Academic and Research Skills Report

This report explores the significance of academic and research skills, outlining a comprehensive personal development plan. It covers self-assessment, SMART goal setting, note-taking strategies, research planning, and the use of primary and secondary sources. The report also includes a personal development plan to monitor progress and achieve desired skill development.

Academic and Research Skills
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
a. Personal skills audit............................................................................................................3
b. Determination of SMART Goals........................................................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
Note taking.............................................................................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
TASK 5............................................................................................................................................7
Personal development plan.....................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
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INTRODUCTION
Skills are important to have by each and every individual to complete the tasks and projects
as well as it depicts their overall personality. The sills should be of two kind personal and
academic skills. Personal skills are such which we learn from real life experiences and academic
skills are developed with the help of education. The technique which helps in development of
skills in candidates known as personal development plan. The first step which includes in the
plan is to assess their own skills in which we are good and bad. After that goals and targets are
set which according to which sources are used in improvement of particular skill (AlHassan and
Wood, 2015).
In the present report explain about, procedure of assessing own strengths and weaknesses in
terms of skills, preparation of SMART targets on the basis of such weaknesses to overcome
them, use of note taking skills to grab knowledge from different sources, preparation of research
plan and use of primary and secondary sources. Also, formulation of personal development plan
to assess improvement.
TASK 1
a. Personal skills audit
Personal skills audit is the process which includes identification of own strengths and
weaknesses. In this process, emphasis is provided on the assessment of both personal and
academic skills. The best way which helps in effective assessment of personal skills in which we
are good and weak is to analyse their past experiences where we applied such skills in
accomplishment of their project. On the other hand, for assessment of academic skills need to
evaluate their past and current level of education. It is important to do overall audit because this
will provides the opportunity is to improve their weak areas and converted them in strength. In
future this will assist in completion of their tasks within given frame of time.
Through application of approaches of personal audit I am able to understand about my
strengths and weaknesses which are defined below:
Strengths
 I felt that I am good in problem solving skills. There are many tasks are performed by
where large number of challenges are arise but all these are effectively are handled by me
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and able to complete on defined time. I have the ability to keep calm myself which
contributes that my stress level is not increase in worst and situations also.
 I have good knowledge regarding all the new and innovative technologies which are
present in current period of time. This will not only saves the time but also helps in
reduction of cost while performing any project through application of innovate
technologies. This will provides the opportunity regarding improvement in the quality of
my work.
 I also have good skill of adaptability and flexibility according to the different situations. I
am not afraid of changing my plans and starting the process from very early stage. This is
important skill which helps me many times in life and academic projects to come out
from difficult situations easily without any assistance.
Weaknesses
 I assessed that I am weak in communication skill. Whenever time comes to communicate
with others and share their views I feel hesitate. The three important aspects of
communication are known as speaking, written and listening. The major issue I identified
with my speaking and presentation skill.
 I also have issues in my leadership skills. When there is need to lead the group of peoples
my stress level is increased and not able to carrying the tasks from front. Also, I feel that
I am not good motivator due to already having lack in my communication skills through
which I am not able to make good bond with them.
 Many times situations are arise when need to perform many functions simultaneously to
complete the project and I am not able to finish them on time. From where I assessed that
having lack in skill of multitasking. I feel confused while multiple functions are comes up
and not able to make decision regarding which task is more important at present to
complete.
b. Determination of SMART Goals
Whenever the target is set required to be SMART in nature. SMART depicts specific,
measurable, achievable, reliable and time. I used this SMART criterion when targets are set
regarding the skills which are required to develop in future period of time. Such targets are
defined below:
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 To develop the skill of communication within period of 6 months
 To develop the skill of multitasking within period of 8 months
 To develop the skill of leadership skill within period of 4 months
TASK 2
Note taking
Note taking is important skill which includes making of notes from the information which is
gathered through use of listening skills or reading skills. While making the notes it is important
to write only important information which is relatable for the development of particular skill.
The notes should be unambiguous and written in simple language which is understandable. Also,
they need to be in short and precise manner (Bozeman, Fay and Slade, 2013).
I used my note taking skill to gather the information and knowledge about improvement of
skills which are set as aim to develop within specific period of time. The sources which are used
by for making my notes are defined below:
Noted key points from varied sources using the listening skill
Classroom lectures: Every college undertakes the special classes regarding development
of the leadership skills. I need to attend these classes on regular basis which helps me in
improvement of leadership skills (Bryman and Bell, 2015). My listening ability is core aspect
which helps me to prepare effective notes and achieve my target within set period of time. The
application of approaches which are taught me in real helps to bring changes in my personality.
Conferences and Seminars: There some special conferences and seminars are held
which helps in the development of skills. I used this option for development of communication
skill. As there they provide the chance to interact with each other or give presentation on stage
which helps in development of the aspect of public speaking (Chawner and Oliver,2013). Also,
tow important aspects of communication is developed in me with the help of seminar which are
listening and writing.
Face to face interaction: This includes direct interaction with seniors and professors to
ascertain their views and guidance in development of the skill of multitasking. It is observed that
this skill is developed with the experiences of life and increase in the number of responsibilities.
It mean in development of this sill takes time (Collins, 2017). For developing the skill of doing
many tasks single time I take the support of seniors and professors and note down key points
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which are need to address while performing many functions. This will helps me removal of the
situation of confusion.
Noted key points from varied sources through application of reading skills
Articles and journals: There are many articles and journals are published which
contains the information regarding development of leadership and multitasking skill. Here, I used
my reading skill to take important information from there which is relevant and makes note. I
learned from there about many leadership and multitasking approaches which helps me to
improve my skills.
Books: Reading of books is an effective source which helps in development of
communication approach. From reading of books related to communication development helps
to understand about different approaches which help to make the communication process more
effective.
TASK 3
Research Plan
I developed research plan to carry the research activities effectively to grab the
appropriate results. Research plan is an outline regarding the activities which are required to
perform step wise to complete the research activities.
Research overview
Title
Determination of aims and objectives
Formulation of strategy for research
Development of graphics and videos
Use of innovation and approach
Preparation of budget
Development of progress report
Need of referencing
Reviewing of research activities
Primary and secondary methods
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There are two methods which are mainly used in the research for the purpose of
collection of information which are known as primary and secondary. Primary method is more
relevant for the purpose of research as it helps in collection of information directly relatable to
research objectives. This information which is gathered through application of the primary tools
and techniques is true and accurate and unbiased in nature. The different types of tools which are
mainly used under primary method include questionnaire, interview, observation etc. It takes is
time consuming and costly process which helps in ascertaining effective outcomes. On the other
hand, secondary method includes collection of information which is already published on some
other sources such as articles, journals and newspapers. The information is not much relevant to
the research aspect but helps in improvement of the understanding about the research objectives.
This method is used for conduction research when time and budget is low.
I used both primary and secondary methods in the process of note taking. The sources
which are used be me in this regard are some of them includes in primary and remaining in
secondary. The sources which are included in the primary method are conferences and seminars,
classroom lectures and face to face interaction. These three sources are specially designed only
for the purpose of the development of particle skill in which I lacked. As they are directly related
to my objectives. On the other hand, secondary method includes the sources which are used by
me are articles and journals and books. The information and approaches are already written in
these sources regarding development of my communication, leadership and multitasking skill. I
need to only identify such information and approaches.
TASK 5
Personal development plan
My
personal
developme
nt
targets?
Short or
long
term
target?
How will I achieve my
targets? What activities do
I need to undertake to
achieve my objectives?
What support do I need?
Date of
review
Progress
made
towards
target
Further
action
require
d
Actual date of
achieving
target
Leadersh
ip skills
Short
term
I developed my
leadership skills with
help of classroom
7/6/201
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I learn
many
leadership
Need
to give
more
7/10/2018
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lectures and reading of
articles and journals
approache
s which
helps to
lead group
of people
focus
on
lecture
s
Multitask
ing skills
Long
term
For development of my
multitasking skill I
made face to face
interaction with seniors
and professors and read
articles or journals
7/6/201
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I asses
that in I
am able to
remove
the
situation
of
confusion
Need
to be
effecti
vely
apply
directi
on of
profes
sors
7/2/2019
Commun
ication
skills
Short
term
I used conferences and
seminars to develop my
communication skills
along with reading of
books
7/6/201
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Now I am
able to
share my
views in
public
Need
to give
more
empha
sis on
presen
tation
or
public
speaki
ng
7/12/2018
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from the above report that one of the important aspect which helps in
development of the skills is note taking from varied sources. The information should be taken
from these sources with the help of their listening and reading skills. To effectively apply the
skill of note taking in right direct for optimum outcomes need to analyse their existing skills and
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find out in which need development. Formulation of goals and targets helps in designing of plans
which guides towards development of overall personality. Outlining of research plan is important
to determine the steps which are essential to carry for success of research project. The two
important sources from where information is collected include primary and secondary.
Preparation of personal development plan helps to notice progress and time period under which
the process of development is completed.
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