App 10: Our Choice

I uploaded the exercise we did in class on Wednesday. It was the chart we did that layed out what I have going down the stretch for my classes it was a great help to see what i had to so for they up coming weeks. The only thing that I adjusted was that I also put the game I have and practices so I truly know everything I have to do to finsh out the year strong.

App #10 - Our Choice

I have to say that with all of the work in these last few weeks of school, I am really stressed and have to manage school work, test, and five games in the last fifteen days.  Being so physically tired has made my stress level even higher than normal so I am following the stress management technique of One Day at a Time.  My stress reducing technique is to write down each thing that is stressing me and work on the list every day.  What is interesting is that my list rarely changes these days with such a demanding game schedule and so little time for work and sleep. I am using my calender from my D's Due and Do technique to keep my head together and focus on what is do and when. I have used this calender all month and seeing my assignments and tests placed on the same page as my games has really helped.

App #9 Stress Management



 The Stress Diagram and the Stress Reduction plan sure the two stress management techniques that I used this week.  I liked the stress diagram because it gave me a chance to think about not only what is stressing me out but also about how much each stress source is stressing me.  I listed more than five sources but each one is important to me.  The stress reduction plan was a way to think about how I should reduce my stress.  I found it interesting that some of my main stress sources are also the way that I relieve my stress. I think that by identifying what causes me stress and making sure I take time to relax is going to be a huge help in the next few weeks before the semester ends.





Stress Diagram

Stress Reduction Plan

Stress Management

I thought that the Stress and Anti-Procrastination chart was the most helpful technique we did in class on Wednesday. I applied it to my PPE, CRS, and WRT and I found that a big part of my stress was my procrastination. Once I realized the causes for my procrastination, my stress levels went down and I found that I was much more relaxed when thinking about school.

Procrastination App#8 Matt Walters

This week I used the anti-procrastination method of Time Wasters.  As you can see from my chart above, I am really good at doing things that prevent me from doing work.  I enjoy talking with friends, playing video games and being on my computer.  I can do this for hours and then I'm behind on my school work.  So I used this chart to help me see how I waste so much time. I also really liked the ten minute technique because when I'm at study tables after practice, I can only really concentrate in about ten minute periods before getting distracted.

SCOTT LOY'S PROCRASTINATION APP: # 8

The technique that help my procrastination the most is the D's Dues and Do's. I find that the reason for my procrastination in the first place is being unorganized. With the Dues and Do's list, I know when things are dues and I know what I have to get done that specific night. I another technique that keeps me on task is the ten mins techniques. It allows me to start projects and studying when I really dont want to in the first place.

APP#7 - Motivation

This week I did two different motivation stategies.  First I looked at my reason for being motivated in school.  I found that this made me think about why I was going to college and why having a college degree was important to me.  Then like Scott, I did the chart of my academic fears.  This exercise helped me realize what my worse case senerio would be in college and then made me realize what I needed to do to make sure that it didn't happen or if it did how I could deal with it.

Academic Fears	Worst Outcome	Best Outcome	Action Needed
Failing a course	I don't get credit for the class, hurt my GPA and need to take it again	Realize my mistakes, learn how to focus better, maybe class was not for me.	Do the work.  Go to class and study.
Academically Ineligible	Let my team down and let myself down	Focus on my work and get myself out of this mess. Learn how to be responsible for myself.	Study and know where I stand in every class.  Get tutored and see teachers for help.
Choosing the wrong major	Have to change major later on.	Now I know what I have to do.	Get help from advisor and CLS

Motivation

Academic Fears

Worst Outcome

Best Outcome

Action Needed

Not Getting in the major I want.	Not doing my work and not studying so that my GPA is very low.	Study and do my work so that my GPA is high enough to transfer schools	Buckle down and get things done.
Letting Down my teammates and family.	I do poorly and my parents are unhappy with me in the summer.	I do well so my parents are proud of me.	Make good decisions and manage my time well.
Not being able to play lacrosse because I am ineligible.	I become academically ineligible so I am unable to play.	I work hard and make the honor role.	I need to study and do my work on time.

This week for motivation I use the strategy of academic fears. I found this useful because is allowed me to really think about what I needed to do and how I was going to accomplish these goals. I also thought that creating the chart was a good visual aid, something I could set as my background so that I can see it everyday. I feel like I could also add to this list as the year goes on.

Free Blog

This week Matt and I wanted to talk about the top strategies we weekly from this class. I know for myself, I use D's Dos And Dues to organize my planner. Iv found that it allows me to get my life in order so that i can go into the week felling confident and organized.
Scott, I find myself using the reading techniques that we learned last week the most. Even though we just learned it, I know they will be helpful the next time I have a reading assignment.

APP #5 Reading Stategies

Two reading strategies that we tried last week were TART and Charlie Reads SmartT. 

With mid-terms coming up, both of these strategies will help by creating possible test questions. With TART, I looked for key term which are usually bolded  in the chapters, attended my class, listened for explanations, read over class notes and then created test questions. We both agree that we  liked TART better because it took into consideration attending class and just clarified what you learned in class by reading and then creating possible test question. We felt well prepared by using TART and that it will help in the next exam.

With Charlie Reads SmarT,  we had to read our assignemnts when we had study time

and could concentrate, then we had to summarize it by making notes cards, outline or some other summary and then created possible test questions.  This extra step did help us prepare for class and make understanding the chapter better but did take more time which is hard during mid term week.  

When I did my Q & A Map I found that it really helped me break down my quiz and find what I needed to focus on. I don't think that I would ever do this type of exercise again because with the type of classes I am taking this semester, the classes are based off papers and projects. But next year I could see myself using this strategy for classes with a lot of test and quizzes.
Scott, I thought that the way that you used the Q & A Map was effect. I found that the opposite was true for the Directional Word Analysis. I think that the strategy really applied to the classes I am taking this semester. I really liked how the analysis is done right on your assignment so its like outlining it at the same time.

Directional Word Analysis

Q & A Map

Is versus want: A problem solving problem chart

• I found this was a good tool to get an assignment started.
• I liked the use of the chart because I'm a visual learner and it helps me to see what I need to do.
• I think that this is something that I will use again because most of my classes consist of mainly long term assignments.
• Only in the future I will use word to make the chart and put it as my desktop background.

"Is verses Want" Problem Solving Technique

The problem solving technique that I used this week is "Is verses Want".  I applied this technique to a situation that involved our Faculty Interview Project for this class, CLS 105.  I had successfully interviewed my three faculty members and was preparing to reflect on the experience when I read that I needed either signed department letterhead or a signed business card from them.  I did not do this and at first thought that my audio recording of the interview would be good enough.  I sent an email to my TA, Peter Gerlach, and he confirmed with Dr. Blumin that I needed the signed documentation.  So, my "Is verses Want" problem solving began.  By writing down my current situation verses my desired situation, I began to see clearly what action I needed to take.  Knowing that I had an action plan made me focus on what had to be done to achieve my desired results. I was lucky that the faculty members I interviewed were accommodating and that I took action on Thursday and not Friday. This "Is verses Want" problem solving technique worked for me and probably saved me from points being taken off on my Faculty Interview Project.

ten min

I decided to utilize the 10 minute study technique.  It was helpful because I could focus more easily knowing that I was going to have a break in studying.  The technique also made it easier to begin studying because I knew I wouldn't be studying for hours at a time so I was less likely to procrastinate.  I picked this strategy mainly because I have an issue with procrastination and this allows me to get started.  I used this strategy to study for my last religion test and found it was extremely helpful and I was able to better retain information.  Next I am planning to use it for my introduction to education class because I have a lot of readings to do and I'm hoping it will make it possible for me to get through the readings and understand the information.

D's Dos and Dues

D's Dos and Dues

· I found that D's Dos and Dues really helped me for organizing my assignment.

· The thing that I really liked most is the way this strategy allows you too see what you have due for the day and what you need to do for up coming assignments.

· As you can see in the picture, I did not use the time slots on the side of my planner but after talking with peter, I think next week I will try and use them.

· The thing that I did not like about the D's Dos and Dues was the time it took to get everything down in my planner, but I guess its better to take the time than miss an assignment.