Academic and Employability Skills: Reflective Learning Journey

This report provides a reflective analysis of academic and employability skills development within the context of a nursery worker role. It employs Gibbs' reflective cycle to examine experiences related to time management, public speaking, and academic writing. The reflection covers the initial experiences, feelings, evaluation of performance, analysis of strengths and weaknesses, a conclusion summarizing the learning journey, and an action plan for future improvement. The report highlights the importance of continuous skill development, self-awareness, and proactive planning in achieving personal and professional goals. The student document is available on Desklib, a platform offering a range of study resources for students.

Academic and
Employability Skills

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
Covered in PPT.......................................................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
Reflective learning..................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERNCES:..................................................................................................................................8
Books and Journals:................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Academic Skills meant by a collection of study habits, time management tools and
learning strategies that support students to learn and make into practice to the real life situation.
It is also important that teachers also practice in their sessions that their students can master on
certain lessons (Abbasi, Ali and Bibi, 2018). On the other side employability skills also defines
transferable skills which is required by a person in order to make them employable. Along with
this, employers also set a certain skills for their employees which is needed such understanding
of the technical skills and many more. The report is aiming with certain skills and requirements
in order to fulfil the certain goals and build career as nursery worker. The report is also based on
reflection which is containing certain topics such as time management, public speaking and
giving presentations, academic writing and so on.
TASK 2
Reflective learning
Reflection is a general part of learning and teaching in the academy. It creates awareness
about professional knowledge and actions by challenging assumptions of day to day activities
and critical thinking of own to practice situations (Artess, Mellors-Bourne and Hooley, 2017). It
makes every student to learn better and in effective way that can applied to the learning
experiences. Reflective learning is discussed underneath using Gibbs model:-
Description: I am working as a nursery employee in the company where my work is look after
small children in nursery setting. These children are generally new born or may include the age
up to five. My job is to develop and grow children in a safe and supportive environment. This job
role does not required qualification but can be done in some supervision who will help and
support with certain skills and requirements. I prefer to choose this kind of job because childcare
industry can be motivating and rewarding career (Bennett and Et.al., 2017). In this sector, I
found there are lots of opportunities to grow and progress throughout this sector. I work as
nursery assistant where a nursery supervisor guides me and give appropriate training to enhance
my skills. I learned that this job of nursery worker is include with some skills while ensuring
high standards of emotions, physical, intellectual and social care which is provided to the
children. Depending on the job role and its duties it is required with some specific skills such as

time management skills, academic writing, communication skills which is including public
speaking and giving presentations about my work and so on.
Feelings: During my sessions of training I learned that managing time is very important to
complete any task and work in a right and given time (Brandfon, 2018). It makes the best use of
time because time is precious and limited. Managing so many children is a very difficult task and
sometimes I got frustration that if affects my work. As this my first job I was excited for the job
because I like to play and spend my time with children. There are lot of children who needs
proper care and attention but I felt some helplessness in order to know the needs and issues of
babies. To manage children with proper handling at single time is difficult for me. But when I
play with children and their smile make me happy and which shows that this job of taking care
children is worth for me. I always want to choose a path that reflects my life and passion and I
feel a special bond and connection with children. Doing a job of nursery worker needs
confidence to be good at public speaking and needs to have a good academic writing skills. In
order to speak publicly I feel some nervousness and shy to put my thoughts upfront. I thought
about various concepts that how I teach my lessons or learning to the babies and also teach not to
misconduct any activity in their life.
Evaluation: I feel that managing time wisely, make me feel more in control, able to work and
complete tasks in the given deadline and which also helps prevents the last minute surprises. It
makes me less stressed and more relaxed. To manage time I preferred to make a time table and a
“to-do list” which supports me a lot and makes me easy to identify what is my priority and what
work I should done at prior. This saves a lot of time of mine. To discuss my problems with my
mentors helps to understand the needs of children. It also has been evaluated that when I failed to
manage time it affects my work and my performances badly. Sometimes I had to perform
activities such as to manage children with partners or in group of 3-5 as there are countless
number of children (Pouratashi, M., 2019). If I was not doing my work well then it costs my
whole team. During my academic writing sessions, there were various tasks and activities given
to me to perform which helps me to improve my skills such managing time, presenting myself in
public, opening up my thoughts and so on. Public speaking skills is very vital to put my thought
so that other can understand and I can understand their viewpoints as well. It makes me confident
and deliver a strong impact if I am able to put my words with great confidence. These skills

helps me to improve my personal growth and makes me confidence enough to do my given task
in my work.
Analysis: It has been analysed from learning experiences that it very essential to attend learning
sessions to develop and grow my skills in order to achieve my personal and professional goals as
well (Bunney, 2017). For an effective doing of my tasks, it is very important to understand the
reaction of children and have patience and clam in the most stressful situations. Sensitivity
towards children is very important in order to manage their crankiness. I arranged many games
for the children to play where they can enjoy, entertain, learn new things and many more. It helps
to develop their communication skills as well with other children. It is essential to try and follow
the routine but they are children who are not able to understand such type of things so I adopted
flexibility and changes according the needs and requirements of children. Throughout my
experiences, I learned many of my strengths, weaknesses to be work on, and find many
opportunities for me to grow and develop my skills (Jaradat, 2017). Finding my strengths such as
I have good communication skills to talk with children in their way, to ask my mentor for giving
proper feedback in order to improve where ever I am lacking, listening carefully whatever my
mentors taught me in the training, which overall helps my academic career and presentation
skills. There are various types of training giving me to deal with babies with special educational
requirements and disabilities such as feeding suitable meals or drinks or snacks, teaching
students or children general life manners and lessons about about hygiene and so on. I learned
and developed skills to help children to learn physically, socially, emotionally through various
routines, stirring child based activities and educational plays. This is analysed this role of mine
exciting as I had to deal with children who have different backgrounds, cultures and with those
have different abilities.
Conclusion: The conclusion is that the job of nursery worker is a great job which I ever have to
do. Being a nursery worker I developed and grow a lot with range of improved skills such as
communication skills, listening skills, academic writing, giving appropriate presentation, enough
confident to speak in public and convince other with my thoughts and many more. There were
many situations that helps me to identify my strengths and through which I am able to grab many
opportunities to grow and progress. On the other side, there are many situations in which I failed
to attempt but I worked on my mistakes, proper feedback from my seniors helps to manage my
routine and identify my priorities which ultimately helped me to do my work on the given

deadlines. I also learned that it is essential to grow my skills while working in group in which
shared thought helps to increase the knowledge on the given subject, and improve the
interpersonal skills as well. Sometimes working in group is challenging as everyone has their
own different opinions and idea of working which leads to disagreements. But I challenged my
self and put forward as a new deal in which I had things to make its worth. Moreover with this, I
always push towards my passion and build a good career in the same.
Action Plan: Whenever I find myself in the situation, I will recall my strengths in the tough
situations which will make me easy to do and makes me potential enough to complete my tasks.
I will recall me all things from the very start where I start in my career in this field of nursing
which I liked a lot (Lundberg, Gaustad and Krogstie, 2018). This field always want a person be
ready with the changing demands of the situation as the little ones needs extra care. I would also
like to work out on things where there is still a requirement to be improved. In my academic
lessons of writing I have been given with many tasks and projects which is clear, focused,
concise and structured by evidence. Throughout these sessions I learned about formal writing
which will be very convincing for my customers who wants to volunteer in such kind of job.
During these sessions, learned that there is not so much requirement of long sentences which
definitely I will apply in my practical work. Along with this, my vocabulary is also going to be
improved in my next work. I would also like to do various presentations about child health and
care, their moods and emotions will be show in my next project (Pilav-Velic, Selimovic and
Jahic, 2020). I will give my knowledge and experience to me juniors as well so that can utilize it
make a best use of it. Academic writing also provide a record of assignment through I can
manage and try not to do same mistakes ever again in my personal and professional life as well.
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from the above report is that academic and employability skills is
very important in a person's life which helps to grow and build his career in the specific field.
Skills are required to be improved and make enough use to build a career. This report presented a
personal reflection which is consists with strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. PDP
supports to work on specific skills on a certain time period. This report is also based on the
reflection using a Gibbs model which includes six stages of experiences that description,
feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion and action plan. This shows what a person has learned
through their experiences which helps to identify their strengths and weaknesses. A person is

able to work with his skills which developed and improved. It is also helpful to know where a
person is lacking and needs to develop with increases knowledge.

REFERNCES:
Books and Journals:
Abbasi, F. K., Ali, A. and Bibi, N., 2018. Analysis of skill gap for business graduates:
managerial perspective from banking industry. Education+ Training.
Artess, J., Mellors-Bourne, R. and Hooley, T., 2017. Employability: A review of the literature
2012-2016.
Bennett, D., and Et.al., 2017. How do research-intensive universities portray employability
strategies? A review of their websites. Australian Journal of Career
Development, 26(2), pp.52-61.
Brandfon, J. R., 2018. The impact of cocurricular involvement and leadership roles on the
perceived development of employability skills (Doctoral dissertation, University of
Miami).
Bunney, D., 2017. Facilitating the transition to postgraduate studies: What can we learn from the
First Year Experience?. Journal of Academic Language and Learning, 11(1), pp.A23-
A38.
Jaradat, G. M., 2017. Internship training in computer science: Exploring student satisfaction
levels. Evaluation and program planning, 63, pp.109-115.
Lundberg, G. M., Gaustad, A. and Krogstie, B. R., 2018, April. The employer perspective on
employability. In 2018 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference
(EDUCON) (pp. 909-917). IEEE.
Pilav-Velic, A., Selimovic, J. and Jahic, H., 2020. Personal Innovativeness and Employability:
How Personal Traits Affect Employer Attractiveness. In Eurasian Business
Perspectives (pp. 23-32). Springer, Cham.
Piopiunik, M. and Et.al., 2020. Skills, signals, and employability: An experimental
investigation. European Economic Review, 123, p.103374.
Pouratashi, M., 2019. Higher education and activities to improve students' employability
skills. Journal of Education for Business, 94(7), pp.433-439.
Mississippi (Doctoral dissertation, The University of Southern Mississippi).