CST300: Major ProSeminar, Week 2

Part 1: Review and Reflect Learning Strategy

After reading through Dr. Bob Kizlik's article on effective study skills, it was helpful to take a step back and look at what's working for me and where I still have room to grow. Sometimes I get caught up in trying to keep up with the assignments that I don't stop to reflect on if whether the way I'm studying is actually helping.

Top 3 Study Skills I'm Good At:

• Starting Early and Planning Ahead
• Asking Questions While I Study
• Creating a Distraction-Free Study Space

I've learned that I work best when I start assignments early and break them into smaller parts. Procrastination stresses me out, so getting ahead of things helps me stay calm and focused. I also ask myself questions as I go through material, which helps me stay engaged and understand what I'm reading instead of just skimming. I've gotten pretty good at creating a workspace that is quiet and distraction-free, with the occasional feline interruption. 

Top 3 Areas Where I Struggle:

• Taking Clear, Useful Notes
• Breaking Up Study Time
• Reviewing Notes After Class

One thing I know I need to work on is how I take notes. I tend to write too much, trying to catch every word instead of focusing on the main ideas. I also have a bad habit of studying for long stretches without breaks, which leaves me drained. Taking shorter, more focused sessions would help a lot. I don't usually review my notes until right before a test, and by then I have forgotten the context. I want to get into the habit of going over them while the material is still fresh.

Part 2: Preview Time Management Skills

Part 3: Project Management Basics

The three project management videos give a helpful breakdown of different tools and approaches used to manage projects. The first one, Project Management Basics, gives an introduction to the overall process, including goal setting, planning, staying on track, and closing things out. It also touched on how important communication and organization are throughout a project. The second video, Work Breakdown Structure,  dives into how to build a WBS and explains how Agile methods like Scrum and Kanban help teams with staying flexible and focused on continuous improvement. The last video, Gantt Chart, walks through how Gantt charts give a visual timeline for tasks, helping you see what needs to get done, when, and in what order. 

Part 4: Check Out Previous Capstones

I checked out a few past capstone projects from the Summer 2024 Capstone Festival and was really impressed by how different each one was. They all had unique goals, but each team delivered something meaningful and well put together. 

The first one I watched was the Open Energy Dashboard. It's an open-source tool that helps organizations track energy use and reduce emissions. The team migrated several parts of the existing platform to a React framework, updated the interface, and made it more user-friendly by adding cards, modals, and a more consistent layout. I liked how they explained the technical side while also showing the visual improvements. Everything was well presented. The only thing I was curious about was how they tackled the learning curve, since they mentioned having to pick up new libraries and tools. I think hearing more about that process would've added some good insight.

The second project, National AI-Campus, partnered with Cedars-Sinai to improve an algorithm that detects tumors in brain MRI scans. They used a U-Net model with skip connections to boost accuracy, and the results were really impressive. They walked through how it all worked using clear visuals and examples. It was amazing to see how advanced this kind of technology has become and how well they were able to implement it. Honestly, I thought this project was amazing and don't have any suggestions for improvement. 

The last one I watched was A Bird's Song, a video game designed to raise awareness about habitat destruction. It focused on the Kaua'i ʻōʻō, a bird that went extinct due to environmental changes and the introduction of non-native species. The game was built in Unity and featured simple mechanics, AI-driven enemies, and a heartfelt message. Some of the presentation slides were hard to read because of the font and background, but the voiceover helped a lot. I liked how the team supported each other and used online resources to build their skills. If they had more time, I think adding a voiceover to the game or expanding on the levels to show the changes to the island environment over time would've made it even more impactful. Still, it was a creative and thoughtful project. 

Watching these gave me a better idea of the wide variety of potential capstone possibilities. 

Module 2: Lecture Summary

This week's materials offered insight into where software engineering is headed and how quickly the field is evolving. The video, "The Future is Faster Than You Think,"  explored how rapidly advancing technology is impacting EVERY industry. It highlighted the growing influence of AI in development and how automation is reshaping not only how we write code, but how entire systems are being built and maintained. The future of software engineering will require a different approach to how we problem solve, collaborate and innovate. 

The article "Trends in Computing and Software Development" provided a more detailed look at specific shifts happening in the field today. A major trend is the rise of low-code and no-code platforms, which allow users to use a simple drag-and-drop feature instead of writing out code from scratch. This model allows users without programming backgrounds to build functional software using visual tools. Machine learning is also becoming a standard part of the development process, helping teams automate repetitive tasks and improve decision-making. The article discussed the shift from cloud-based infrastructure to hybrid models, driven by cost concerns and data privacy regulations. IT also discussed the pressure developers face to bring products to market quickly, often at the cost of building scalable and maintainable systems. Although AI and outsourcing are reshaping the overall job market, there's still a strong demand for skilled professionals. 

 The last video, "Introduction to Project Management," focused on how software development projects are structured and managed. The video stressed the importance of setting clear goals, defining roles, managing timelines, and communicating effectively. It also pointed out that good project management is not just about schedules and budgets, but it is also about aligning technical work with the broader organizational objectives. While the pace of technology is increasing rapidly, good project management helps ensure that teams can stay focused, flexible, and productive.

The materials made it clear that while tools and trends may change, there will always be a need for thoughtful and skilled people behind the technology. With the rapid growth of AI, its understandable that many people are feeling uncertain about the future of their jobs in tech. But I am hopeful that if we remain adaptable and are open to learning, that we can work alongside these new tools rather than be replaced by them.

More to come.