Learning Outcome 4: Professional Standard

LOG

Throughout the semester, I kept a log where I made simple notes about what I did each day. These were short, quick entries, just enough so I could look back and remember what I worked on when I needed to document things later. The log itself wasn't very formal and sometimes included personal reminders, so I won't be sharing the entire thing. However, I will share an excerpt that represents a typical entry.

Below is a screenshot from March 20th. That day, we went to The Art Department instead of having our regular classes. I've written more about this day in detail under LO5: Personal Leadership. In my log, I noted that we visited the event and that I worked from home in the afternoon since there were no scheduled classes.

Writing things down like this helps me remember what I did and when, which is exactly how I'm now able to include it properly in my portfolio.

Task Management & Trello Boards

A very important part of any project is making sure you have a proper planning system. At the very least, there should be a clear task division, broken down into smaller steps—so you know exactly what needs to be done and when.

I'll be honest: planning has been a challenge for me this whole semester. During the first two group projects, there were attempts to stay organized using Trello boards. For example, in the Trello board for the UX project, we initially tried to structure our group work—but it never really worked out. I've also struggled to make personal planning for myself, often because I felt too tired or overwhelmed to even think about it until a deadline was looming.

Through this experience, I've come to the conclusion that Trello just doesn't work for me. Even though it's been recommended and some groups have tried using it, the idea of constantly updating and checking an online planning tool doesn't fit my working style.

As the semester came to an end and things got more hectic, I switched things up and decided to write out a physical to-do list instead. I listed every little task I had to do—broken down into very small, manageable chunks. I found this method incredibly helpful, especially when I was feeling overwhelmed or unmotivated. Picking one small task, getting it done quickly, and physically crossing it off gave me a little rush of dopamine and a sense of satisfaction. That small win helped me push through and get more work done.

So, I've definitely learned something here: a physical to-do list works way better for me, and I'm planning to use this approach more consistently next semester during Media Creation. One improvement I already see for myself is starting this system earlier in the project and organizing tasks by topic or category so everything's clearer at a glance.

On top of that, something I started doing in group projects—setting up Discord servers with channels for things like schoolwork, images, and documents—I've now started using for my personal projects too. It really helps keep everything organized and separated by type, and I want to continue that as well.

Notes and FeedPulse Checkpoints

In the picture below you see notes I took during the first meeting for the UX project.
Note to self: always make sure to have proper pen and paper or other substitue ready to take proper notes.