Reflective Journal and Personalised Learning Assignment Sample

Introduction To Reflective Journal Personalised Learning Assignment

Reflective journal is the collection of personalized learnings throughout the session. It is concerned with the strengths and weaknesses analysed in academic year (Guo et al, 2020). The present task is going to be undertaken related to learning and skills gained in a particular academic year. Furthermore, in 2nd task, development plan will be made.

Part A- Reflective Journal

During this, academic year I gained varied opportunities that led to development procedure in significant manner. There were different weeks, in each hebdomad, I have learned different things which proves to be essential for me so that I can become able to learn about various aspects aligned with academic year. In order to perform reflection, I will be using Gibbs' reflective model; this is one of the best reflective models which comprised with six stages and those are- experience: description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion and action plan (Gibb's Model of Reflection, 2023). With the help of these stages I am going to reflect upon my experiences-

Week-1

Starting with the first week, in which introduction regarding the assessment was given to me. Description regarding reflective journal and personal development plan was provided. My tutor told me to make notes regarding everything told in the classroom. Therefore, I started making notes however, I got to know that, my note making abilities are not up to the mark, I was lacking in this area and due to this I was not able to include all aspects described by professor. Hence, I am going to honestly focus on this area and consequently my skills will be enhanced. This results in making me proficient in writing skills which is going to support in future as well. I will make notes on regular basis so that I can detect my mistakes. Thus, I can say that, this was starting of session where I became able to evaluate my weakness, at initial stage I was nervous however, support from tutor made me able to undertake the task and thereupon, I focused on enhancing my skill.

Week-2

In 2nd week, discussion related to significance of reflection and emotional intelligence has taken place. During this time, I got to know about the importance of reflection, it helps in evaluating own learning that is prior for undertaking development procedure. By focusing on the evaluation of experience I became able to witness my strengths and areas of improvement. Apart from this, I have leaned importance of Emotional intelligence [EI] in terms of managing own emotions and developing interaction with other (Thomas and Zolkoski, 2020). Reflection and EI needs to be done while using critical analysis skill so both the positive and negative aspects could be identified and accordingly outcomes could be developed. In this week, I developed critical analysis skill in me within evaluating positive and negative alternative of each aspect. For instance- I have analysed reason behind my reaction on each event. In some situation, I kept my behaviour positive while in some I was not able to react in proper manner. This was due to lack of management towards emotions. From here, I became aware that, I need to enhance my emotional intelligence abilities so that I can behave in proper manner as this lead to enhance own professional image.

Week-3

Importance of Personal SWOT taught during this week, SWOT refers to strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities. When an individual undertakes self-assessment then, the foremost thing is to undertake own review analysis. At the end of the week, I have asked critical questions to self so that I can witness my strengths and weakness. However, I was not able to get proper answers and this was due to lack of self-awareness. Therefore, it is important to create personal development plan under which self-assessment can be done after completing whole reflective journal. Hence, this week was based on creating self-awareness and self-assessment so conclusive statement regarding development plan could be made and I have practiced accordingly. As a result, I have become able to analyse my own strengths and weaknesses that are prior for developing better understanding. Honesty and loyalty need to be maintained while undertaking self-reflection as this is the part of academic integrity and I have ensured effectual focus on this area. I am going to make it as a habit so that I can become able to maintain academic integrity in the classroom. I got to know that, I have effective time management skill as I completed my assignment on time and I will be going to use this in future as well. In terms of weakness, I found that, I need to focus on my decision-making skill as I get confuse while implementing any decision

Week-4

In this week I have been given an assignment based on importance of referencing and plagiarism. Two of these components are highly essential in academic session. I learned that, referencing needs to be done at the end of the project and proper citation is required so that academic integrity could be maintained. Along with this, plagiarism needs to be avoided and paraphrasing should be done. Copy paste can lead to create negative impact on the image of scholar (Peng and Kievit, 2020). Thus, I learned about the importance of referencing and plagiarism and I have often used it in my project which led to enhance the efficiency of assignments. I will use these skills in my future project as well. This enables me in terms of performing academic integrity in specific manner which is considered as highly important for enhancing the professional image of students and further contributes in increasing academic score and therefore, I am going to implement specific focus on this area so that I can become able to perform my task in effective manner and accordingly effective outcomes could be gained.

Week-5

During this session, I learned about the difference between academic and reflective writing. Reflection is self-assessment whereas, academic writing comprised with certain ethics and standards that requires to be followed on significant note. In order to enhance academic writing consistent practice is required and I am lacking in this area. I have received feedback from my tutor that I need to focus on my writing as I was not able to done paraphrasing and this is creating issue for me. Therefore, I will make plan in this context so proficiency can be ensured while writing. This led to support in gaining good marks in future as well which is important for scoring higher marks in academic session. Also, with the help of this, I can become able to enhance my paraphrasing skill that is one of the most important academic skills. Hence, in this week I got to know about the importance of academic writing.

Week-6

The discussion in this particular week comprised with the importance of research skill, this helps in searching content from specific sources that are authentic in nature. Furthermore, within using it assignment can be done in effective manner. I analysed that, due to lack of research skill, I was not able to paraphrase, I was only approaching one or two source and therefore, I was not able to allocate enough information. Research skill assist in undertaking investigation in proper manner and accordingly authentic sources can be approached (Almeida et al, 2021). Hence, this can be said that, it is important to focus on this skill and therefore, I will improve this skill so, I could write my projects in effective manner and accordingly I will get good marks. Hence, in this week, I got to know about the importance of researching skill which plays vital role in enhancing academic development.

Week-7

In this week, I have developed communication skill, group discussion was organized in classroom which helped in enhancing my speaking abilities. I was not able to put my thoughts in front of everyone as I was afraid of the criticism. Due to this, I lost my confidence. Here I realised that, it is essential to have effective communication skill so that one's can put their thoughts and opinion in front of everyone (Anjum, 2020). Therefore, I started practicing on my communication skill, I have taken part in multiple group discussion. Furthermore, I started expressing my opinions in classroom. In this manner, I have gained confidence and further I became able to communicate in proper manner. Thus, I can say that, I have become able to gain communication skill which is important in order to enhance professional image and I will use this ability in future so, I can express my thoughts in effective manner.

Week-8

I have been given a group task and there was total 4 members in the group and I was the leader. At starting, I was not aware about the preferences of team members and therefore, I allocated task to them as per my own preferences. As a result, conflict started between group members and I was not able to evaluate “what is the exact reason behind this”. However, now I got to know that, it is the duty of leader to interact with team members and accordingly needs should be analysed (Hilton et al, 2022). This helps in allocating task as per the need of team members and further effectual outcomes could be gained. Thus, there is no doubt in stating that, it is important to develop significant focus while managing team as this support in enhancing the over-all efficiency of team while implementing effectual coordination. Hence, will focus on this skill so I can lead group.

Week-9

This week involves discussion related to interview skills, in order to conduct interview, effective speaking abilities are required so, interviewee can feel comfortable. One-to-one interaction has been undertaken in order to ask question. Within speaking abilities, listening abilities are also important. This supports in creating an effectual interaction with candidates. Thus, I could say that, I have effective communication skill, however, I need to focus on leadership skill as without this I will not be able to take part in interviews. Thereby, I will be focusing on undertaking such practices through which I can enhance leadership skill. As a result, I will be able to undertake interviews in future and one to one interaction with team members can be developed and further effectual support can be developed for them which is highly essential.

Week-10

During this hebdomad, I learned about importance of problem solving and motivation skill. These skills support in solving any hurdle along with assuring motivation so that situation can be faced. It is important to have problem solving skill so scholar can solve their issues while analysing available alternative (Peng and Kievit, 2020). I have learned the ways in which problem could be solved, it is important to keep positive attitude and cause of the issue needs to be analysed and different alternatives should be evaluated and afterwards best among all must be selected in order to solve issue. For keeping positive approach motivation is essential. Thus, I will use this skill in future so that I can become able to solve certain challenges that acts as a barrier.

Hence, above mentioned weekly reflective journals stating about the aspects which have been learned along with highlighting areas of improvement onto which focus needs to be made.

Part B- Personal Learning And Development Plan

Personal development plan plays vital role in setting objectives which are needed to be achieved for undertaking self-growth (Huéscar et al, 2020). In order to improve my areas of weaknesses I will assure focus on enhancing the skills where I am lacking. Thus, I am preparing PDP while following mandatory three stages and those are-

Stage 1- Analysis

I will use SWOT analysis as it helps in evaluating own strengths and weaknesses so accordingly opportunities and threats can be identified.

Table 1- SWOT Analysis

The above-mentioned table is highlighting my strengths which comprised with EI, communication, motivation, note making, critical analysis and problem-solving abilities. Whereas, my weaknesses involve ineffective time management, decision making, ineffectual academic writing, leadership and team management. I need to use my strengths so that I can become able to undertake improvement. Therefore, I will assure focus on witnessing the ways by setting SMART goals so that I can become able to overcome my weaknesses. I have analysed that I have potential in terms of grabbing new things and I can capture it in fast manner. These are mainly considered as opportunities for me. Thus, while making plan I can easily improve my weaknesses and along with this I would be able to learn new things. However, ineffectiveness in certain areas leading to develop threats. Due to lack of time management, I often miss deadlines and this can lead to create issues for me. Therefore, I will assure specific focus on this area so that I can reduce threats arising due to weaknesses and this assist in future as well.

Stage 2- Setting Smart Goals

Table 2- Personal development plan

Stage 3- Personal Objectives

Table 3- Setting personal objectives

In order to achieve short-terms goals I will follow PDP and accordingly practices would be undertaken. However, in terms of achieving medium term goal, I will make time table and this would be followed on regular basis. With the help of time table, I can manage my daily schedule and this helps in balancing personal life. The long terms goals are concerned with improving life style factors so that I can become able to manage my physical and mental health in long run. This is highly essential for gaining success. Apart from this, I want to gain proficiency in technical area so I can become able to work in technological field.

Conclusion

Conclusively; this could be said that, it is important to undertake reflection for scholars as it supports in analysing own strengths and weaknesses. Withing using own learning and skills, weaknesses can be improved along with gaining personal and professional development. In order to perform reflection, Gibb's model has been used and accordingly personal learning and development plan implemented. Thus, reflection and development assist in evaluation of area where student is lacking and consequently, focus can be assured in undertaking improvements.

References

Books and Journals

• Almeida, D.J., Byrne, A.M., Smith, R.M. and Ruiz, S., 2021. How relevant is grit? The importance of social capital in first-generation college students' academic success. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice. 23(3). pp.539-559.
• Anjum, S., 2020. Impact of internship programs on professional and personal development of business students: a case study from Pakistan. Future Business Journal. 6(1). p.2.
• Guo, P., Saab, N., Post, L.S. and Admiraal, W., 2020. A review of project-based learning in higher education: Student outcomes and measures. International journal of educational research. 102.p.101586.
• Hilton, D.C., Canu, W.H. and Jarrett, M.A., 2022. The importance of executive functioning for social skills in college students: a relative weights analysis. Journal of American College Health, pp.1-8.
• Huéscar Hernández, E., Moreno-Murcia, J.A., Cid, L., Monteiro, D. and Rodrigues, F., 2020. Passion or perseverance? The effect of perceived autonomy support and grit on academic performance in college students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.17(6). p.2143.
• Peng, P. and Kievit, R.A., 2020. The development of academic achievement and cognitive abilities: A bidirectional perspective. Child Development Perspectives, 14(1), pp.15-20.
• Peng, P. and Kievit, R.A., 2020. The development of academic achievement and cognitive abilities: A bidirectional perspective. Child Development Perspectives. 14(1). pp.15-20.
• Thomas, C. and Zolkoski, S., 2020, June. Preventing stress among undergraduate learners: The importance of emotional intelligence, resilience, and emotion regulation. In Frontiers in Education (Vol. 5, p. 94). Frontiers Media SA.

Online

• Gibbs' Model of Reflection, 2023. Online. Available through: < https://www.ed.ac.uk/reflection/reflectors-toolkit/reflecting-on-experience/gibbs-reflective-cycle>