I have 5 days left of EPQ so this is a quick update on the nature of my long term plan:
I have actually also completed my PPR and Bibliography ahead of schedule.
The only things ongoing are my short term plans and my reflective journal (this blog).
Evaluation of my long term plan
What Went Well
I am very pleased with how my long term planning has gone - in particular the top Gantt chart, which really kept me focused and on task because I had to frequently update it. Although this was time consuming the benefits were more significant because of how it has enabled me to meet my deadline. It is also easier to adapt than the bottom Gantt which I found useful because my deadline did change once presentation evening was organised.
What could have gone better
The main issues with my long term planning is that I didn't use one of my Gantt charts - the bottom one - however I don't believe this had any detrimental impacts on my work because it was purely for prioritisation of work and I really feel that my short term plans did this and were better at doing this so I believe the bottom Gantt chart wasn't necessary. Having two was a little time consuming and confusing.
What I would do next time
I would only have one Gantt chart - in the style of the top one - because having two was unnecessary as proved by the usefulness of the short term plans making my second Gantt chart (the bottom one) unneeded. Nevertheless I would still try to update the Gantt chart that I was using more often to give me a good overview - maybe get into the habit of doing once a week rather than randomly when I want to see how I'm doing.
The only things ongoing are my short term plans and my reflective journal (this blog).
Evaluation of my long term plan
What Went Well
- I managed to keep to it - I have finished on time (or will be ready)
- It really helped me understand where I am in context with things - helped me organise my time and kept me aware of my deadline which has always been a problem for me (deadlines aren't real for me until they are very close but this helped combat that mentality and kept me focused for all of it)
- The top Gantt chart - proved the most useful, it was easier to get an overview because I could see all of the project on one page when I looked at it than the below Gantt chart
I am very pleased with how my long term planning has gone - in particular the top Gantt chart, which really kept me focused and on task because I had to frequently update it. Although this was time consuming the benefits were more significant because of how it has enabled me to meet my deadline. It is also easier to adapt than the bottom Gantt which I found useful because my deadline did change once presentation evening was organised.
What could have gone better
- I didn't really use the bottom Gantt chart because I felt my short term plans were doing the prioritisation, and also much more usefully because they included things outside of EPQ
- I could have been more organised and maybe updated it more often to give me an even greater awareness of where I am in the project
The main issues with my long term planning is that I didn't use one of my Gantt charts - the bottom one - however I don't believe this had any detrimental impacts on my work because it was purely for prioritisation of work and I really feel that my short term plans did this and were better at doing this so I believe the bottom Gantt chart wasn't necessary. Having two was a little time consuming and confusing.
What I would do next time
I would only have one Gantt chart - in the style of the top one - because having two was unnecessary as proved by the usefulness of the short term plans making my second Gantt chart (the bottom one) unneeded. Nevertheless I would still try to update the Gantt chart that I was using more often to give me a good overview - maybe get into the habit of doing once a week rather than randomly when I want to see how I'm doing.