Planning for success in and through a BOCEP Deep Learning class

BOCEP Deep Learning classes offer a lot: Resources, good discussions with professionals, opportunities to test your knowledge.  To get the most of the class, with the least stress, it helps to get into good learning habits.  Here's how:

1.  When you're in the class, avoid the temptation to check email, answer the phone, or do other things that would make you lose your focus.  Multitasking may be fine for simple things, but BOCEP Deep Learning courses are complex.

2.  Schedule time for yourself throughout the week to work on your class.  Of course you're going to get busy and deal with unexpected work or family matters. But the better you can schedule yourself -- and keep to it -- the better your experience will be.  Here's a sample:

• Friday: Review upcoming assignments and readings
• Saturday/Sunday: Read materials for class that week
• Monday: Read the lectures and questions from the instructor; think about your answer and start working on week's assignment
• Tuesday: Respond to the first set of questions
• Wednesday: Check class to see other responses; reply
• Thursday: Respond to next set of questions
• Friday: Check for responses and reply; complete assignment; review upcoming assignments and readings

Most BOCEP learners spend between three and seven hours per week on their course, including reading and assignments.  (Please note: If you are taking a course for Certification Maintenance credit, you are ethically obligated to spend at least 14 hours overall in the class.)

3. Think of yourself as part of a learning team, and know that as you help yourself, you help your colleagues.  Many of us are taught to think of learning as an individual effort.  As a result, some people think it's no big deal when they stop participating in discussions.  But it is important.  Not only do you learn more by sharing your ideas, you give fresh perspectives to colleagues, who learn from you. 

4. Remember that the more you put into the class, the more you get out of it.  Yes, it would be a lot easier to sit in the back of a room watching a PowerPoint presentation.  But if you take the easy way out, you will learn only a fraction of what you can learn in a BOCEP Deep Learning class.

If you can master these techniques, you'll see benefits beyond the class.  These time and focus management skills are what help make professionals more effective and influential.

--Leonardo  Vazquez, AICP/PP