In-depth Report: Academic Skills and Professional Development Module

This report provides an overview of academic skills and professional development, focusing on soft skills for computing graduates. It includes an annotated bibliography of five research articles related to soft skills and their importance in the computing field. A job advertisement is created, and the Gibbs reflective cycle is applied to analyze the experience of searching for relevant references. The report also reflects on the lessons learned throughout the module, including study skills, the graduate recruitment market, and online reputation management, highlighting the importance of continuous learning and adaptation in the professional world. The report concludes by summarizing the key takeaways and emphasizing the significance of these skills for career progression.

Introduction to Academic
Skills and Professional
Development

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
TASK 1.......................................................................................................................................3
Create a descriptive annotated bibliography which represents the five pieces of research of
academic related to the chosen topic and every entry has to follow particular format...............3
TASK 2.......................................................................................................................................5
Create a job advertisement in the field of computing and prepare it on a particular job role and
use the Gibbs model of reflection for structuring the submission .............................................5
TASK 3.......................................................................................................................................8
Write a reflection about what has been learnt and experienced on the chosen lessons in the
module ........................................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11
Appendix........................................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Academic skills refers to the strategies, abilities and habits which can help the learners in
succeeding to the setting of academic level. Academic skills are important because it increases
the confidence level, self esteem and competence as well. Professional development refers to the
all certification, training and education which a worker needs in order to succeed in their career.
Professional development is important because it is instrumental in terms of enabling the career
progression and also empowers the individuals in their future and current roles. The present
report will cover discussion about soft skills for computing graduates and also about the job
advertisement for the particular job role in the field of computing. In addition to this, the report
will cover analysis about the field of computing. Moreover, the report will cover discussion
about the lessons covered certain aspects such as study skills, graduate recruitment market and
the management of the online reputation.
MAIN BODY
TASK 1
Create a descriptive annotated bibliography which represents the five pieces of research of
academic related to the chosen topic and every entry has to follow particular format
Soft skills for computing graduates
Entry-1: Groeneveld and et.al., 2020, June. Soft skills: What do computing program syllabi
reveal about non-technical expectations of undergraduate students?. In Proceedings of the 2020
ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education (pp. 287-293).
It is basically focused on the computing graduates regarding the program who are not
very expert in terms of technical field. This is the main intended audience on which the major
focus is there. It also explains about the skills required by the computing graduates which are
required at the professional level. The research is basically done on the basis of primary basis
due to which it is easier for them to collect data into positive manner. The author basically
concludes that the syllabus of computing program reveals certain parameters about non-technical
expectations about the undergraduate students.
Entry-2: Sharma, V., 2018. Soft skills: An employability enabler. IUP Journal of Soft
Skills, 12(2), pp.25-32.

It is basically focused on the graduates or youngsters who are on the stage of completion
of their education parameter and ready for professional world into positive manner. It explains
about the soft skills which are required in this particular field in order to stand competitively into
the market. The research is basically done on the secondary basis because the journals related to
the soft skills are only available after doing research on the primary hand. From the author's
point of view it has been concluded that for becoming an independent and professional person it
is very important to learn soft skills into result oriented form.
Entry 3: Succi, C., 2019. Are you ready to find a job? Ranking of a list of soft skills to enhance
graduates' employability. International Journal of Human Resources Development and
Management, 19(3), pp.281-297.
It is focused on the graduate students into the market who have recently completed their
education into positive manner. This is the main intended audience for which this journal is
focused upon. It basically explains about the factor that whether the individual is ready to find a
job which means that the graduate person has the required knowledge, skill set or not. The
research has been done on the secondary basis because the journals related to job and its related
parameter have been written by a particular department which is basically done by having proper
study and analysis as well. From the author's point of view it has been concluded that there are
certain kind of skills which are required into the positive context for enhancing the employability
level of graduates. It has been observed that there are certain skills which are most important
from the professional point of view and accordingly ranking has been given to them.
Entry 4: Dubey, R. S. and Tiwari, V., 2020. Operationalisation of soft skill attributes and
determining the existing gap in novice ICT professionals. International Journal of Information
Management, 50, pp.375-386.
It is focused on the information and communications technology professionals and these
are the main intended audience on which the major focus is there. It basically explains about the
soft skill attributes operationalisation and also explains about the existing gap into the
professionals who are new to this professional field so they need to work on their soft skills so
that they can perform into appropriate manner. The research is basically done on the basis of
secondary basis which has been done by the information management.

It has been concluded from the author's point of view is that there are certain attributes
which are required into this field of soft skills. From the author's point of view it is very
important to work on the gap between academic and professional skills.
Entry-5: Keevy, M., 2020, May. Effectiveness of delivery methods in the transfer of soft skills.
In 6Th International Conference On Higher Education Advances (Head'20) (pp. 113-122).
It is basically focused on the audiences who are into the education field and graduates
who need to work on their skills according to changing period of time. It explains about the
methods which are required in terms of transferring the soft skills and also about the ways
through which soft skills has been learnt by the learners. The research has been done on the
secondary basis which has been done on the basis of international conference related to the
education advances at higher level. From the author's point of view it has been concluded that the
delivery methods of soft skills plays a very significant role in terms of developing the individual
and its effectiveness is very significant in terms of delivering the results into appropriate manner.
TASK 2
Create a job advertisement in the field of computing and prepare it on a particular job role and
use the Gibbs model of reflection for structuring the submission
Gibb's reflective cycle refers to the framework for examining the experiences and given
its cyclic nature lends itself particularly well to the repeated experiences which allows to learn
and plan from the things.
 Description of the experience: Under this head, it is important that to describe the
situation into detailed form and main points which are included about the concern for
what happened. According to the situation, it has been observed that while searching for
references for the topic of soft skills for computing graduates it is very important that to
search into appropriate manner. I was searching on the online basis and I was alone there
to search about particular topic. Other people also have followed the same procedure for
finding out the references into proper manner. The outcome of this situation is that now I
can easily find out the references of any topic into right manner. I was here to find out
about the soft skills which are majorly required into the technical field and for this
purpose appropriate sources are required in order to fulfil the requirement of the matter.

 Feelings: Under this head, it basically explains about the feelings or thoughts which the
individual feels at the time of experience and in which manner they have impacted the
experience. While searching for the references in this situation I was feeling nervous
whether I can find out the appropriate references for particular topic or not. Before this
situation, I was not feeling very confident that I can find out the references within limited
period of time. According to my experience, other people also feeling into the similar
manner who have their first experience but there were some people who have experience
for finding out the references so they were not feeling under confident. During the
situation, I was thinking that whether the references were appropriate or not according to
the particular topic.
 Evaluation: Under this head, it is important to evaluate what worked and what didn't
work for the situation. It is necessary to be honest and objective as well so that focus
should be maintained on the both aspects of the situation. There are certain questions
included in it which includes what was good and bad about the experience. In addition to
this, it includes what went well and what didn't go so well. According to my personal
experience, there were certain parameters which were good and there were certain
parameters which were not good. According to the topic, I can easily find out the
references but sometimes I have to face problems into context of to be very specific about
the particular topic. According to the situation, while finding out the references it was
very easier for me to find out the proper references about the topic and the bad thing was
that I can't be able to find out the authentic references due to which up to a certain extent
I have to face challenges and problems as well. For making the situation more positive, I
take support from online videos which help me in terms of giving information about how
to find out the authentic sources into appropriate manner.
 Analysis: Under this head, it basically explains about to make sense of what happened
and also need to focus on the details around what happened in the situation. It is about the
chance to extract meaning form it and also need to target the dissimilar aspects which
went well. It includes certain questions such as why did things go well, why didn't it go
well. In addition to this, it includes what sense can I make of the situation and what
knowledge helps me in understanding the situation into proper manner.

According to my experience, the situation went well because I have taken support from my
friends, online videos and seniors as well. I was not able to find out the authentic sources so its
very important for me to practice on it into positive manner. From this situation, I make sense
that it is very important to have the knowledge and steps about how to find out the references.
For understanding this situation, my basic knowledge at academic level helps me in finding out
the sources into proper manner.
 Conclusions: Under this head, it is about the conclusion about what happened and also
explains about the summary of learning. It also highlight about what changes can be
made to the actions which could improve the outcome in the future. There are certain
questions included under this head which includes what did I learn from the situation,
how situation comes out to be more positive where everyone involved. In addition to this,
it includes what skills are required to develop this skill and what else can be done by the
individual. From this situation I have learnt that it is very important to do practice and
update themselves according to changing period of time. When every body is involved
the situation becomes more positive when there is proper coordination and also have
support system for each other. For handling this situation into more better terms it is very
important that to have analysis skill, observation and also need to have patience level as
well.
 Action plan: Under this head, the planning has been done what could have done into
different manner in a similar or related situation into the future. There are certain
questions included under this head which includes what the individual can do differently
if the same situation comes again and how the required skills can I develop. In addition to
this, it includes how can I make sure that I can act differently next time. If the same
situation comes again then I can be into the situation of more patience level. I can
develop the required skills through support certain kind of sites and from the support
system of seniors as well. These skills can be developed through proper practice and
concentration level as well. When i have learnt these skills into appropriate manner then
I make sure that I can perform into different manner in this similar situation.

In this manner, the Gibb's reflective cycle proves that the experience help the individual
in terms of learning into appropriate manner and also the best way to depict the situation or
experience into proper manner.
TASK 3
Write a reflection about what has been learnt and experienced on the chosen lessons in the
module
From the first list, lesson number four and eight have been chosen and on the basis of it
further learning has been done. Lesson number four is related to the study skills which is
basically into the context of academic reading and writing as well. Lesson number eight is
related to the communication skills. These lessons learning can be supported through Gibb's
reflective cycle which are defined into the following manner:
 Description of the experience: According to the situation or experience, I have learnt
about the academic writing and reading from the lesson. I have learnt about the concept
of academic writing and what is the expectation at the university level. I have learnt about
the portfolio which reflects about the different range of employability and academic
skills as well. I have also learnt about the personal and professional development by the
understanding of individual learning approaches. From the lesson right I have learnt
about the different modes of communication and for the communication style for the
right audience.
 Feelings: At the time of learning from both these lessons I was feeling very nervous and
not feeling enough confident that whether I can learn these concepts into appropriate
manner or not.
 Evaluation: The good thing about learning is that I can grab the concept very easily and
the bad parameter is that the parameters related to this concept is not into the easier terms
to adapt it into appropriate form.
 Analysis: The things went well because I have the proper support system from the lesson
where it has been designed into appropriate form. The bad thing which I have
experienced is that at the time of learning I can't easily relate the things to the real life
situations due to which I can't perform into proper manner.

 Conclusions: From this situation, I have learnt that I should have basic knowledge about
these concepts so that I can grasp the concept into fast pace manner.
 Action plan: If I again get the chance to learn these concepts then I will be better
prepared for this situation and also develop certain kind of skills which help me in terms
of learning these concepts into fast pace manner. I can act into different form by ensuring
that i have attended all the classes into proper form by considering them into serious
form.
From the list two, lesson number one and nine has been chosen for purpose of learning. The
lesson number one is related to the identification of personal skills, knowledge and attributes.
Lesson number nine is related to interviewing and presenting yourself. These lessons can be
learnt through Gibb's reflective cycle which has been defined into the following manner:
 Description of the experience: I have learnt about two concepts from two different
lessons which is related to the identification of personal skills, knowledge and attributes
and also about the interviewing and presenting yourself. From the lesson number one I
have learnt about professional development and its related aspect. There are certain
reasons which have been mentioned for undertaking the personal and professional
development. From the lesson nine I have learnt about the skills required in order to
participate into the interviews and also about the preparation of interviews as well. At the
time of lesson learning I was the only one who was present there. The main outcome of
this situation is that I was feeling more confident and my knowledge has also been
increased into positive context.
 Feelings: At the time of learning, I was feeling little bit confused but the design of lesson
has cleared all my doubts into positive manner. Before starting the learning i was not
confident that whether I can grab these concepts into appropriate form or not. After
learning from the lesson I was feeling very enhanced and updated as well according to
the changing period of time.
 Evaluation: According to my experience, these two concepts are very interesting which
help in terms of enhancing my personality into positive terms. From the experience of
learning, I have evaluated that I need practice for it for which there is no arrangement for
proper classes for it.

 Analysis: I can learn into appropriate terms because the lessons have been designed into
practical terms and also it act as support system from the long term perspective. The
things didn't go well because it takes a long period of time to complete the lessons so it
can't be effective from the long term perspective. So its difficult for me to maintain the
consistency level into appropriate terms into the long run.
 Conclusion: From this situation, I have learnt that it is important for me to have the grip
on the concepts into stronger terms so that ultimate results can be achieved into positive
context. For making the situation more positive, it is important that to be more
cooperative and attentive as well so that learning can become more effective and result
oriented as well.
 Action plan: If I again get the chance to learn the things into appropriate manner so I
have to be more prepared with these practical concepts and also need to have basic
knowledge about the concept. I need to develop presentation skills and observation skills
as well so that i can handle this situation into more appropriate terms.
These are the lessons which I have learnt from the module into appropriate terms with the right
kind of actions and approaches as well.
CONCLUSION
The above stated report concludes that academic skills plays a very important role for
standing out differently into the market. It has been concluded that information technology field
requires certain kind of soft skills which needs to be learnt into appropriate manner. Within the
field of technical area, there are various kinds of profiles so for that purpose the appropriate
candidate can be recruited through the advertisement factor. So its the best way to recruit people
on a larger scale and pool out the best candidate from it. It has been determined that for
describing any situation or experience then Gibb's reflective cycle is the best way to represent it
into appropriate form. It has been observed that there are certain lessons which help in terms of
covering certain aspects such as study skills, graduate recruitment market and the management of
online reputation as well.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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conceptual framework.
Blake, M. and Gallimore, V., 2018. Understanding academics: a UX ethnographic research
project at the University of York. New review of academic librarianship, 24(3-4),
pp.363-375.
BULGAKOVA and et.al., 2020. Problems of the Formation of Readiness of Future Preschool
Teachers for Professional Activities. Romanian Journal for Multidimensional
Education/Revista Romaneasca pentru Educatie Multidimensionala, 12(2).
Bush and et.al., 2019. Principles of educational leadership & management. Sage.
Costelloe, L., 2021. Exploring the potential of digital teaching portfolios to support in/non-
formal professional development for those who teach in Higher Education. Irish Journal
of Technology Enhanced Learning, 6(1), pp.1-13.
Daniëls and et.al., 2019. A review on leadership and leadership development in educational
settings. Educational research review, 27, pp.110-125.
Huston and et.al., 2018, January. The academic‐practice gap: Strategies for an enduring
problem. In Nursing forum (Vol. 53, No. 1, pp. 27-34).
Martin, L. and Tapp, D., 2019. Teaching with Teams: An introduction to teaching an
undergraduate law module using Microsoft Teams. Innovative Practice in Higher
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Merchie and et.al., 2018. Evaluating teachers’ professional development initiatives: towards an
extended evaluative framework. Research papers in education, 33(2), pp.143-168.
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Safina and et.al., 2020. Influence of psychological training on personal and professional
development and group cohesiveness among the staff of residential campus, BRAC
University. International Journal of Psychology and Counselling, 12(1), pp.22-30.
Sandilos and et.al., 2018. Does professional development reduce the influence of teacher stress
on teacher–child interactions in pre-kindergarten classrooms?. Early Childhood
Research Quarterly, 42, pp.280-290.
Supkhonovna, H. N., 2021. Technology for the development of the qualities of pedagogical
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Appendix
Job Advertisement
JOB ADVERTISEMENT
We’re Hiring!!
For the position of “Graduate Software Developer”
You are extremely invited to our job fair.
Saturday, 2 July
12:30 – 2:30 PM and 3:30 – 5:30 PM
Venue: James Road, London
*Valid only for same day.