Category: personal reflection


Reflection

It has now been three months into my second year of economics. Over the three months there has been many changes to the class. Some of these changes which I had to adjust to included the strong reliance on laptops for blogs and internet, the AAA text, the powerpoint lectures, and of course a new teacher as well as new course material. With these new changes I have had to do more independent learning in class, which I found difficult, yet I continue in my adjustment to it. There are also the powerpoint lectures, they do make it easier to take notes in class, however, at the same time it feels like there is less emphasis on the course material since it is not really discussed in depth, just briefed. Then with the AAA textbook, while it is shorter and more concise, it doesn’t engage as much as the McGee textbook, plus it is difficult to read a computer screen for so long.

In regard to the actual course material I am learning, I find that international economics is rather interesting and easy to grasp. For this information the laptops are helpful, because we have more access to articles and such on the internet, benefiting our learning. As a student I think that it is a difficult adjustment in becoming more reliant on my computer among everything else, but it is a transition that I am attempting.


Procrastination…

procrastinationAfter reading the article on procrastination, I have thought about the subject regularly, and probably procrastinated in responding to it. On the question of when do I procrastinate, I think it would be quite often, but primarily on big, long-term assignments. I think there are two main reasons. One: I feel like there is enough time to do it so I push it aside and work on my short-term assignments until the week it is due. Two: When I work on a big assignment over a long period of time I loose interest in the topic and the quality of my work turns poor as I struggle for a mental focus that could last for a very long time period.

Another problem is that I have difficulty finding a good place to work. I find this particularly difficult with economics as it requires internet, which greatly limits my workspace and also seems to tease me when it fails and I loose everything I have been working on. I also find it quite difficult to find a place comfortable to sit for a long-period of time and also has limited distractions. Many things distract me, particularly the mosquitos currently biting my feet.

In addition, I also notice that as work stacks up I loose motivation, because even though I get some of it done, there is always more to follow, making me sad because I never get a break from homework. Especially with these two-year courses, its the most depressing thing I have ever had to endure… it never ends!!!

In response to which methods will most likely help me here are my comments:

1) I know procrastination hurts me. Nothing has changed as a result.

2) When I work on assignments ahead of time, I suffer from extreme perfectionista. I never just leave it once it is complete. I need to perfect it. Sometimes this has led to me redoing the entire assignment. I question if that does not hurt me more.

3) Creating a flow simply distracts me. I will begin by doing push-ups and cleaning the bathroom mirror, then I remember all those chores I still have to do and things I have been trying to remember to do. Basically I get so distracted that I don’t actually begin the project for two or four hours.

4) I don’t know how this could help me homeworkwise. I like making lists but then observing everything I have to do only makes me flustered.

5) I have found that when I do this I focus a lot on the first bit and then put less effort and time into the following bits.

6) This one confuses me.

7) It is almost impossible to do any adequate work in five minutes. I need more time and I can’t leave and come back to something after I start it. I have a focus and then I lose it. Once I lose it I don’t get it back.

In conclusion, I don’t find the methods in this article very helpful, but by writing this post I have learned about my own productivity as I write in this hotel lobby with spotty internet connection and hungry mosquitos. I know now that in order for me to complete an assignment I need to go somewhere I can be for a long time, gather all my materials, get my focus in the subject and work on it until it is complete. When I am focused on a particular subject I can retain knowledge more effectively and work more efficiently. I need to be at peace, rid myself of my stress and just work, focusing only on that work.

1:1 Computers

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Initially, I thought this laptop program would create problems including mainly laptop damage from transportation. I also heard of and thought about the problems like distraction during class, the threat of loss or theft, and its true efficiency in benefiting the classroom.

Now we completed about two weeks of this program. I have found that during these two weeks it was convenient to have my computer at school for reasons other than economics. I have also found that it is not as hard to stay focused on work as was thought at first and since I can keep it in my locker during school or with me throughout the day I could easily prevent loss or theft. I still find transportation without damage challenging as on the day of economic classes I usually have additional classes which require textbooks, but I have found solutions to this issue. I also do not trust myself to carry the laptop around school or on moving vehicles and such, so in addition to a laptop cover, I find it convenient to carry it in a bag as well. In addition to all of these comments I would like to add that I have found that during this class a laptop or something similar does seem essential for this course since we use it quite frequently.

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