Personal and Professional Development: Reflective Journal

This reflective journal on personal and professional development covers experiences, learning, and skills gained through a module. It uses Gibbs reflection cycle to depict self-reflection and highlights the importance of skills such as communication, problem-solving, and time management.

Personal and
Professional
Development

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK...............................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
A reflective journal may be refereed as personal records of students’ learnings. It is imperative
for students to keep records of their learning and experiences so that effective measures can be
taken for betterment of future. By monitoring and analysing their records, an individual can take
corrective actions so as to enhance his performance. There are various benefits of reflective
journal as it contributes in improving productivity and in eliminating errors that an individual has
done. Personal and professional development facilitates in improving learner’s productivity
along with learning of new skills which can help in capturing opportunities. This project report is
based on self-refection and will cover various experiences that I have felt while studying in
college. In addition to that, it will also cover my learning experience and what skills I have
developed through this module. Gibbs reflection cycle is used to depict experience and learnings.
TASK
Before attending this module, I was not familiar with various concepts and about my gaps which
needs to be filled. Along with this, I come to know that there are several areas in which I need to
improve and corrective actions are needed to be taken. It will help me in enhancing productivity
and can make bright future. By enhancing my skills, I can capture various opportunities in my
professional career. Earlier, I was not aware about skills and how they can contribute in
enhancing professional career. There are various areas which needs to be improved and it is
imperative for me so as to make better professional career. Gibbs reflection cycle is used to
depict self-reflection about learning and experience of this module. The concept of personal and
professional development provides structure to learning which can be used in evaluation of
mistakes and in eliminating those for better career opportunity. Gibbs reflection cycle if used to
demonstrate my learning and experience that I have encountered with.
Description- In this stage, after completion of my earlier grade, I want to pursue professional
course and want to make bright future. I have searched so many colleges for that and eventually
opted this college for pursuing professional course. I have chosen one of professional course in
this university. There are various courses available in this college along with several amenities
such as better library facility, good infrastructure and scholarship schemes. Every student can opt
for their favourite subject in order to pursue professional course. Skills plays an important role in

student’s life and it is crucial to enhance skills so that its advantage can be taken in professional
career. I want to be a manager in a reputed company and it is needed to have relevant skills so as
to perform roles and responsibilities effectively. By attending this course, I can improve my
employability skills and can implement in my professional career. Many students are enrolling in
this college who belongs to different countries and I was excited to make new friends. The
infrastructure of college was good and there can be seen cleanliness in every corner of campus.
Before enrolling to this college, I have read reviews of college and about faculties. Majority of
reviews are positive and this made me to choose this organisation. Along with studies, there are
various facilities provided by university that makes it convenient for students to learn.
Feelings- In the initial stage of learning in college, I was nervous as it was new for me. There
was no single friend of mine to whom I can talk to but in first day of class, teachers asked us to
introduced and one by one, we all introduced to each other. Little bit nervousness fades away
when tutor told about supportive and positive culture of college. On the very first day, I became
friend of many peers as I was good at my interpersonal skills. Along with this, all my friends are
good and supportive in nature which makes me comfortable. The environment of college is
supportive and positive too. In the initial stage, I faced many difficulties regarding my topics but
lecturers guided me in a polite and decent manner. They were very supportive and encourages
towards effective learning. They appreciated me all time and cleared all my doubts. In this
module, I come to know about various concepts that I was unknown from. It also helps me in
understanding value of skills that they consist and how they can be used in making professional
career better. In addition to that, I come to know about communication skill and this skill is
important in both academic and professional career. I have analysed that I lack in communication
skill and needs to be developed through this module. This module helped me in overcoming from
this weakness and upon successful completion, I have realised that it really helped me. There
were various practice sessions conducted to improve communication skill. In order to improve
this skill, tutor has provided topic and asked to present in classroom after a certain period of
time. I practiced that topic many times and me and my friends conducted group session so as to
practice more and to eliminate lacking areas. My friends suggested me to improve body language
as it is important element in communication. On the day of presentation, I have delivered speech
on that topic and this experience helped me in eliminating stage fear too. Upon completion, my

friends and tutors appreciated me for self-confidence and for giving extraordinary speech. I was
very happy and cannot express that feeling in words. I was speechless at that time and my hard
work reflects in my presentation. I have worked on my body language and takes help of my
friends and tutors so as to make presentation more effective.
The other employability skill that I have gained through this module is research skill.
This skill will help me in my professional career and I can take advantage in both professional
and academic career. In order to enhance this skill, I was provided with research project and
asked to collect, analyse and interpret so as to create insight for same. It is very important skill
which most of the companies are seeking for individual who possess this skill. I was not aware of
this concept and was in dilemma from where to start. By my tutors advised to collect data from
both online and offline modes. I take help of internet to collect data and ensures that it comes
from a viable website or it outcomes may not reflect actual result. I have collected data from
newspapers and magazines. I have collected data from both modes and analysed data. When I
submitted my project to tutors, they provide me with minor feedback and needs to be changed at
some point. I take feedback as positive and learned from that mistake. In this manner I have
made my project and learner about importance of research skill.
The other skill that I have gained through this module is Information Communication
Technology. This skill will highly used by me in my professional career. In addition to that, it
can be used in my academic career too. It will help me in providing ways by which I can
effectively interact with other people and can influence with communication skill. I can also
makes my learning by using this skill. Use of latest ICT resources enables in effective learning
and helps in better delivering of lectures. This college opts latest technology so as to make
learning easier. Along with this, lecturers use audio-visual and infographic posters to deliver
lectures.
In this module, I have come to know about importance of peer to peer learning or teamwork or
networking. Earlier, I haven’t worked in a team but I was given as a project in which I was
representing whole team and was appointed as leader of team. I was appointed as a leader to
enhance my teamwork skill. I was responsible for actions of my team and responsibility is upon
my shoulders. I have conducted team meeting and assigned a task to all team members. All the
peers were happy to be in my team and they have contributed valuable efforts in making project
successful. I was little bit nervous in this project but I suggest to move forward. I have properly

managed my work and at time of submission, my tutors appreciated my team for hard work. All
the team members equally contributed in making project successful. This experience is
memorable for me and I have developed self- confidence and can handle team in my professional
career.
Time management and self-management are two most important skill that I have learnt
through this module. With this skill, I can effectively manage my time and activities so as to
attain academic goals. Student’s life full of hectic and it is important to manage time so that
higher success can be attained. In addition to that, this skill was developed by providing various
tasks and asked to manage in given time. At first, I was not sure that I will compels this task but
by organising work in a sequel order, I have successfully managed time with task. Upon
successful, I was very happy that I have completed this project and I have gained confidence of
handling task and will complete in short time.
The another skill that I have developed through this module is problem solving skill and
it is important to address problem or it will negatively impact on performance and productivity.
As I want to be a manager and it is important to have this skill so that I can effectively manage
problems of my team and helps them in making more productive.
Evaluation- In this stage, my experience was very good regarding study module and college. All
the things were very good and the behaviour of tutors were like parents and I have treated them
as guardians. Method of delivering lecture were also good and I have enjoyed pretty much.
Learning becomes fun for me as the way of delivering lecture is quite easy. The decision of
choosing this college is good and this module helped me in overcoming from various weaknesses
and I can take corrective action so as to overcome them.
Analysis- In this stage, I have analysed that I was lacking in communication and problem solving
skill and I have taken help of various case studies in order to enhance problem solving skill. The
other alternative that I may go for is by reading journals and articles on internet. It will help me
in getting wider knowledge about various issue and ways to deal with them.
Action plan- In order to overcome my weakness, I have decided to formulate an action plan
which will help me in eliminating weakness. I will read various cases and implement on real life
situation so as to assess effectiveness of my action plan. The other way to improve is to take help
of various books from library which assist in enhancing knowledge.

CONCLUSION
From the above project report, it was concluded that recording of experiences helps in tracking
of actual performance and can be used in further development of learner. By comparing previous
record to current one, it helps in framing of better strategies that leads individual towards
accomplishment of objectives. In addition to that, various skills such as communication, problem
solving and time management will assist in attaining professional goals. Kolb’s reflection cycle
can be used to reflect personal learning and experiences that an individual has faced.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ashcroft, L., 2004. Developing competencies, critical analysis and personal transferable skills in
future information professionals. Library review.
Brine, A. and Feather, J., 2003. Building a skills portfolio for the information professional. New
library world, 104(11/12), pp.455-463.
Caires, S. and Almeida, L.S., 2005. Teaching practice in Initial Teacher Education: its impact on
student teachers' professional skills and development. Journal of Education for Teaching, 31(2),
pp.111-120.
Helterbran, V.R., 2008. The ideal professor: student perceptions of effective instructor practices,
attitudes, and skills. Education, 129(1).
Hill, C.E., 2009. Helping skills: Facilitating, exploration, insight, and action. American
Psychological Association.
Katz, N.H., Lawyer, J.W., Sosa, K.J., Sweedler, M. and Tokar, P., 2020. Communication and
conflict resolution skills. Kendall Hunt Publishing.
Navickiené, V. and Pevcevičiūtė, S., 2009. COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN GROUP/TEAM
WORK FOR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Bridges/Tiltai, 45(1).
Raybould, J. and Sheedy, V., 2005. Are graduates equipped with the right skills in the
employability stakes?. Industrial and commercial training.