Source and topic outline

This week I used the source and topic outlines in order to prepare for an upcoming exam in my CRS 183 course.  I found this to be extremely beneficial and worked to my advantage because it lays out all of my resources, and the things I need to pay close attention to.

Q & A Map

The Q and A map is really helpful for preparing for a second test in a course. It makes you focus on the type of pattern the professor tests on. I applied this to my PHI 107 and COM 101 courses. Both courses focus on listing and comparing/contrast. I will use this to study for the next exams by understand the topics and not just the definitions.

This week, I chose to use the ranking technique.  What I did, was rank all of the things I had to do for the week in order of importance.  I am a visual learner, so for me this technique was great because it provided me with a visual of all the things I needed to do, and in what order they should be achieved.  I knew I had a Counseling 101 paper due, so putting that on my list of priorities definitely motivated me to do it earlier in the week. I put some of my readings in the B column, because I found them to be less demanding for the week.  Over all, this strategy was a good reinforcement for me and a great visual to see what it was I needed to accomplish this week.

The One Step at a Time strategy was beneficial for me because I identified solutions to the problem. By doing this strategy, I chose solutions I thought would work and then discovered which one was best. This significantly helped me to start my reading because now it is not as overwhelming. I know my readings are more manageable so I am more motivated to complete them without procrastinating. I chose this strategy because I wanted to improve my reading habits. I used the ranking priorities because I like to see what I need to do and in what order. However, I don't go by the titles of "absolutely essential", "important", and "optional." They all need to get done but I use the A, B, and C labels as the order in which I complete the listed tasks. This strategy is effective because it keeps me organized and is visual. I will definitely use this strategy again.

I decided to use the ranking technique for all of my classes. I listed all the assignments that were due within the week in my DRA 115, COM 101, TRF 205, PHI 107, and MAT 183. From there I grouped them in groups of important and not as important. Then I ranked the assignments in each group for what was for the most points. This strategy really helped me to put into perspective that even though something might be due sooner, there were other assignments that needed my attention first. I realized the PHI and TRF readings were not important enough to spend time on when I should be using that time to read for DRA. This is a strategy I will keep using along with the dues and dos. 

The target planner helped me in my Health and Wellness 121 class because there are several reading assignments due for each class. The target planner helped me visualize which readings are due when and when to finish them. I am a visual learner so this made the reading assignments much less overwhelming and more manageable. The fritter finder is also extremely helpful because I can now clearly see how much time I have for studying and on which days I should do which work. I'm able to divide my work among the week so I am not doing some work for classes last minute. This allows me to schedule my work ahead of time so I'm not stressed out with the amount of work I have.

I used the Target Planner for a project in my counseling 101 class. The target planner was so helpful because I am good with visuals, and seeing what exactly I need to do by when literally kept me "on target." Using the target planner, I knew what I had to do, and I got it done at the given time. For example, one part of my counseling project was to do voice notes in the power point, and since I didn't know how to do it, I put it earlier on my target planner, and got it done the first day it was assigned. The target planner forced me to finish the project on time because I ended up chunking it up to a little at a time.  Now, I used the Fritter Frinder for everything because it really helped me to manage my time and see when I have free time to do other things. When I say, "oh, I don't have time for this," the Fritter Finder really showed me that I have time to do everything. Once I realized when all of my free time was by highlighting on my schedule, I realized the next step was to start scheduling that free time. But, instead, I am going to highlight that time in my agenda book, and then schedule in my "to do's" there.

I used the target in TRF 205 and DRA 115. I am a visual learner and this strategy is very useful for such learners. It allows one to visualize the task they must do. I could actually visualize my progress on the project or assignment. Build into this strategy is chunking the task. Chunking up the task is a great strategy on it's own because it brakes up a large project or assignment to smaller more manageable parts. Overall the target planner is a great way to get you started on projects and assignments, and it keep you on track to make sure you will finish in time for the due date.