Working out a System - Revision history

ThePlaz: add some stuff

2012-09-17T04:04:55Z

add some stuff

ThePlaz: add link

2012-05-19T04:03:57Z

add link

ThePlaz at 21:39, 29 April 2012

2012-04-29T21:39:15Z

ThePlaz: add changes

2012-04-08T23:47:22Z

add changes

ThePlaz: /* To add */ add more

2012-02-25T21:28:59Z

‎To add: add more

ThePlaz: add to add

2012-02-19T03:15:05Z

add to add

ThePlaz: add about scheduleing

2012-02-05T22:44:52Z

add about scheduleing

ThePlaz: /* Food */ add

2012-02-05T01:57:49Z

‎Food: add

ThePlaz: /* Time Management */ post pic

2012-02-05T01:55:52Z

‎Time Management: post pic

ThePlaz: update a lot more

2012-02-05T01:52:01Z

update a lot more

@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 Alertness is not just determined by tiredness.  If you are moderately tired, you can make yourself alert by refocusing and clearing your head.  When walking into a lecture hall you need to feel ready to go.  I’ve found that if the lecture is well put together, I tend to continue to stay alert.  If the lecture is bad, I tend to fall off.  This usually happens in recitations when the TA is trying to figure out some point that they don’t really know or didn’t remember.  (I can tell just from the answer I receive if someone is an undergrad, grad student, or professor - they are that different in quality)
 ==Paper Procedures==
@@ Line 49: / Line 52: @@
 I then take my printed pages and my notes from the past week and sort them.  I put all of the readings into a “reading” pile and the assignments into an “assignment” pile.  I then take the old notes and printouts and sort them into folders.  I then arrange each pile roughly chronologically and put it at the back of that subject’s folder. I happen to prefer chronologically, but I never explored if anything better exists.  Usually I have 5 or 6 “groups” of paper for each class.  Usually 3-4 sets of lecture/recitation notes plus an old assignment or reading.  I then put the pages into the end of the folder – or in the case of a graded assignment – after the assignment sheet I inserted the day the assignment was due.
 I carry around the folders in my backpack.  Sometimes if a folder gets too big, I won’t carry it around unless I have that class that day.   Often I don’t look at the folders during class, but I want to have it at hand in case I need to refer to it.
@@ Line 92: / Line 97: @@
 ==To add==
 *Optimize order I do stuff in
 *How I schedule classes
@@ Line 112: / Line 115: @@
 *Org every week on Friday.  I used to try to do this every day. I ended up doing it about twice a week, on a night when I had time.  This semester doing it every Friday, or at some point over the weekend worked out best.  I carry around a green "discard" folder that collects all my papers for the week.  It starts empty (or with the assignments I need to turn in) and then grows over the week.  A folder keeps the papers in better condition in my backpack.
 *Don't carry class folders.  This semester I never carry my class folders.  In previous semesters I would carry them until they got too big.
-*I also found making a comprehensive to-do list of the upcoming week worked well.  It removed a lot of uncertainty of forgetting stuff.
+*I write out my schedule for the week at the start of the week.  First I list all of the due dates that week.  I go through each calendar and make sure I have everything written down.  This is a huge stress reliever for me - since that way I am no longer scared I missed anything.  I then think about what day I am going to do what - making sure to leave buffer time to go to office hours or if the p-set is particularly challenging.  I write this in my OneNote notebook.
 *Move the to-do-assignments and the to-read bins to folders, so that I would always have the papers on me.
 *Project folders.  For long group projects, it we best to keep the material handy instead of putting it into the class folders chronologically.
 [[Category:Me]] [[Category:MIT]]

@@ Line 105: / Line 105: @@
 *stable platform
 *no extensions/extra time
 ==Changes Spring 2012==

@@ Line 102: / Line 102: @@
 *write down everything even if on slide
 *jason borne's/jack bauer's energy - you can do it
-*don't org every day - try 2 a week
+*don't org every day - try 2 a week or 1
 *stable platform
 ==Changes Spring 2012==

@@ Line 104: / Line 104: @@
 *don't org every day - try 2 a week
 *stable platform
 [[Category:Me]] [[Category:MIT]]

@@ Line 100: / Line 100: @@
 **10-20% of material needs that
 *lecture gives you material faster than reading in most cases
 [[Category:Me]] [[Category:MIT]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:15, 19 February 2012
Line 91:		Line 91:
	In general, I will make investments that support my education. I'm paying $50,000+ on my education. I will spend $30/semester on paper and more on pens. It's worth it. Find a way to make money and then use that to support your education. Don't cut corners here. Find a way to make an investment.		In general, I will make investments that support my education. I'm paying $50,000+ on my education. I will spend $30/semester on paper and more on pens. It's worth it. Find a way to make money and then use that to support your education. Don't cut corners here. Find a way to make an investment.

		+	==To add==
		+	*Flagging emails
		+	*Don’t print during day at Athena.
		+	*Optimize order I do stuff in
		+	*How I schedule classes
		+	*boring recitations - know when tuning out
		+	*read/feel comfortable
		+	**10-20% of material needs that
		+	*lecture gives you material faster than reading in most cases
	[[Category:Me]] [[Category:MIT]]		[[Category:Me]] [[Category:MIT]]

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 I only want to start something when i know I can finish it.  I really dislike free hour blocks between classes.  I've never managed to get much work done in those blocks.  I don't want to get started because it feels like I will just have to stop again soon.  This is something I can work on more.
-Getting started on a project takes a lot of overhead.  It takes you 5 minutes to refocus on something you were deeply concentrating on when you get distracted.  I try never to check my phone during class.  I have found that you often miss so much that it is not worth it.  Your emails will be waiting for you afterwards.  I need to get better at this, however.
+Getting started on a project takes a lot of overhead.  It takes you 5 minutes to refocus on something you were deeply concentrating on when you get distracted.  I try never to check my phone during class.  I have found that you often miss so much that it is not worth it.  Your emails will be waiting for you afterwards.  I need to get better at this, however.  On my computer, I have email alerts turned off.  I don't want to be interrupted by the constant stream of incoming emails.  Most of those emails can be answered later.
 In addition, getting started is often the hardest part.  Once you get started doing something, you start concentrating on it and losing track of time.  This is a good thing.  You are getting things done and not watching the clock every minute.
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 I don’t usually read – unless I am confused in a class.  Often the books don’t relate to what you need to know for a class.  It’s so easy for a professor to post a suggested reading that many post a lot of resources they never refer to in class and never test you on.  If I am really interested on a topic, I’ll do the extra reading, but otherwise I won’t.
 Alertness is not just determined by tiredness.  If you are moderately tired, you can make yourself alert by refocusing and clearing your head.  When walking into a lecture hall you need to feel ready to go.  I’ve found that if the lecture is well put together, I tend to continue to stay alert.  If the lecture is bad, I tend to fall off.  This usually happens in recitations when the TA is trying to figure out some point that they don’t really know or didn’t remember.  (I can tell just from the answer I receive if someone is an undergrad, grad student, or professor - they are that different in quality)
@@ Line 72: / Line 76: @@
 We saw in [[6.034]] that lack of sleep can really impair your concentration and performance.  Prof. Winston pointed out a study that equated missing sleep to drinking alcohol.
 I catch up on sleep on the weekends.  Some weekends I sleep until noon.

@@ Line 80: / Line 80: @@
 ==Food==
 Eating well is important.  I've noticed on weekends my energy levels are not at peak if I don't eat.  Eating is an investment that pays off.
 ==Money==

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:55, 5 February 2012
Line 8:		Line 8:

	==Time Management==		==Time Management==
		+	[[File:A Typical Week.png\|thumb\|A Typical Week]]
	This system came from thinking about my every minute (actually 5 minute blocks) and thinking about how to spend my time. I look at how long each action takes. For example, printing something at an Athena printer at MIT takes 15 minutes minimum. Meanwhile, printing something out on the Baker printer takes 5 minutes. Having a printer in your room takes 1 minute.		This system came from thinking about my every minute (actually 5 minute blocks) and thinking about how to spend my time. I look at how long each action takes. For example, printing something at an Athena printer at MIT takes 15 minutes minimum. Meanwhile, printing something out on the Baker printer takes 5 minutes. Having a printer in your room takes 1 minute.

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 ==Time Management==
 This system came from thinking about my every minute (actually 5 minute blocks) and thinking about how to spend my time.  I look at how long each action takes.  For example, printing something at an Athena printer at MIT takes 15 minutes minimum.  Meanwhile, printing something out on the Baker printer takes 5 minutes.  Having a printer in your room takes 1 minute.
 Some things are best done in some times slots and other things are best done in other time slots.  For example, the best times to study or concentrate for long periods of time are on weekends, when I am more relaxed and have more time to work on stuff.  Thus, I like to do studying or big projects on a weekend.  Meanwhile, when I am worn out I can only do things I don’t have to think too much about – like some essays or coding P-Sets.
 I only want to start something when i know I can finish it.  I really dislike free hour blocks between classes.  I've never managed to get much work done in those blocks.  I don't want to get started because it feels like I will just have to stop again soon.  This is something I can work on more.
@@ Line 49: / Line 53: @@
 ==Studying==
-I divide studying into two parts: a lecture review and practicing.  The first step is a lecture review.  I go through my folder of papers and rewrite key material from each lecture.  If needed I was also look at recitations, reading, and other material.  Material for 10 lectures fits into the space of two lectures.  If I see some examples I don’t really understand I try them out (using black pen).  I then compare step by step with the example from lecture or the textbook.
+I divide studying into two parts: a lecture review and practicing.  The first step is a lecture review.  I go through my folder of papers and rewrite key material from each lecture.  If needed I also look at recitations, reading, and other material.  I rewrite about 20% of the material - for an average exam that covers 10 lectures (1/3 of the class), I have about 20 pages of notes.  (One lecture is about 10 pages of notes).  If I see some examples I don’t really understand I try them out (using black pen).  I then compare step by step with the example from lecture or the textbook.  I do practice problems that are explained in the book.
-After that I do practice exams.  Almost all classes post practice exams.  I try to do 2 practice exams.  I try to do one question in its entirety and then I look at the solution.  I do not try to mimic the test by doing it all in the time limit before looking at the solutions.  If I get the problem wrong, I go through and try to understand what I did wrong.  (I wish more classes would EXPLAIN the solutions).  If I don’t understand something I will try to study it more.  I usually spend 60% of time on a lecture review and 40% of my time on practice exams.
+After that I do practice exams.  Almost all classes post practice exams.  I try to do 2 practice exams.  I try to do one question in its entirety and then I look at the solution.  I do not try to mimic the test by doing it all in the time limit before looking at the solutions.  If I get the problem wrong, I go through and try to understand what I did wrong.  (I wish more classes would EXPLAIN the solutions on the practice exams).  If I don’t understand something I will try to study it more.  I usually spend 60% of time on a lecture review and 40% of my time on practice exams.  I'm not sure that balance is quite right - I think I need to do more practice.
-I don’t group study.  This might be a bad idea, but I’ve never gotten it to work.  I am too distracted by a group.  I guess the advantage is being able to ask each other questions.  On the other hand, you are not assured that those answers will be reliable.  I tend to just work with the TAs and professors because I feel reasonable assured that I would get reliable information from them.  I suppose that if the information is not reliable, I could claim that I was misled.  I guess you would call that a warrantee.
+I don’t group study.  This might be a bad idea, but I’ve never gotten it to work.  I am too distracted by a group.  I guess the advantage is being able to ask each other questions.  On the other hand, you are not assured that those answers will be reliable.  I tend to just work with the TAs and professors because I feel reasonable assured that I would get reliable information from them.  I suppose that if the information is not reliable, I could claim that I was misled.  I guess you would call that a warranty.
-*Kanban
+I wish that professors would put out a single page sheet for each upcoming assignment and exam that would contain key information about the upcoming assignment/exam.  I call this my [[Kanban Proposal]].  It is loosely from the Toyota Production System’s “[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanban kanban]” - a single piece of paper than can be managed and sorted to represent an upcoming assignment/exam.
-*Planning out time
-*Writing in journal
 I leave the entire night before the exam for studying.  Studying time is not finite like a p-set.  You can’t easily know when you are “done”.  I usually spend the entire night before an exam studying.  I plan for the exam ahead of time so I know to keep my schedule clear.
 ==Sleep==
-*Being aware
+I am constantly aware of my energy level.  I know I need to get enough sleep to be able to function effectively (though, as I said above, alertness is not directly connected to sleep).  As I wrote above, I try to combat this by scheduling things that require less concentration when I am more tired.
 I try to follow a regular sleep schedule.  I try to go to bed at 2am or earlier every day.  If I stay up later, I try to not to say up past 3am.  I might make an exception if I don’t have class the next day, but my goal is to plan my work out so that I never have to work past 2am.  I get up every morning at 8:15 or 9:15 depending on if my first event is at 9 or 10am.
-I’ve found that short (30 min or 1 hour naps) can help fill you with energy for the rest of the day if you are really tired in the morning.  I might take a short nap in one of the blocks in between classes during the day if I am really tired.  These only happen on some weeks; when I am particularly busy.
+I’ve found that short (30 min or 1 hour) naps can help fill you with energy for the rest of the day if you are really tired in the morning.  I might take a short nap in one of the blocks in between classes during the day if I am really tired.  These only happen on some weeks; when I am particularly busy.  This is a good use of 1 hr blocks of free time between classes.
 I catch up on sleep on the weekends.  Some weekends I sleep until noon.
 I’ve found having an irregular sleep schedule is bad and makes you less efficient.
 [[Category:Me]] [[Category:MIT]]