Academic and Research Skills Report: PDP, Note Taking, and Research

This report delves into the essential aspects of academic and research skills, offering a comprehensive analysis of personal strengths and weaknesses, and the formulation of SMART objectives for improvement. It explores the significance of effective note-taking techniques, encompassing listening and reading skills, alongside paraphrasing and summarization methods. The report further examines academic research project methodologies, including primary and secondary research, and outlines the key steps involved in developing a robust research plan. Finally, it presents a personal development plan, identifying areas for skill enhancement, such as patience, research expertise, and time management, along with strategies for achieving these goals through seminars, practical application, and structured timelines.

ACADEMIC AND
RESEARCH SKILLS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
a) Strengths and Weaknesses......................................................................................................1
b) SMART Objectives.................................................................................................................2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
Note Taking.....................................................................................................................................3
Noted key points of information related to listening skills.........................................................3
Noted key points of information related to reading skills and strategies....................................3
Paraphrased and summarised information..................................................................................4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................4
Academic Research Project.............................................................................................................4
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................5
Personal Development Plan.............................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Every single individual who is studying, working, doing business or delivering some sort
of services to others, it is mandatory for him/her to improve his/her own skills on a regular basis
so that to become much effective on their tasks that are being performed by the person (Stagg
and Kimmins, 2012). With the help of this approach, things which can get easily upgrade are:
quality of way of living life and human capital as well in different context. Report is going to
include PDP Plan, strengths and weaknesses that a person carries which can put impact on
research actions and many more.
TASK 1
a) Strengths and Weaknesses
It is primarily important for an individual to stay clear with all strengths and weaknesses
that he/she have so that to become more effective in a specific area in which the person is lacking
(Botvin and Griffin, 2014). In order to enhance both skills and knowledge it has been located that
personal and professional development plan can help an individual in different areas. In context
to this, I have many strengths and weaknesses that helps me in hitting my own targets in short
period of time. Through this, I may become more effective where decisions can be taken by me
for betterment of my own.
Strength of my own:
 I am pretty much skilled in problem solving situations, if I get into trouble it becomes
easy for me to come out of state of affairs as evaluation of problem that came across is in
front of me is being done in an appropriate manner. After that, I look into different
aspects that may aid me in taking effective decisions so that to come out of an issue in
specific timely period. This process makes me much stronger as I make plans and
through which problems cannot affect much to me. In present context, while going
through marketing project as well this sort of strength has helped me in many ways.
 Another strength of mine is that I am flexible/dependable in nature which has helped me
in understanding life in an appropriate manner. This includes various things like
reliability, responsibility along with trust which I already have. For an example: If I go
for a job it is may be possible that organisation may directly hire me because of these few
qualities. I take initiatives, decisions with looking at trust that a firm may have on me. An
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employer beliefs in their employees and rely on their determinations that they take on a
regular basis at workstation so that company can grab good position in short period of
time. Here, I am flexible in nature which helps me in adopting all the changes in short
period of time which has been made by the company if I join it. One more strength which I found that I already have that is decision making. While going
through a project and working in a group, it has been located that team member's
perception don't match. Therefore, it becomes very much required for the group to get
onto a common decision so that desired task can get attained. In context to this, I can
influence others and ask them to adopt my own decisions as they may help them in
hitting my own targets.
Weaknesses of my own:
 Patience in me are less which reduces my own ability to work in a team. Because team
member's may consists with many perceptions and if they do not listen to me it may be
possible that they may face issues which is related to my short termed (Aarnoudse-Moens
and et. al., 2011). This weakness of mine I have seen has became a drawback for me to
become more effective while working on projects that has been given by professor of my
college.
 My investigation ability is not much incredible; it can impact my decisions making
limits; in this way I can't get high forefront. Fruitful research limits will provide for
procure information about market.
 My opportunities related to organization capacities are furthermore not too awesome; it
reflect by not culmination all things considered and practices before their given period. In
addition, poor time organization aptitudes impacts the ability to take smart business
decision.
b) SMART Objectives
 To improvise my own patience level as this specifically aid me in bettering my
performance which may put impact positively on my own objectives that I want to attain.
 To enhance capabilities of my own that are related to my research skills. This can be
improvised by me through measuring all objectives that I have.
 To develop a presentation through collecting relevant information which is related to
desired objective
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 To develop opportunities for myself to become a leader of a group with whom I am
working.
 To conduct proper plan and fix time schedule (6 months) for every single activity which
is related to investigation.
TASK 2
Note Taking
Learning plays vital role in every individual's life. If a person looks forward to gather
information, best sort of concept is note taking. It has been analysed that, Note taking is being
considered as a process of recording information which is being delivered by some other person
(Chemers and et. al., 2011). For an example: In a class when a lecturer delivers content to
students, this tool is being utilised by students where they can write or type all important points
in their computers or in papers. These points which have been written or typed are being
considered as recalling tool that may help educatee in recollecting the discussion while attending
the session that was given by lecturer.
Noted key points of information related to listening skills
Learning process carries various complexities with it. In context to this, listening skills
plays an essential role which may aid an individual in understanding all information which is
being provided by another person. There are many sources through which information can be
collected with the help of listening skills and these are given beneath:
 Face to face interaction with lecturer or any other senior who is providing information.
 Videos that search engine carries can also help an individual in gathering data.
These are some sources through which learning can be improved with the help of active
listening skills.
Noted key points of information related to reading skills and strategies
If a person is looking forward to write notes (key points) then it is mandatory to make eye
contact with information giver (Rardins and Rardin, 2016). On the other hand, concentration is
also very much needed for person while noting information from different reading materials. It is
also enclosed with various methods that can be used by students and these are given beneath:
 Cornell method
 Outline method
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 T-Notes
Paraphrased and summarised information
One thing that a learner should keep in mind is of plagiarism, and needs to be properly
understood while considering this. Person uses these tools when he/she is collecting information
and after that only individual have to deliver a presentation in front of others. Mostly, this is
being used under schools, institutes and colleges (Beckman, 2011).
Henceforth, it has been summarised that note taking process is not an easy task to do. It is
required for writer to typist to good listening skills so that information which is being collected
may aid in recollecting knowledge in future.
TASK 3
Academic Research Project
A marketing research and planning is consists with various sort of methods which needs
to be considered by an investigator and these needs to be properly managed as well in an
appropriate manner. Some of methods under this are mentioned beneath: Primary research: It has been analysed that most of the time an investigator mostly uses
primary research method when it comes to draw conclusions of a desired goal. With the
help of this, research conducting person clearly gets authenticated information because
investigator gets information from different perceptions of people. Survey, questionnaire
are some sort of methods that can be used by researcher in order to collect relevant
information right on time.
 Secondary research: This sort of research method is totally different from primary
investigation and information is being collected under this with the help of authors,
search engines, different sites and many more. Some main sources under these are: Major
resources use by researcher in this are journals, newspaper, magazines, books and online
social sites.
It is very much required for investigator to understand the concept and select best method
which may aid in pulling out favourable outcomes right on time and in much effective manner.
Before, developing a proper research plan it is very much required for investigating person to go
through some factors that a researcher carries and some of them are mentioned beneath:
 Desired target
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 Investigating Scheme
 Resources
 Inquiry activities
Some steps of a research plan is being developed underneath:
Research Plan
1 Investigating inquiry
2 Develop a heading
3 Acknowledge some points and then clear up them
4 Selection of process which is related to set goal
5 Looking at various guidance
6 Relevant information that may aid researcher in developing proper plan
7 Making of strategies and using various approaches
8 Allocating funds
9 References
10 Appendixes
TASK 4
Personal Development Plan
It has been analysed that, ample number of methods that stay available which can be
adopted and taken under in use by an individual which are related to academic and personal
skills. It is very much required for a person to attend various sort of seminars, group activities
and along with conferences (Pyrczak, 2016). For this, it is being located by me that while
conducting an investigation there are many complexes can be faced. A proper personal
development plan is being made underneath of my own:
Skills which is
learned.
Why it was
required to be
learned
Sources required
to learn skills
Time taken to
learn
Did applied
somewhere in
working
Patience skills This was done in This can be done Almost 6 months Problems are
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order to make
myself much
patient then also
if people don't
listen to my
thoughts.
through many
ways like looking
at other people
and staying calm.
being resolved in
short instance and
becoming patient
made me more
effective.
Research skills Investigation
expertise is an
idea which thusly
assists in settling
issues which
emerge for
legitimate method
for working.
There are
examine aptitudes
which can be
learnt from the
books, addresses,
classes and some
more (Camiré,
Trudel and
Bernard, 2013).
5 months This sort of
abilities can be
executed which is
should have been
in great manner.
Time
management
skills
I have located
what it takes of
following the
timetable which I
have made for
different
exercises. We as
group has done
arranging of
getting together
the due dates for
the exercises and
undertakings.
Alongside this, I
have dealt with
Attending
seminars may aid
me in looking
into different
aspects that have
been used by
others.
1 month Advantages can
be gained in much
effective and in
efficient manner.
It is very much
required for
decisions to attain
or grab good
position right on
time.
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the ideal
opportunity for
low maintenance
considers too
alongside
acquiring for
getting together
of my costs.
CONCLUSION
Lastly it is being concluded that, a personal development plan can aid an individual in
learning in an appropriate manner. On the other hand, understanding about various things and
their needs like personal strengths and weaknesses should be done on a regular basis as this may
help an individual in enhancing his/her own interpersonal skills. On the other hand, various
learning beginnings are their which can a research conductor in pulling out favourable outcomes
right on time and in effective manner.
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REFERENCES
Journals and Books
Stagg, A. and Kimmins, L., 2012. Research skills development through collaborative virtual
learning environments. Reference services review, 40(1), pp.61-74.
Botvin, G. J. and Griffin, K. W., 2014. Life skills training: preventing substance misuse by
enhancing individual and social competence. New Directions for Student
Leadership, 2014(141), pp.57-65.
Aarnoudse-Moens, C. S. H. and et. al., 2011. Development of preschool and academic skills in
children born very preterm. The Journal of pediatrics, 158(1), pp.51-56.
Chemers, M. M. and et. al., 2011. The role of efficacy and identity in science career commitment
among underrepresented minority students. Journal of Social Issues, 67(3), pp.469-491.
Rardin, R. L. and Rardin, R. L., 2016. Optimization in operations research (p. 919). Prentice
Hall.
Beckman, A. A., 2011. Aural skills pedagogy: From academic research to the everyday
classroom (Doctoral dissertation).
Pyrczak, F., 2016. Evaluating research in academic journals: A practical guide to realistic
evaluation. Routledge.
Camiré, M., Trudel, P. and Bernard, D., 2013. A case study of a high school sport program
designed to teach athletes life skills and values. The Sport Psychologist, 27(2), pp.188-
200.
Ray, B. D., 2015. Research Facts on Homeschooling. National home education research
institute.
McClelland, M. M. and Cameron, C. E., 2012. Self‐regulation in early childhood: Improving
conceptual clarity and developing ecologically valid measures. Child development
perspectives, 6(2), pp.136-142.
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