7.2 Developing a strategy

Present notes/records that show you have planned your use of IT skills. Your evidence must include:

• the goals you hope to achieve over 3–4 months or so; you should indicate how these goals relate to the context in which you are working and to your current capabilities;

• notes about the resources you might use, and what information you need to research to achieve your goals; for example, discussions and e-conferences, online resources, skills books, course materials, workshops, specific help and feedback from others;

• a plan of action to use and improve your IT skills that includes notes on:

  • targets you have set to achieve your goals and how you intend to achieve them;

  • opportunities you can use to develop and practise your IT skills; for example, working on assignments and projects, online conferences, information searches, attending training sessions or skills workshops;

  • evidence you plan to present; for example, an assignment, project report, annotated printouts of drafts or screen displays etc., to show how you have developed your information technology skills;

• a schedule indicating deadlines and review points.

Be prepared to revise and update your strategy as your work develops. Think of it as a living document; you are likely to make many changes and adjustments to it while you are working on the course. Keep a record of your revisions and notes about why you made the changes.

You could perhaps discuss your strategy with a study advisor and receive feedback. You could use this feedback to help you assess your progress as your work develops.