Source: Assignment:
This assignment was composed of 2 parts:
- Creating a report outline
- Structuring our research into a proper 5-6 page report with proper APA formatting, citations and body paragraphs
The report outline was a continuation of the previous report proposal assignment and further helped me structure my report by rephrasing the research questions into titles which represented the subtopics in relation to my main topic. I also provided a brief overview of the topic areas I plan to incorporate in my report in point form. The final report required transforming these ideas into body paragraphs that were supported through research. It required the use of proper grammar and APA formatting for the headers and citation. This was not an opinion report so it had to be supported by other sources. It also required the use of parenthetical citations to properly attribute information from other sources that wasn’t common knowledge. The report had to be detailed but limited in scope since it is impossible to cover every single topic area especially if our topics were multifaceted. It also required the use of an infographic that wasn’t simply just a decoration for the report but conveyed relevant data that could be described with words.
Individual Assignment Reflection:
This was probably the most difficult assignment as transitioning from tentative ideas to a fully fledged out report was a big jump. As a result of poor time management and not spreading the workload out over a longer period, many areas of the report were not as in depth as I wanted them to be. I am overall happy with the information that I was able to cover since most of the relevant topics such as teacher compensation, standardized testing and overcrowded classrooms were covered in reasonable detail. I believe I did a good job of utilizing research from reliable sources and supporting most of my arguments. I wish I had saved more time for formatting my report to make it flow better and not have it be broken up by parenthetical citations, especially in the last section regarding zero-tolerance policies. I realized that in the future I have to delegate much more time to properly formatting my report to make it more professional and less disjointed. I also have to spend more time researching to ensure I do not have a large discrepancy in detail between different sections. In short, while I am happy with my topic and the information I covered, I could have done much better with time management and preparation.
The image below relates to the point that I presented in the previous passage, which is that early preparation determines the likelihood of future success:
Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/luck-what-happens-when-preparation-meets-opportunity-ajay-nath-ftuic
A quote that summarizes this well:
“success is when preparation meets opportunity”
Development:
I have decided that the most pressing matter is to improve my time management by spreading out large assignments over multiple days instead of cramming. This can be achieved with the use of time blocking specific portions of my day to do assigned tasks with no exceptions. In the event of an unforseen interruption I have to ensure that I give myself leeway by intending to submit assignments early, this gives me a buffer zone in case there are some days where I can’t delegate enough time.
Specific: Utilizing time blocking and a predetermined study/work schedule to spread large assessments out over multiple days instead of cramming a few days before the due date.
Measurable: Submitting more assignments on time and feeling less stressed when approaching the due date of assignments are good indicators that a routine is working. Retaining good marks is also a strong metric since it means that utilizing my time and energy more efficiently is resulting in measurable improvements in academic performance.
Attainable: It is not easy to uproot bad habits but it is definitely possible with enough discipline and a willingness to recognize patterns of behaviour that are detrimental.
Relevant: This is extremely relevant in all aspects of life since efficiently using our time to accomplish important tasks will give us more time and mental energy to enjoy leisurely activities which further boosts our motivation and prevents burnout.
Time-bound: Implementing a more intentional and consistent routine is not a simple one day fix but requires behaviour reinforcement over an extended period. This is perhaps the trickiest part of habit retention which is staying motivated for extended periods and not giving up when times get hard.