03 October 2021
Bootcamp Learning Plan
My Goals
After leaving Dev Academy, I would like to explore the idea of getting back into the medical science industry being equipped with the knowledge and skills I will have gained from this course in a way that could combine IT, tech and health to help people. I don't currently have a destination in mind, but I know that I want to work in a company and with others that share my values and encourages devlopment and learning.
Strengths and Limitations in Relation to Learning
Going into bootcamp, one of my greatest strengths is that I remain committed to working hard and putting in the effort to learn to ensure I am able to succeed in this course. Also that I have a more positive outlook after having gone though foundations and using the core skills that I have learnt so far.
My limitations that could negatively impact my learning during bootcamp will be that I can still spend more time on certain tasks than I should because I want it to be perfect. Another thing is that I still have a lot of self-doubut in my abilities. There were a lot of the technical concepts we learnt during foundations that took a long time click and I'm still not 100% confident in my skills and knowledge.
I think my biggest non-technical challenges at bootcamp will be staying on top of the material, as I know we will be working and learning at a much faster and intense pace than we have in foundations. Also speaking in front of a group will also be a big challenge for me as I am very shy and get nervous speaking up in front of people.
Core Skill Developemt
During bootcamp I hope to continue to develop the human skills I have mentioned in my foundations learning plan below. and also improve in my abilities to give and receive feedback. I want to get better at not taking feedback as being a negative reflection on me as a person, and that any feedback I receive from others will help me improve my skills and knowledge. I also want to get better at being able to give feedback to others, as I tend to keep my opinions and thoughts on the work of others to myself so as not to discourage them.
Committment to Learning
To ensure that I manage my workload productively and safely, I have created a timetable in which I have scheduled in the times I will focus on work, as well as planned breaks. When I'm in the “zone” I can often work for hours without taking a break. I have been sure to schedule in breaks and start using a timer to remind me to take time away from my desk, that way I don’t burn myself out.
When in stressful situations and things start getting to me, my plan is to go and do something that relaxes me and will take my mind off whatever is causing me to stress out for example practicing mediation. I will also make more of an effort to reach out to somebody – this one is probably going to be tough for me as I don’t like to burden others with my problems.
When I am struggling with something, if I haven’t been able to find the answer/resolve the issue within 20-30 mins by myself though researching, I will reach out to my peers, ask for help in the Discord help channels or ask my bootcamp facilitator if required.
Expectations for the Bootcamp Team
The two main expectations I have for the bootcamp team are for them to be encouraging and motivating and to be honest when giving criticism, but also offering advice on ways to improve.
10 September 2021
Foundations Learning Plan
My Goals
My long-term goal is to work as web-developer in a company that shares the same values as I do. I would love a job that allows me to work in an office with others, but also have the flexibility to work remotely. My ideal job would also be working for a company that encourages continuous learning and professional development. I would also like to continue my learning journey and learn other coding languages and work on continually upskilling myself.
Strengths and Limitations in Relation to Learning
Some of my strengths in relation to learning is that I am hard-working, and I have a growth mindset. I always try my best and am committed learning and understand that even when I don’t understand it straight away that with some perseverance I can succeed. Ultimately, I know that any setbacks I experience, will help me improve in the long run.
My limitations that could negatively impact my learning is that I am a perfectionist and prone to burnout. Because I am a perfectionist, I tend to get bogged down by details and spend too much time making sure that everything is completed without any errors/mistakes and to a high standard. This tends to slow me down a bit. I find it hard to just walk away from something without completing it first, and often neglect to take breaks so that I can get the work done.
Core Skill Developemt
The non-technical skills I would like to develop while at Dev Academy are communication, problem-solving skills, and my self-belief/confidence levels. I am an extremely shy and reserved person and have always struggled with verbal communication when I meet new people. I would also like to develop my problem-solving skills – in my previous job, although there were aspects in which we had to find solutions ourselves, most solutions to problems we encountered where already set out in our standard operating procedures manuals. I am hoping this course will allow me to develop my ability to think outside of the box when solving problems. Finally, I would like to work on my self-belief/confidence levels because whenever I try something new, I always have that little voice in my head that tells me I can’t do it, and this tends to make me feel less confident in my abilities.
Committment to Learning
To ensure that I manage my workload productively and safely, I have created a timetable in which I have scheduled in the times I will focus on work, as well as planned breaks. When I'm in the “zone” I can often work for hours without taking a break. I have been sure to schedule in breaks and start using a timer to remind me to take time away from my desk, that way I don’t burn myself out.
When in stressful situations and things start getting to me, my plan is to go and do something that relaxes me and will take my mind off whatever is causing me to stress out, i.e., meditate for 10 minutes, make myself a snack, or go do some exercise. Also reach out to somebody – this one is probably going to be tough for me as I don’t like to burden others with my problems.
When I am struggling with something, if I haven’t been able to find the answer/resolve the issue within 20-30 mins by myself though researching, I will reach out to my peers in the Foundations Channel in Slack, or DM my facilitator if required.
Expectations for the Facilitation Team
The two main expectations I have for the facilitation team are for them to be encouraging and to be honest when giving criticism, but also offering advice on ways to improve.