Dear Future Self…
The following are 10 things I want to be able to do/be better at/know by the end of my Bachelor of Communication (Media) degree.
1. The standout qualities employers are looking for in the field of media
2. The best way (for me personally) to spark ideas that develop into creative approaches to project briefs
3. Working well in groups
4. Communicating effectively with classmates and lecturers/tutors
5. Effectively getting ideas onto paper/developed into a final product
6. Create a network to open up job prospects
7. Understand the context of classroom learning and how this can be applied to jobs internationally
8. How to effectively utilise technology to work on varied media project briefs
9. Figure out my postgraduate/career pathway
10. Gain practical experience working with a range of media platforms
During this first lectorial, I also had time to reflect on how I learn and I will keep this in mind as I progress through the course. It has been almost one year since I was in a classroom environment, so my first step will be to refocus academically.
I know from previous experience that I work best when I write by hand and specifically when I create mind maps to clarify the ideas and questions I have. I then find it helpful to discuss topics with others to gain insight from different perspectives and interpretations. I also know I work best in short bursts of focused work, broken up by short breaks during which I make sure information is sinking into my mind. I find it helpful to keep my laptop closed – if possible – when working, to avoid distractions. I also prefer to work with hard copies for reading and annotating tasks.
I believe the most challenging aspect of the course for me will be sparking creative ideas for project briefs and developing them into clear plans in my mind.