Week 2 1/18/2026 - CSUMB CS

1/18/2026 - Week 2 

After reading Effective Study Skills by Dr. Bob Kizlik, I reflected on my current study habits and identified areas where I am already strong, as well as areas that need improvement. The article reinforced that effective studying is not about effort alone, but about using time intentionally and practicing proven techniques consistently.

Top 3 Study Skills I Am Good At

  1. Scheduling and Time Awareness
    I already recognize the value of time and usually plan my study sessions around work, classes, and personal responsibilities. I do not rely heavily on last-minute cramming and prefer to study when I am alert and focused, which aligns well with the article’s emphasis on scheduling and studying at optimal times.

  2. Active Listening and Note Review
    During lectures or instructional content, I focus on understanding main ideas rather than writing everything verbatim. I also tend to revisit and revise my notes afterward, which supports long-term understanding and matches the guide’s recommendation to review notes while the material is still fresh.

  3. Connecting New Material to Prior Knowledge
    I naturally try to connect new concepts to things I already know, especially when studying technical or complex topics. This aligns with the SQ3R method’s focus on recitation and synthesis, and it helps me retain information more effectively.

Top 3 Areas Where I Am Weak

  1. Consistent Use of Structured Study Methods (SQ3R)
    While I do some elements of SQ3R informally, I do not consistently apply the full process in a structured way. I often read material without fully surveying or generating questions beforehand, which can reduce comprehension and retention.

  2. Overstudying Without Breaks
    I sometimes study for long periods without taking intentional breaks, especially when under pressure. The article highlights that shorter, focused study sessions with breaks can be more effective, which is something I need to practice more deliberately.

  3. Delayed Review
    Although I review notes, I sometimes wait too long before doing so. The guide stresses the importance of immediate review after lectures or study sessions, and improving this habit would likely help solidify my understanding and reduce exam stress.

Reflection Summary

This reading reinforced that effective studying is a skill that improves with practice, not just motivation. While I already use some effective strategies, being more disciplined about structured methods like SQ3R, timely review, and intentional breaks would significantly improve my learning efficiency. Moving forward, I plan to apply these techniques more consistently rather than relying on habits alone.







Part 3:

From these project management presentations, I've learned how foundationaltools work together to plan and manage a project. Projects are temporary effort with defined goals, timelines, and budgets to create and support business strategies. WBS showed me how to define the scope of a project by breaking down into all required deliverables. Gantt Chart then demonstrated how deliverables are converted into tasks over time, making dependencies, progress, and milestones easier to track.


Part 4:
            Previous capstone projects, ottersoft(otterparsing) was a great presentation. It had a large                  use case scenario that would parse your data into readable data. I user this on my day to day,                  but with a JSON translation instead within our Azure work environment. Great use case.The security           scan project is also what I use on a day to day; however, mine is more-so scanning code via a ci/cd pipeline. Great use of understanding!

    

Part 5:

I've learned quite a bit this week.. more-so for my team members. I've gotten a very strong understanding of what the teams strengths and weaknesses are. Most of us have full time jobs on our day to day status. However, what I've noticed that we manage our time very well.



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