I would say my ability to multitask is my greatest strength. Throughout my work history I have developed system when presented with multiple assignments at once. First, I take a broad look at the multiple assignments and then catagorize them according to the amount of work required to complete the assignment. I start by completing the assignments that require a relatively low amount of time, this way I am able to develop a work flow and gain confidence by actually finishing things and it makes the future work load a little less daunting. For the remaining tasks that are more work intensive, I now have the time to focus on completing them correctly instead of rushing through them because I know there are other items to complete.
I typically do my best work away from where I currently live, at home it is too easy to be distracted. Instead by removing myself and going somewhere such as a library or coffee-shop I am able be more task-oriented. I do enjoy listening to relatively mellow music or something with nice ambiance in order to develop a working rhythm. If I am working earlier in the morning, a cup of coffee is a complete necessity. I tend to go to sleep fairly early, therefore after a certain hour of the day I do get tired and my brain isn't functioning as effeciently as it would earlier.
I think working in a collaborative environment and adapting to other students learning techniques is something that I need to improve on. Typically when I learn a subject, repitition is the key for me to develop a firm understanding and this can be a very personal experience. Explaining my process and asking questions if I am unsure about something is something that I will have to work on. When I received my Bachelor's degree I wouldn't raise my hand or volunteer to share my feedback. However now after being in the workforce for 10 years since then, I realize that being more of an active participant facilitates a more comprehensive learning process.
According to the Pairin survey, my biggest strength is being Objective and Analytical. This will be a vital trait within programming since the nature of the subject requires exact precision with an emphasis on pragmatism. While writing code if I can find the most effecient way to write a program, this will allow me to maximize productivity. Being responsible for my actions, as well as calm under pressure, and optimistic during times of hardship are 3 strengths that will allow myself to thrive in a job focused on software development.
Knowing that I have a strong analytical mindset allows me to build items with confidence. The nature of code can be very binary in nature, after all it is just 1s and 0s. Typically most software development careers will be project oriented, therefore having a goal to work towards will play in to my strengths. Another trait according to the survey is 'Specialist', the strengths associated with this go hand in hand with being a successful coder. While writing code, even missing one semicolon or line break can render a project unusable, therefore having a trait associated with precision will be vital in my future endeavors.
What efforts do you make to manage your learning process? Are these efforts successful? What challenges have inhibited your ability to manage your learning process effectively?
I've always tried to maintain a positive mental attitude while learning. I think the article Coates wrote stresses the importance of this really well when he says "Hopelessness feeds the fatigue that leads the student to quit." When learning something new, failure will happen, it's inherent in the process. However, staying positive encourages myself to try again, which only makes success that much more rewarding. The largest challenge that could inhibit this strength is multiple failures, luckily Turing seems like a very collaborative environment with a large support staff if I am feeling hopeless.
Being comfortable with the realization that I do not know many things is vital for learning new skills and languages. If I come into a lesson with the assumption that I already know the majority of the subject matter, I risk missing out on information simply because I am not telling my brain to learn or pay attention. Whereas, if I come into the same lesson plan realizing that I do not know anything about the subject, I am going to be a lot more diligent in taking notes, asking questions, and emphasizing complete comprehension.
What role does your emotional state of mind play in your learning? How do your successes and failures at learning affect your emotional state?
It is easy to get upset after continuous failures, and problem solving while upset is often nearly impossible. I am currently a bicycle mechanic and one of the best lessons someone taught me was to walk away from a project or repair for 20 minutes if I cannot fix or resolve an issue on a bike. It is amazing how working on something with a level head can impact my performance. Managing emotions and maintaining a positive mental attitude have been vital during my work history, and I can only assume that at Turing this will be the case. I need to reward myself through the successes and not beat myself up if I fail, instead I need to look at failure as an opporitunity to learn.
Consistency for me is key, limiting the variables that could prevent myself from learning will be vital during my time at Turing. This will include keeping myself set on a monetary budget, prep meals ahead of time, make time away from a computer, get excercise (healthy body, healthy mind), and spend time with my beautiful fiancee. In a previous job I had, they prioritized what they called "wiping your feet at the door". This is basically a metaphor for the ability to keep your personal life separated from your professional life, if you had a long and frustrating day at work, leave it there. It is vital to not transfer this negative energy to the home, and vice versa.
https://assets.pairin.com/reports/qualities/objective-analytical-specialist-self-examiner-lover-of-justice-bw.pdf