Enhancing Academic Performance with Desklib's E-Portfolio and Essential Skills

This article discusses Desklib's E-Portfolio and essential skills such as critical writing, note taking, reflective learning, communication, digital, research, teamwork, problem-solving, self-management, and time management skills. It explains how these skills can help students enhance their academic performance and provides insights into their importance. The article also highlights the benefits of e-portfolios and academic portfolios for students. The subject matter is relevant to students in higher education, and the content is suitable for various courses and colleges/universities.

Knowledge and
Creativity

Table of Contents
E-Portfolio........................................................................................................................................1
Why 12 documents are chosen in the project..................................................................................1
Critical Writing ...............................................................................................................................3
Note taking Strategies .....................................................................................................................4
Reflective learning ..........................................................................................................................5
Reflective writing ............................................................................................................................6
Learning styles .............................................................................................................................7
Communication skills .....................................................................................................................8
Digital skills ....................................................................................................................................9
Research skills ..............................................................................................................................10
Teamwork skills ............................................................................................................................11
Problem-Solving skills ..................................................................................................................12
Self-management skills .................................................................................................................13
Time management skills ...............................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15

E-Portfolio
E-portfolio is defined as a assembly of electronic evidences collected and managed by
users generally on digital platforms. Electronic evidences include multimedia, electronic files,
input text, blog entries and hyperlinks. This helps students in representing their work in digital
format which they have learned in their academic journey. It is very essential for students to
think carefully about aims and intention of creating e-portfolio. There are many types of e-
portfolio which includes learning portfolios, professional portfolios and assessment portfolios.
On the other hand an academic portfolio is defined as collection of subject related work gathered
by students which involves posters, essay, videos, artworks and photographs. Academic
portfolios also contain other experiences of learners such as employment history, internship
history, volunteer experience and many more extracurricular activities(Baldé, Ferreira and
Maynard, 2018). E-portfolio develop learning as it provides students an opportunity and virtual
platform for them to critically access their academic performance, to reflect, develop connection
among various assignments and other actions. This is considered as an effective learning tool as
it support knowledge of students, make otherwise invisible aspects of learning procedure visible
and area for students which enhance motivation among them. This also requires effective time
and energy investment from students hence, it become more important for them to assess
information carefully and that their assessment contribution in a very sustainable manner to final
grade of students in higher education.
Why 12 documents are chosen in the project
In this project approximately twelve documents are chosen which are very essential for
students as they help in enhancing their performance in higher education. This project includes
twelve document which are Critical Writing, Note taking Strategies, Reflective learning,
Reflective writing, Learning styles, Communication skills, Digital skills, Research skills,
Teamwork skills, Problem-Solving skills, Self-management skills and Time management skills.
All these skill helps students in making themselves more productive and effective in their
personal as well as professional life. Critical writing develop sense of representing opinions
about any topics in more effective writing styles in students. Reflective learning and reflective
writing helps students in identifying their own personality along with improving themselves.
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Digital skills and Note taking abilities also assist them in making themselves more presentable as
well as keep them ahead of their peers. Self-management and time management capabilities
assist students in organising their daily activities according to their priorities. Teamwork and
problem-solving abilities help learners in enhancing their interrelations with their subordinates.
Furthermore, research skills and different learning styles assist them in increasing their thinking
capabilities along with learning according to their own ways.
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Critical Writing
This writing skill is defined as ability to represent an effective argument by learners with
proper evidence and reasoning in a well structured manner. This writing skill is described as the
procedure that includes a wide range of writing capabilities of an individual along with their
personal qualities. It helps learners in making their writing more deepen and informative along
with clarifying interrelationship between concepts (Liao, Chen and Hu, 2018). This also assist in
developing clear concept about certain topics among students. The main aim of critical writing is
to present views on believable information translating that message into coherent piece of
writing in order to produce an authentic work rather than just providing facts in a mechanical
manner.
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Note taking Strategies
This is an ability of students to take notes of lectures provided by their teachers or
professors during class which enhance their concentration power. This helps students in paying
attention and learning new information regarding particular subject in the class. This skill is
defined as an ability of students to actively listening and then summarizing what have been
taught in precise manner (Neubauer and et. al., 2018). This assist learners to keep record of
overall information provided in class which they could read afterwards whenever they want. It is
very essential for students to review their notes regularly so that they could utilise them to make
sample test questions which will help them in their future academic performance.
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Reflective learning
This is described as a part of education where students reflects upon what they have
learned or experienced in during their academic journey. This simply means making procedure
that shifts from the experience of an individual into further with deeper understandings.
Reflective learning helps students in enhancing their personal growth through determining
strengths and weaknesses through evaluating themselves. Through self-assessment learners start
to think more innovatively and make themselves more productive for their future professional
career growth (Indriartiningtias, Subagyo and Hartono, 2019). This also helps them in boosting
their performance by motivating them to execute more efforts in assigned work which reflects
their strong skills.
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Reflective writing
The main purpose of reflective writing is to assist students in learning from their specific
practical experience. It helps learners in developing connections between what they have been
taught in their theoretical lectures and what they are required to execute in their practice (Creely,
Henriksen and Henderson, 2021). In this writing skill learners try to represent their opinions by
writing about what they have been experienced while performing a specific activity such as
selling a product, writing an essay, reading some books and many more. This procedure helps
students in thinking more deeply which involves critical thinking and great insights about
themselves. Reflective writing assist students in developing their academic skills, deeper
understandings about topics they are studying and allowing them to review their progress.
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Learning styles
These styles are defined as different process through which various students learn during
their academic journey. Styles of learning is refers to ways that an individual adopt to absorb,
comprehend, process and retain information provided to them. There are mainly four styles of
learning which includes tactile, visual, kinaesthetic and auditory. These different styles assist
learners in maximizing their learning potential and enables them to get success in their
academics (Henriksen, Creely and Mehta, 2021). These styles provide customised techniques to
score more better in their examinations and tests. Along with so much benefits these styles also
allow learners to learn what they have been taught according to their own way through applying
their strategies. These also helps in reducing stress and anxiety of learning experience along with
show them how to overcome limitations of their weaknesses.
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Communication skills
In order to achieve success in academics it is very essential for students to have effective
communication skills. At every stage of education, this becomes important for students to
communicate more effectively to every person around them. Without having well developed
communication skills, students remain behind their peers or become emotionally withdrawn or
overwhelmed at universities. Students must possess both oral and written communication skills
effectively in order to represent their opinions in front of their teachers (Taşdemir, 2021). This
also assist students in enhancing their confidence as they become more conscious about what
they are writing or saying. These abilities help students in respecting others as they actively
listen about their persuasions and giving rewards while acknowledging others as well as
themselves.
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Digital skills
When students enhance their digital skills in their academics than this provide them an
opportunity to think creatively, critically and express thoughts in more compelling manner.
Digital literacy helps students in boosting their engagement as they will be able to complete their
assignments while using technical tools such as Microsoft, Adobe and other (Akyıldız and Çelik,
2020). This ability helps in developing their understanding and representing their knowledge
through digital and visual platforms. This capability also aid learners in improving their
academic performance as they will utilise creative digital tools which helps them in discovering
new tools and present themselves in innovative ways. This skill also help students in their future
profession and they would be able to create their e-portfolios as well as it will provide them
competitive advantage over other in job market in future.
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Research skills
This ability of conducting research for particular topics related to certain topics in their
academics assist students in collecting and evaluating knowledge, information, exercise their
minds and thinking critically. This is an ability that provide students opportunity beyond their
academic lives and allows them to understand their surroundings more better (Elgrably and
Leikin, 2021). This will enable students in gathering information regarding particular subjects in
more quicker way and enhance their critical thinking. Effective research skills will assist students
in representing their opinions in outstanding academic writing and gaining higher grades in their
academics in higher education. Furthermore, research skills also assist students in maintaining
their academic integrity which is very important for gaining success in their academics.
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Teamwork skills
This is defined as an ability to work in group so that certain projects could be completed
in given time period. This skill is very essential for students to get success in their personal and
professional lives as it assist them in working with other cooperatively. These skills develop
necessary social and communication abilities in students such as effective speaking as well as
active listening (Välk and Mougenot, 2019). These abilities also assist students in coming up
with new and innovative ideas for their projects as every person in the team think differently
which results in diversified personalities. Effective teamwork capability allows students to build
more happy and safe environment for themselves where they could freely express their opinions.
This skill will helps them in creating positive image in front of their teachers and superiors.
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Problem-Solving skills
Theses abilities are defined as capabilities of students to solve any complex issues they
face in their academic journey. These skill help student in tackling situations with more creative
and innovative manner along with prepares them to face more complex academic and
interpersonal problems in their life (Smyrnaiou, Georgakopoulou, and Sotiriou, 2020). Effective
problem-solving skills will allow students to improve their academic performance through
researching for correct solution for any issues they might encounter. This also enhance
confidence among learners as they will be able to develop their personality by solving complex
situations. These skills also assist students to become more curious, determined and resourceful.
Through solving critical issues students are able to become more resilient.
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Self-management skills
Self-management allows learners to work according to their plans to complete
assignments, stay focused and study for examinations in their class. This skill is very essential
for students as it helps them in accomplishing their goals and learn more efficiently as well as
developing their abilities. These ability helps in enhancing productivity of students and they will
manage their work according to their priorities (Shafique, Ahmad and Kalyar, 2019). This ability
allows students to build strong relationships with their peers as they execute their energy in
collaborating with them. These skill also help them in developing better mental and physical
health because their work has been managed which will allow them to avoid stress.
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Time management skills
Effective time management skill is described as an ability to utilise time productively that
allows students to complete every task according to their plans. It helps students in
accomplishing their goals more faster and effectively. It also allow learners to prioritise their
important work that requires instant action from them (Tan and et. al., 2019). Students are able to
make time for themselves by completing assigned task in a given time period which results in
less stress and anxiety. It also prevents procrastination among them which is a slippery slope that
results in stress and frustration and lower grades. It also allows students to explore more career
or growth opportunities that builds confidence among them. It will provide students a chance to
balance their academic and personal lives properly which is very essential to maintain a good
life.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Akyıldız, S.T. and Çelik, V., 2020. Thinking outside the box: Turkish EFL teachers’ perceptions
of creativity. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 36, p.100649.
Baldé, M., Ferreira, A.I. and Maynard, T., 2018. SECI driven creativity: the role of team trust
and intrinsic motivation. Journal of Knowledge Management.
Creely, E., Henriksen, D. and Henderson, M., 2021. Three modes of creativity. The Journal of
Creative Behavior, 55(2), pp.306-318.
Elgrably, H. and Leikin, R., 2021. Creativity as a function of problem-solving expertise: Posing
new problems through investigations. ZDM–Mathematics Education, pp.1-14.
Henriksen, D., Creely, E. and Mehta, R., 2021. Rethinking the Politics of Creativity:
Posthumanism, Indigeneity, and Creativity Beyond the Western Anthropocene.
Qualitative Inquiry, p.10778004211065813.
Indriartiningtias, R., Subagyo and Hartono, B., 2019. Creativity of small firms in creative
industry: Initial evidence from Indonesia. International Journal of Engineering Business
Management, 11, p.1847979019849135.
Liao, S. H., Chen, C. C. and Hu, D. C., 2018. The role of knowledge sharing and LMX to
enhance employee creativity in theme park work team: A case study of Taiwan.
International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management.
Neubauer, A. C. and et. al., 2018. The self–other knowledge asymmetry in cognitive intelligence,
emotional intelligence, and creativity. Heliyon, 4(12), p.e01061.
Shafique, I., Ahmad, B. and Kalyar, M.N., 2019. How ethical leadership influences creativity
and organizational innovation: examining the underlying mechanisms. European
Journal of Innovation Management.
Smyrnaiou, Z., Georgakopoulou, E. and Sotiriou, S., 2020. Promoting a mixed-design model of
scientific creativity through digital storytelling—the CCQ model for creativity.
International Journal of STEM Education, 7(1), pp.1-22.
Tan, A.G. and et. al., 2019. Creativity and music education: A state of art reflection. In Creativity
in music education (pp. 3-16). Springer, Singapore.
Taşdemir, C.Y., 2021. Is Scientific Creativity Possible in Early Childhood?. Theory and Practice
in Child Development, 1(1), pp.71-82.
Välk, S. and Mougenot, C., 2019, July. Towards Creativity Stimulating Design Intervention for
Multidisciplinary Innovation Teams. In Proceedings of the Design Society:
International Conference on Engineering Design (Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 239-248).
Cambridge University Press.
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