of setting clear objectives, planning well, and regularly monitoring the progress from the project management introduction. The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) explained how complex tasks become manageable with divided portions, something that is essential in the organization of projects. The presentation of the Gantt Chart taught me ways of projecting timelines within a project that make it possible to monitor deadlines as well as the tasks that run concurrently with them. The tools will be pivotal in the transition into more extensive projects.
Finally, observing the Cohort 16 Capstone Festival offered both inspiration and practical feedback. I saw three projects: one for a mobile app that tracks mental health, a second on a nonprofit’s data visualization dashboard, and the third on a community garden initiative in the local area. Each of the projects had positive aspects–such as defined goals and innovative problem-solving solutions–as well as potential methods for improvement, such as improving visual design or incorporating more user feedback. These examples influenced me to critically evaluate what makes a good project and how I could make my own next capstone better. Overall, the week has been enriching. I have gained a more defined sense of learning habits, identified certain areas of personal development, and learned practical skills in regards to managing time and projects. These skills aren’t just necessary for succeeding academically but for professional life as well in the long run.
