Improving Problem Solving and Critical Thinking Skills through Reflective Writing

This assignment focuses on enhancing problem solving and critical thinking skills through reflective writing. It includes a Personal Development Plan (PDP) to develop an appropriate schedule to acquire determined skills and abilities. The Reflective Commentary reflects on the approach to completing the assignment and the Personal Development Plan identifies development needs, options, and activities to improve skills and behaviours.

Professional Practice Week 11 Portfolio Tasks
Task 1
a. Make a plan of your assignment
Add the key ideas you will discuss in each paragraph of your assignment.
The primary and major purpose behind this particular assignment lies in improvising
and enhancement of problem solving and critical thinking skills and ability with
consideration of reflective writing. For instance, it will be including a PDP in order to develop
an appropriate schedule to be followed up in order to acquire determined skills and
abilities.
b. Write the references for 5 of your sources.
Use the London Met Harvard Referencing System below. Press CNTRL click to access
https://student.londonmet.ac.uk/media/london-metropolitan-university/london-met-documents/professional-service-departments/
library-services/referencing/HarvardReferencingGuideFull2016-05.pdf
Task 2: Reflective Commentary (250 words)
Reflect on your approach to completing this assignment.
Have you been as effective as you could have been? What issues have you encountered?
If you could start again, what would you do differently?
My personal aim of life lies in consideration of Lifelong learning in order to acquire
maximum amount of benefits throughout my life. For instance, I personally believe that no
individual can ever be perfect in life and always lacks some or the other areas with scope of
improvisation. In the meaningful journey of personal growth and development, I have faced
and will be facing various complex and difficult situations and scenario. In order to be

Professional Practice Week 11 Portfolio Tasks
precise, it could lead to result in being a barrier in my personal growth and development
with arise of some or the other hurdle. Referring to last statement, Lifelong learning practice
towards acquiring critical thinking and problem solving skills have been taken into
consideration by me in order to prevent the chances of these barriers in personal growth
and development. It will contribute various additional values towards my personal
development which will further facilitate me in attaining desired career opportunity in life.
Furthermore, another major advantage associated with determined initiate is that it will
allow me to acquire maximum benefits from a situation with consideration of effective
problem solving and critical thinking approach. Therefore, I will be benefited with the
determined initiatives in the most suitable manner.

Professional Practice Week 11 Portfolio Tasks
3. Personal Development Plan
Think about the results of the questionnaire you did and the information from today’s
lesson. What have you learnt about yourself and your skills? Are you satisfied with your
results? Is this an area that could be improved? If so, consider making this topic one of your
Development Episodes.
Complete the PDP below by answering the questions fully with specific details. Remember
that it is normal for your ideas and PDP to change as the course continues and your
priorities alter.
STEP 1: Identify Your Development Needs
A. Why are you seeking development at this time?
The primary and major aim behind looking after personal development is to ensure
effective growth and development as well as ensuring future career development.
B. What are you seeking to develop at this time?
I believe that there is no specific time for something and I could start learning things
from now in order to acquire maximum possible knowledge and benefits.
C. Emphasis: What do you need? What is your specific goal?
Upright knowledge and command over situations with effective critical thinking and
problem-solving skills and abilities.
STEP 2: Identify Your Development Options
D. What steps could you take to develop the new knowledge, skills and behaviours?
E.g. read more about the topic? Watch some videos about the topic? Practise the skill
every day for 30 minutes? Organise the way you learn?
Think about your own learning preferences and adapt the task to suit.
Ensuring active participation in various different situations and initiating efforts
towards overcoming through the same.
E. Considerations arising from ‘why’, ‘what’ and ‘how’
Speed: How quickly do you need to develop the knowledge, skills or behaviours identified?

Professional Practice Week 11 Portfolio Tasks
The skill and ability of critical thinking and problem-solving could never be enough and always
has scope of improvement.
F: Identify Your Development Options
With consideration of active participation as well as volunteering practices.
STEP 3: Plan for Development Activities
G. Write down the steps you will take to accomplish your task.
What could go wrong with your plan?
What will you do if your original plan does not work well?
Think of an alternative way to achieve your goal.
Contributing individual efforts and initiatives in order to resolve a particular situation
as well as analysing the end result of the same in order to understand it in a effective
manner.
STEP 4: Undertake Development Activities
H. List your development activities completed throughout the semester
Group activities, social events, presentations, situation analysis are some of the
major activities performed throughout the semester.
STEP 5: Apply new knowledge/ skills/ behaviours in the workplace
How do you intend to use this new knowledge/ skills/ behaviour in the workplace?
It will facilitate me in accomplishing my desired goals and objectives by facing
various complex and difficult situations.
STEP 6: Review and Repeat
Reflect on how this new knowledge/ skill / behaviour helped in your professional
development
Professional and formal approach with upright command over critical thinking and
problem-solving.