Ranking Priorities One Step at a Time

This last week was a very important one for me academically. Having completed the first tests in all my classes now, it has become evident what my problems are with some of the material in each of my courses. I also noticed the last week how I had to balance the things I needed to do for each class, and devise a method or system for the way they are carried out. Throughout the week I was required to do many tasks, so I had to be on top of what was most important and what was something that was considered optional.

Seeing as how I had many tasks that needed to be completed for my classes last week, I decided to use a modified form of the "Ranking Priorities" strategy (shown below) that would cater to me as a learner. This strategy was looked upon each day to serve as a reminder and a guideline to the most important things I needed to do. I modified the Ranking Priorities strategy by only targeting it at the next 10 objectives I had on my plate for all of my courses. An objective to me ranged from a homework assignment, to studying for a test in a class. I listed these objectives and decided what was most important and essential to my grade within a class to what was important and could be done at a later time. I also listed what out of those 10 objectives was optional, however I only had one optional objective last week because there wasn't much that I didn't find essential to my grade. The Color within my Ranking Priorities Strategy helped me to see what was most important and needed to be done first, and what was less important and could be done after the most important objectives were carried out. Orange meant IMPORTANT & ESSENTIAL meaning that it had to be done first out of all the objectives as they are the most important thing towards my grade within that class. Pink was used to determine what was also essential, but these could be done after the orange colors were completed as I had more time to take care of them later in the week. Green objectives were listed as objectives that were important, but were not essential because they did not have a direct effect on my grades within a class. These objectives had indirect effects such as finding an outlet amongst the workload and studying material for tests. The Blue objective was the only one I considered optional, it was an objective that could be done, but it wasn't really needed. In this case it was looking to go to the Physics Clinic for help but I had other options besides that one if I didn't see the need or find the time to get there.

Ranking Priorities

In addition to the Ranking Priorities strategy, I also employed the "One Step at a Time" problem solving technique (shown below) to quickly list a problem and assess my options, for help with choosing which solution to take. I was able to put my problems onto paper and lists options that I could do to get them solved. I listed two problems from my Calculus and Physics courses, as they are problems I found very pressing. If the problems were not solved, I envisioned a snowball effect happening within each course as the topics are cumulative and not understanding something NOW would mean problems in the future. As a learner I know that I like to take care of problems in the most logical way. The most logical way had to be something that I know I WOULD do as opposed to something I MIGHT do. I had to look at what I had written down each day until I felt the problem was solved. I found that writing down the consequences was the most beneficial thing about this strategy because it made me aware of something that I don't want to happen. Knowing that not getting my problem solved would lead to that consequence caused me to understand that I NEEDED to get those problems solved. The best thing about this strategy was that the options I could take were not hard to do at all, they just required me to allot time for them.

One Step at a Time

As I used these strategies each day, I felt like my problems and priorities were properly addressed. Separating my problems and priorities allowed me to determine a route that was reasonable for me. I learned from these strategies to break down a problem into simple steps and find a way that I knew I could take to get them solved. I also learned that priorities needed to be taken care of ahead of time to prevent a buildup of stress and confusion.