Academic Study Skills: Reflection and Future Action

This article discusses the concept of individual reflection and its role in assessing and improving academic skills. It explores the use of Kolb's Reflective Cycle in evaluating personal and professional development. The module focuses on academic integrity, management, and referencing, highlighting the importance of these skills in completing academic projects. The article concludes with suggestions for future actions, including the development of time management and learning retention skills.

ACADEMIC STUDY
SKILLS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
REFLECTION.................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION AND FUTURE ACTION.....................................................................................8
REFERENCE.................................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Individual reflection is the exercise through which a person analyse self skills and
capabilities. This gives a chance to assess the current level of knowledge so that addition can be
done to the same. It helps in building a strong base which can be used for future benefits such as
gaining experiences. There is no specific format for the same and every person may hold
different techniques and ways to carry the changes which is a continuous process. It is useful in
getting a guidance by which one can see the amount of efforts that can be put by an individual in
a particular task.
It is significant in assessing areas that are strong and weak. In this way, one can make
improvements for obtaining the desired results. There are different models which can be used for
reflection and one of them being Kolb's Experimental learning. This model was prepared by
David Kolb in the year 1948 for gaining the experience which can help bringing transformation.
It comprises of various stages divided into different set of experiments in different segments.
Continuous evaluation is helpful for me to become all rounder is various academic fields
(Morris, 2019).
This whole model is based on experiments that can be gained from the experiences.
These are all based on reflection which includes learning cycle that helps in processing the data
into something meaningful through the continuous learning. With the use of this model, a learner
can determine the present level of knowledge by evaluating the personal and professional
requirements. With the use of this model, one can have the necessary skills and abilities. In this
report, discussion about various activities such as academic integrity, management, plagiarism
and aspects of referencing which I have learnt in this module have been included. In this way, it
can help me analysing the above-mentioned elements effectively.

REFLECTION
Kolb's Reflective Cycle:
The academic course includes knowledge which is related to implementation of activities.
This includes conference communications, public lectures, teaching, professional practise etc.
While performing academic work there is a requirement of maintaining of effectiveness and
perform various academic roles. This module “Academic Study Skills” is associated with various
opportunities which I learnt in the classroom. I have gone through various challenges while
learning this module and I have to overcome these challenges to make my academic work
successful. This module has helped me in going through varied experiences which has lead to
overall development of my present academic skills. This module is reflecting my experience and
Kolb's reflective cycle has been used to reflect my overall academic work and strategies so that
plagiarism can be eliminated (Schenck, and Cruickshank, 2015). I have developed some skills
which is helping in becoming a successful manager. Since, a long time with help of these tests I
have been able to enhance my present skills which has helped in development of my learning
abilities and gaining of knowledge (Hill, , 2017). Management & Academic Integrity are two
major criteria which are used for making detailed assessments and also helpful in drawing of
various conclusion with reference to a student. There are some objectives which have been set by
me with regards to my academic development.

Fig. 1- Kolb's Reflective Cycle
Source: Google
Learning of a software Program
According to Kolb's theory there are four types of learning styles which has helped in
enhancement of my present skills. These learning styles helped me acquisition of certain skills,
while accomplishment of these set goals which are skill enhancement. For this, there is a
requirement that certain steps are to be followed:
Concrete experience – In the starting stage of this module, I was having lot of
nervousness as I did not posses sufficient knowledge. All topics were completely new for me. I
wasn't familiar with who are my team members and classmates with whom I will have to do all
the group activities (McCarthy, 2016). But as I started to work with them there was an
understanding which was developed for learning of capabilities & skills. I also didn't posses
knowledge about referencing & management of academic work. With help of this module in
which I had to work and I was assigned a group of three to four people. There was a work which
was assigned to me so that I can develop a knowledge of academic integrity, plagiarism and

referencing. Teacher assigned me the task of writing an academic report on some relevant
topics. This is related with first term in my academic year. My lecturer has helped me in making
a detailed analysis of my present computer skills and technical skills. Firstly there was
theoretical knowledge which was provided to me by lecturers in the activity and then after that
there was a test of how much I have actually learned. It is identified that there are lot of
assessment which will help in developing a understanding of all concepts in a detailed manner. I
have learnt various skills which is going to help me in development such as this is a continuous
process in which there is a diagnostics testing which is done by my lecturers (Coleman and
Willis, 2015). This is a learning process which will help me in improving my present level of
capabilities. There has been a timely modification in the teaching process which helped in
improvement of my present level of knowledge. The skills I have learnt includes learning,
presentation, communication, effective writing and time management. There are many range of
activities such as role plays, case studies, slide shows, lectures etc. in present scenario, lectures
are a range of activities which have bee used by me in development of a concrete experience.
Active experimentation – This is related to how individuals can be engaged and then
telling in detail about whole experience which is required for development of skills. Tutor and
classmates have helped and supported me in learning from experiences so that I am not
demotivated at any stage. They helped me in working effectively with whole team and also in
managing the work within give time frame. The team also helped me in development of team
working skills such as cooperation, coordination etc. Summative assessment is usually
undertaken to make a evaluation of learning of student which takes at the end of when overall
understanding if a student is tested against a set criteria. In this there is a assessment which is
tested so that it is ensured that student are assess based on their level of understanding level. This
is a type of continual assessment which can be undertaken at various different levels. This will
help in continuous evaluation of a student which has helped me in complete and my all around
development.
Reflective observation – At time when I started module there was no knowledge which I
posses with regards to academic work as the time passed I started learning new skills. When I
started in practical I observed that there is a need to use authentic sources only for collecting of
information. I have developed skills of referencing and how to apply it on a particular context in

a appropriate manner. I have also developed skill on how to maintain academic integrity while I
was performing my job.
While I was working on improvement of my skills after taking and attending all the
lecturers I observed that regularity in attending lectures is a tool which can help in a continuous
development without any barriers as there are no gaps between topics. This has helped me in
understanding that regularity and lectures has helped me in enhancing my level of knowledge in
a more appropriate manner (Burns and Danyluk, 2017). This is the stage which actually depicts
what has been the overall learning outcomes from the educational skills.
Abstract conceptualisation – In the initial stage, I persuade this module as I had lack of
knowledge on how I have to work academically. I felt that I do not have adequate presentation
and team working skills. I had topped the work on these aspects so that I can develop my
knowledge with regrade to these areas. So, I decide I will be making efforts to read more content
and learn how to present it in a more effective manner.
I have carefully read all the articles and then efforts are made to find out how I can
develop more Methods of learning. There has been a usage of techniques such as online
engagement which has helped me in understanding of various concepts related to my theoretical
work, which provided me some extra knowledge and lead to achievement of clarity in present
conceptualisation. There has been a detailed understanding which I have been able to acquire
with time as I was attending my lecture, classroom notes have also helped in development of
understanding of various complicated topics. All this had led to developing knowledge with
regards to engagement skills, referencing and plagiarism in my academic module. (Baker and
Robinson, 2016).

CONCLUSION AND FUTURE ACTION
From above analysis it can be said that I have acquired lot of skills with the help of
modules and assessments, which has been provided to me in the given course of time. This is a
process which has made easy for me to make a complete overall analysis with the module which
I have studied. I have been able to enhance my communication skills. I have also able to aware
myself with the updated technology and my present strength. Kolb's reflective framework has
made it very easy for me in understanding of what I have learnt and areas where improvement is
necessary. This whole module was a great experience for me in understanding management and
other essential skills which are essential for completing the academic projects in given duration.
There are many skills such as team working, communication etc. which has led to overall
development for an individual during academics. These skills will help me in completing
successfully all my academic projects. There have been many other skills such as creativity, my
speaking skills, regularity nature for attending my lectures and decision making skills. These all
are part of my learnings which has helped me in successful acquisition of these skills which are
further leading towards my personal career development. There are certain skills such as
communication, presentation, learning and many more, which can be acquired only as a student
so, there has been a need that I had to focus on my present competence level and according to
that work in the direction of acquisition of more such type of skills.
For future prospective, it can be said that I have to focus on all other activities also such
as there is requirement for me to learn skills related with management of time. As I had faced lot
of problems while I was willing to attend my lectures on a regular basis and also there is a need
to have an equal focus on all around development of my personality. Further, I will also be
focussing on improving my ability to learn and retain knowledge for a longer duration of time.
The techniques which can help me are daily revision of the case studies, taking tests, etc. This is
a process which is going to help me in development of mind maps in certain cases when I have
to work on a project. I also felt that I need some motivational tools so that I am motivated
everyday for my lectures and time I have to devote towards in the areas I have to worked upon.
Effective motivation is going to help me in having a regularity towards my learning process and
also towards my enthusiasm level to understand and focus for all round development. These
skills will help me in becoming a more effective learner.

REFERENCE
Books & Journal
Baker, M. A. and Robinson, J. S., 2016. The Effects of Kolb's Experiential Learning Model on
Successful Intelligence in Secondary Agriculture Students. Journal of Agricultural
Education. 57(3). pp.129-144.
Burns, A. and Danyluk, P., 2017. Applying Kolb’s model to a nontraditional preservice teaching
practicum. Journal of Experiential Education. 40(3). pp.249-263.
Coleman, D. and Willis, D. S., 2015. Reflective writing: The student nurse's perspective on
reflective writing and poetry writing. Nurse education today. 35(7). pp.906-911.
Hill, B., 2017. Research into experiential learning in nurse education. British Journal of
Nursing. 26(16). pp.932-938.
McCarthy, M., 2016. Experiential learning theory: From theory to practice. Journal of Business
& Economics Research (JBER). 14(3). pp.91-100.
Morris, T. H., 2019. Experiential learning–a systematic review and revision of Kolb’s
model. Interactive Learning Environments, pp.1-14.
Pai, H. C., 2016. An integrated model for the effects of self-reflection and clinical experiential
learning on clinical nursing performance in nursing students: A longitudinal
study. Nurse education today. 45. pp.156-162.
Schenck, J. and Cruickshank, J., 2015. Evolving Kolb: Experiential education in the age of
neuroscience. Journal of Experiential Education. 38(1). pp.73-95.