Learning and Communicating Online: Reflection on Skills Acquired

This report reflects on the impact of learning and communicating online on student's skills and future career prospects. It highlights personal development through reflection on what was learned from the unit and future work skills. The report discusses the skills acquired, the impact of learning online, progress on unit and course goals, and the conclusion.

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LEARNING AND COMMUNICATING ONLINE
by [Name]
Course
Professor’s Name
Institution
Location of Institution
Date

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Introduction
Reflection has a positive role in student's life by fostering critical thinking as well as help
learners, develop professional values and skills (Lew and Schmidt 2011). By looking into past
learning experience, students are able to engage in informed and thoughtful deliberations on
actions and behaviors that ultimately enhance academic performance (Barnard 2011). Similarly,
Helyer (2015) acknowledge that students can reflect consciously with a goal of understanding
events in their lives that ultimately help enhance the meaning of what was learned. Furthermore,
research conducted by Cavilla (2017) reveals that a reflection is a tool for enhancing
metacognition, motivation, and students' academic performance. As such, reflecting on learning
and communicating online will enhance my understanding of the unit as well as help in
identifying my weak areas for correction. In that regard, this report will highlight personal
development through reflection on what I learned from the unit and future work skills.
Reflection on skills acquired
Information and communication technologies enable learners to acquire skills that are
instrumental in future working environments (Genlott and Grönlund 2013). Learning this unit
has equipped me with more skills communication, organization, writing, computer, time
management, teamwork, research, and problem-solving skills. In that regard, for my future work
skills, communication and teamwork skills really stand out. Notably, employers require workers
who can come up with solutions facing the organization and articulate them well. Accordingly,
many students have been consulting me on areas they do not understand and thus I have gained
more confidence in helping other students solve their academic problems as I sharpen my literary
skills. Besides, I have sharpened my teamwork skills, which is critical to any organization as it
inspires achieving set goals and organizational vision and mission. Working closely with other

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students and instructors is proving to work wonders. Whenever I explain concepts to students, I
not only feel more confident but also nurtures my communication strategies and teamwork
techniques.
Learning and communicating online makes me gain more confident in handling current
technologies that are the driving force of studies and career. Through this unit, I have gone an
extra mile on learning the basics of website building. As such, I can now blog and create content
that will enhance my writing skills to become successful in my master's studies. Again, I am also
in a position of contributing to revolutionizing working environment by assigning roles and
responsibilities online to help cut costs. In essence, this unit has helped me acquire
communication and team playing abilities that are key to advancing career growth. Moreover, I
have acquired skills to search authentic jobs, handle aptitude tests, and secure the best
opportunities for personal growth.
Impact of learning online
Consistent with Ni (2013); Sung, Chang, and Liu (2016), online learning helps students
understand and remember the concepts and content since there is the breaking of class
monotony. Essentially, my knowledge of research has greatly improved. In particular, I have
learned on various search engines, for example, how to reframe a sentence for easier searching,
and how to access credible materials to cite and reference. Moreover, I have learned that peer-
reviewed articles are one of the best sources to reference since they are scholarly written and
have credible approvals. My confidence to handle online assignments has immensely improved
too. Looking back, I was very naïve at the beginning of the unit but after going through the unit

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for a month, I developed more interest that worked to my advantage. In addition, the tutor's
passion and dedication to guide us in this unit positively impacted on my understanding of online
learning. The tips I received my lecturer inspired my new love for online learning more than
ever.
From what I have learned this far, my future learning will entirely be online. Learning
online allows me to do other things as I study. For instance, through distance learning, I can
work part-time and undertake my master's program, unlike full-time studies which require me to
be physically present in class for learning to take place. Furthermore, within the next four years
after graduating, I shall have acquired 3-4 years working experience and my master's degree. As
such, I will position myself for more opportunities career-wise. Additionally, I intend to do more
research on how to improve online learning to help weak students realize their potential upon
dedicating themselves to studies. Helping others will enable me to acquire more research and
communication skills, which are crucial in enhancing my performance at a personal level as well
as duties assigned to me in my career journey (Barmaki and Hughes 2018).
Progress on unit goals
According to Van der Hoek, Groeneveld, and Kuipers (2016); Asmus et al. (2015),
setting performance goals and working in teams exemplify development. Accordingly, I have set
a goal of scoring a distinction in this unit and become a consultant among my fellow students.
Concerning scoring a distinction, I have keenly listened to teaching process that has really helped
me understand this unit more. Having said that, I am also working with other students,
identifying and discussing our weak areas to help one another. In that regard, I have become a
great team player in this unit and my colleagues are constantly asking me questions on concepts
they do not understand. Moreover, Tuckman's teamwork theory helped me engage with other

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students to sharpen my skills in online research and learning. According to the theory, the
process of learning entails forming, storming, norming, and performing (Wilson 2010) that has
helped me engage with my colleagues constructively on becoming a consultant as well as
gearing to scoring a distinction.
Notably, scoring a distinction in this unit will improve my overall grade to graduate with
first class honors that will enable me to secure a scholarship and enroll for master's degree
thereafter. Again, becoming a consultant among students will boost my confidence to embrace
challenging tasks in my future working environment. With improved confidence and a great
team player, I will be able to head various departments and ultimately become operations
manager in my organization. Analytically, high scores and consulting by other students nurture
my talents of becoming a better manager and a problem solver. Additionally, consultations by
other students nurtures my communication and teamwork skills that are a necessity for career
growth. Furthermore, this online unit is preparing to embrace online working, particularly virtual
working for increased organizational performance.
Progress on course goals
My overall course goal is to graduate with first class honors and to emerge the best
student in our class. Learning and communicating online unit has helped me to acquire research
skills that are proving instrumental in other units. Since the beginning of the semester, handling
other assignments have been easy owing to improved research skills. Intrinsically, my
performance has greatly improved. These improvements are helping me get grades that will
enable me score first class at the end of my course. Notably, learning through videos and
PowerPoint presentations have been of help immensely. Blackboard videos illustrate concepts
that are easy to understand and comprehend. On the other hand, topping my class a positive sign

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of success. Being consulted on this online units show that I better understand the unit than other
students. Ideally, replicating this superiority in other units is a sure way of topping the class upon
graduation or even at the end of the next semester.
Of note, achieving this unit and course goals will impact my future studies and career
positively. Accordingly, emerging top student with a distinction means that I will be the first
student to be considered on scholarship opportunities to further my studies (Binder, Davis, and
Bloom 2016). Again, on recruitment for job opportunities, I will be among top contenders to
secure jobs in global companies. Naturally, high score reiterate that I am sharp and can learn
quickly. As such, I will be able to grasp career concepts faster, apply, perform better and secure
promotions within a short period. In short, scoring good grades improves my chances of
excelling better as a beginner in my career prospects. Having said that, a good performance will
elevate my paycheck, for instance, joining a company with first class and master's degree puts
me in a prime position of negotiating my pay and ultimately career growth.
Conclusion
Reflection is a tool for enhancing metacognition and performance among students.
Learning and communicating online has indeed been very critical in understanding concepts on
distance learning. Besides, through this unit, I have acquired communication, problem-solving
and team playing skills that are important in my future studies and career growth. Through this
unit, I have set personal goals of graduating with first class and secure scholarship opportunities.
Additionally, I have aspired to boost my confidence as other students consult me on what they do
not understand about online learning. Other skills acquired include research, which is critical as I
advance my master's degree and future career prospects. To this end, reflection has helped me
learn more about myself, identifying my strengths and weaknesses will surely help me improve

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performance as well as set smart career and education goals. Learning and communicating online
is the best way to acquire knowledge.

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References
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