Module 2

Lectures

This week was quite full of work. There were a lot of videos and a lot of articles; however, all of the information is incredibly valuable. It ranges from teamwork techniques or how to be a good team player to where the software engineering industry is headed, and as software engineers, it is something we should constantly keep track of. Based on some of my professional experience, some of this stuff I have either consciously or even subconsciously been exposed to or done. Even though that is the case, it is good to put technical terms or a technique into the action.

Speaking of valuable information, the lecture section of module 2 had most of the videos and articles relating to teamwork. It also contained a video about the future and the speed at which it is moving. In that video, The Future is Faster Than You Think, Peter Diamandis, the speaker, highlights the speed at which the tech and the world in general are moving. He talks about how the current acceleration of tech will be further accelerated, how technology actually frees up human time, and since the world is now connected, anybody, anywhere can innovate and share ideas with the world, potentially making it a global networking opportunity. The call to action is to avoid complacency and recognize that this could present a new boom of business opportunities.

Module 2 contained another piece that outlined the changing landscape, specifically relating to software engineering. It outlines what software engineering is, which most of us know already, especially being in the program. The most crucial piece of the article is the AI question and what this means for software engineers. The pros are somewhat obvious: increased productivity, having what is effectively a virtual assistant immediately available. The cons are somewhat less obvious but still there. With AI at the ready, things like low or no-code platforms keep popping up, but that brings an increased probability for technical debt. Fear not, though, one of the main things the article outlines is that we will not lose jobs to AI, or at least those of us who keep up with the coming tools and trends.

The final portion of the lectures in module 2 was all about teamwork and team building. A very important skill that will stay with us forever. In relation to school and work. The methods are mostly simple: be respectful, be diligent, and, very importantly, overcommunicate. The ability to communicate with the team decides how productive we are as a whole and as individuals. It is important to set things like deadlines, clear responsibilities, and to constantly be updating each other to see what adjustments need to be made.

Learning Strategy

In Dr. Bob Kizlik's article about effective studying skills, he outlines a few strategies that will make anyone successful academically. He breaks it down very eloquently into just a few essential categories. It comes down to effective study, but what does that include? Effective study requires practice. A well-structured schedule is essential, allocating time for classes, labs, social activities, sleep, and study, ensuring study occurs when rested and alert. Choose quiet, organized spaces and keep materials accessible. Develop critical thinking, ask questions, and use available techniques like SQ3R for active reading and review.

Take clear, organized notes in index cards or some sort of database. Outline textbooks, highlight key points, and reorganize lecture notes. For exams, survey the test, prioritize easy questions, use memory-dump techniques for essays, and focus on key words. Maintain clear handwriting and grammar, with punctuation being important.

When writing papers, choose an interesting topic with resources, prepare an outline, gather materials, and revise drafts carefully. Study in short intervals, take breaks regularly but engage actively. Success depends on consistently applying these strategies. Work smarter, not just hard.

Preview Time Management

The article "9 Key Time Management Skills and How To Improve Them" highlights essential skills necessary to improve productivity and reduce stress in the workplace. These skills include organization, which includes an up-to-date calendar and a clean workspace; prioritization, to rank tasks by urgency and importance; and goal setting, establishing clear short and long-term objectives to guide efforts. Effective communication ensures plans and challenges are conveyed clearly, while planning helps structure the day by allocating specific times for tasks and meetings. Delegation allows employees to manage workload by assigning tasks appropriately, and stress management encourages breaks and reward to maintain motivation and well-being. Problem-solving skills help address challenges promptly to keep projects on track, and note-taking ensures accurate records for consistency and fewer errors. Improving these skills can lead to higher productivity, reduced stress, and better career opportunities.

Management Basics

The management basics video includes the project management video that was spoken about in the initial portion of the blog post, so I'll bypass that one. I'll focus on the Work Breakdown Structure and the Gantt chart as those are fundamental project management tools that work together to plan and keep track of a project. The WBS breaks the project into a hierarchical set of deliverables from the overall project goal down to smaller, short-term deliverables. It helps define the scope of the project and ensures nothing is missed. It allows us to estimate resources and risk management. Once tasks are defined with the WBS, a Gantt chart can be a visual representation of the time necessary for each task. An important function of the Gantt chart is to show dependencies between tasks and milestones, making it very easy to monitor progress. Together they can ensure comprehensive planning, scheduling, and make communication much easier.

Capstone Projects

USNRL: The project for the naval research lab was, for me, my favorite. The application itself was very well done, it was a simple project. Not simple in complexity but seemed to be very intuitive and user focused. It had a very simple GUI that the user could use to get the data they want to see and exports a much more user-friendly version of the data via PDF. The presentation was brief but informational. The two improvements, given more time, would be to create a nicer interface and possible allow the end user to filter only the information they are interested in.

National AI Campus: The second project that was very interesting was the National AI Campus. The project was a primarily AI-focused project that allows for a cleaner look into tumors. The app generates images based on a U-Net algorithm that masks shapes and allows the AI to scan for potential tumors a lot better. The project could probably use more work as the app and it's intended client would benefit from further development.

Cue Tracer: The third project in line was Cue Tracer. This is a project that allows tracking of music and audio files that have been used in media or advertisements. Similar to the Naval Research Lab, the project was well done, and it seems very industry-specific, which, for solving problems, is a very good place to start. The only critique I have is that I wish it had been a bit clearer what the benefit of the product was. As an outsider seeing the product, a little more explanation would have been good.