Academic and Research Skills Report: Assessment and Development

This report presents a comprehensive analysis of academic and research skills, focusing on self-assessment, identification of strengths and weaknesses, and the formulation of SMART objectives for personal development. The report outlines a detailed research plan, encompassing both primary and secondary research methods, and emphasizes the importance of effective note-taking strategies. It explores various techniques to improve learning, technological, and note-taking abilities through seminars, technological classes, and reading strategies. Finally, the report culminates in a personal development plan, outlining short and long-term targets, activities, and support needed for achieving specific objectives, ultimately aiming to enhance overall academic and professional capabilities.

Academic and
Research Skills

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
a) Assessment of own strengths and weaknesses........................................................................1
b) SMART Objectives.................................................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
1. Note taking..............................................................................................................................3
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................4
Research plan..............................................................................................................................4
TASK 5............................................................................................................................................6
Personal development plan.........................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Personal development is that procedure which develop an individual aims and objectives
that are short, medium and long term in nature and also required to reach of success with the help
of continuous transformation in their desired skills and abilities. The main role which will play
essential factor for achieving such goals for assessment of existing for completing such type of
report such as learning, academic and research skills. Along with this, skill assist in gathering
and collecting essential data that will help in gaining desired outcome and results within the
procedure of project completion in better manner (Shapiro, 2011).
The report is describing about skills that are effective and it need to be formulated strong
personality, establish target for self development that are SMART in nature, development of
research plan, note taking abilities and bring researching functions with the assistance of
primary and secondary methods and making personal development plan for evaluating overall
improvement.
TASK 1
a) Assessment of own strengths and weaknesses
In this assessment process, personal strengths and weaknesses are conducted in the
academic and learning skills. This required to ascertain within given period of time and it is the
initial stage for developing effective technological strategy and also set organisational goals and
target which make them effective. Along with this, it will assist me as a student for developing
and growing my internal skills and abilities to eliminate the barriers and weaknesses for reaching
with potential goals and objectives in given time period (Wong, 2011). There are various
activities and functions that can bring out by me and also getting major aims and objectives for
making whole personality in better way. In this, I can started the procedure for recognise my
personal and academic skills in which I am good and where I require to maintain and improve
my skills or abilities by follow some important instructions and guidelines through different
methods. On the other hand, personal audit of my skills that can be depicted regarding strength
and weaknesses that are described as under:
Strengths
1

Personal skills – This skill is about such abilities which are very essentially used in daily
life time. These skill required to be developed by me with the help of real life situations. There
are certain necessities which help in improving the personality towards optimum level.
I have such effective technological skills and abilities that allows me for using some
innovative sources to complete the assignment in varied manner. This skill will have contributed
towards improving and developing skills that are essential for finishing such project in proper
way.
Another important ability is effective communication skills which assist me for
conducting appropriate research activities and functions for collecting required data in limited
period of time (Stagg and Kimmins, 2012). The communication procedure is essential factors
which provide synergy effect to this ability of my as conveyancing quality.
Academic skills – This includes such skills that are formulated and developed with the
help of academic sessions which I can going through. Along with this, there are various skills
that are formed by process which includes focused in nature, research, etc.
 In the term of academic skills, I can perform effective and good research skills. Also it
will provide various opportunities to me for searching various areas that are essential for
carry out future activities in better way. I can develop and formulate competency in my English language where I can shown my
reviews and views in proper manner.
Weaknesses
Personal skills
I am poor in learning skill for new factor in rapid manner. There are different challenges
which make and create process of performing report that are necessary for adopting behavioural
changes on daily basis (Thiry, Laursen and Hunter, 2011).
Academic skills
Note taking is effective and appropriate skill that is developed with the help of academic
sessions. I observed that I have lack of concentration which prevent me for collecting and
gathering relevant information in proper manner. It will reduces my listening capacity and
correct data or information which are required for carry out in adequate mode.
2

b) SMART Objectives
In this, I begin the procedure which assist me for developing and improving my present
skills through which I can my success and growth personality. SMART is that method in which I
provide emphasis for getting accurate target and employ effective strategies and process which
help them to overcome from such weaknesses. The factor that will keep in mind while acquiring
appropriate goals and objectives that should be SMART in nature. SMART target includes
specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time (Bhatia, 2014). In addition to this, such
aspect provides when target can be set to fulfilling all criteria which are described as under:
Objectives:
 To improve learning skill in six months.
 To develop presentation skill in three months for increasing confidence level.
 Try to reduce hesitation level while communicating and interacting with some other
person.
 To find out different solution so that issue can be solved in given time period.
TASK 2
1. Note taking
Note taking is that procedure which includes writing data and information in own words
that can be collected and gathered through various sources. There are two factors which provides
large number of contribution in the development process of note taking skill that is seen as active
listening and technology of reading strategies. In addition to this, there are various types of
methods which are fully varied from nature and also it will provides their full effort in
improvement process of present note taking skill. I used this skill of note taking for reaching
with my personal weaknesses that are recognised in this procedure regarding technological and
learning skills. My another target is to making appropriate note taking skills which developing in
this procedure of preparing notes.
Preparing of notes with use of active listening skills
There are different methods which can be used for developing skills and also achieving
my required targets with the help of application of listening ability that are described as under:
Conferences and seminars – It is one of the effective source that will assist me for
became good learn who will attend seminars on daily basis. The motivational factor and various
3

approaches which are teaches assistance to me and it is mainly focused while performing such
type of functions and activities (Gross and Latham, 2012). Along with this, it can eliminating the
chances of mistakes and improving the quality of work that mainly contributes in achieving the
potential targets. It will help in creating and generating high level of duty towards work.
Technological classes – For achieving my target regarding development of technological
skills and abilities which need to attained through attending technical classes that conducted on
daily basis. They need to use active listening skills which covered the information about all
methods and techniques that is taught within the class room.
One to one conversation with professor – It is another method of face to face
conversation with teacher which provide chance for ask queries to the professor in direct manner.
The issue which has been faced by me in the note taking process has to be solve by the help of
teachers.
Making notes usage of reading strategies
In this, there are various methods or sources which are exist and it can be used in
improvement of my personal skills with the help of application of reading strategies in proper
manner.
Articles – There are various articles which can be published in the whole marketplace
regarding current progression of technologies along with elaborated information and data. These
type of articles are very effective method so it will help in developing knowledge about
technological factors (Gross and Latham, 2012).
Books – In this, there are various books which assist an individual for improving their
skills and knowledge and also increasing concentration power. It will help in changing behaviour
and also can easily evaluate modifications that are occur on regular grounds. This will aid in
developing and contributing fast learning skill which are required.
TASK 3
Research plan
This is a plan that has been designed for carry out research activities and functions which
are collecting relevant information with the assistance of various methods. Along with this, it
provides major opportunities for interpreting effective results by using application of methods in
proper manner. Also it will help in achieving set targets and goals in given time period. The main
4

purpose of this method is to gather and collect effective information that includes primary and
secondary techniques.
Preliminary section Abstract
Investigation background
and discussions
Research question
Discussion
Objectives
Importance
Scope and limitations
Methodology Research Methodology
Data analysis
Program/administration Ethical circumstance
Possible risks and problems
Research program
Subsidiary area References
Appendices
Primary and secondary methods
There are two general sources which can be used in this process as gathering desired data
and information for conducting research activities that are called as primary and secondary
methods. Both methods are different from each other. Primary source includes procedure for
gathering and collecting accurate data from their personnels that gives their reviews about
specific research topic. Along with this, such type of data that can be collected from such
technique that is more reliable and authentic (Gross and Latham, 2012). The secondary method
includes using of different sources which help in collecting relevant information to improve
skills and knowledge about research factors.
Both methods can be used in this procedure which help in gaining my targets and
objectives about development of personal and academic skills. Such methods and techniques ca
help me of note taking which provide opportunities to me for learning new things effectively to
acquire potential results or outcomes. For collecting and gathering all data and information by
5

using various method so they required to achieving SMART target for making improvement in
technological, learning and note taking abilities.
Primary method – This is an effective method which has been gather relevant data and
information from different sources that need to create and design specific research for analysing
major objectives (Gross and Latham, 2012). There are various methods that can be used by me
so this can determined under primary method and it will help in provides proper development of
various skills which are described as follows:
 Attending Conferences and seminars Improvement in technical classes
Secondary method – i can use various sources which has to be covered under secondary
method and it will assist in developing similar skills described above. There are various sources
that are mentioned:
 Articles Books
Findings
It has been concluded that both the methods such as primary and secondary has
essentially contribute in the development of quick learning, note taking and technological skills
with the help of approaches.
TASK 5
Personal development plan
My personal
development
targets?
Short
or long
term
target?
How will I achieve
my targets? What
activities do I need
to undertake to
achieve my
objectives? What
support do I need?
Date
of
revie
w
Progress made
towards target
Further
action
required
Actual date
of achieving
target
Fast
learning
ability
Short
term
For
accomplishing
such target I
need to attend
seminar and
5/06/
2018
I required to
more
concentrate
while bring out
all major
8/09/201
8
5/12/2018
6

conferences on
daily basis
where special
classes are
provided so this
will assist in
improving focus
development.
activities and
functions.
Technical
skill
Long
term
For reaching
this target and
objectives so I
require to take
technical classes
which occur on
regular basis.
This will assist
me for gaining
desired
knowledge
about detail of
technology.
5/06/
2018
I can use various
innovation
factors which
help in
completing such
project for
saving time.
12/12/20
18
5/02/2019
Note taking
ability
Short
term
The skill can be
formulated and
developed
which assist
towards face to
face
conversation
with teachers or
guides.
5/06/
2018
I measure
development
focus while I am
capable for
taking notes
effectively by
using my
learning and
reading abilities.
6/07/201
8
5/08/2018
7

CONCLUSION
From the above mentioned report it can be analysed that Personal development is that
procedure which develop an individual aims and objectives that are short, medium and long term
in nature In this process, assessment of personal strengths and weaknesses are conducted in the
academic and learning skills. The factor that will keep in mind while acquiring appropriate goals
and objectives that should be SMART in nature.
8

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Shapiro, E.S., 2011. Academic skills problems: Direct assessment and intervention. Guilford
Press.
Wong, B. ed., 2011. Learning about learning disabilities. Academic press.
Stagg, A. and Kimmins, L., 2012. Research skills development through collaborative virtual
learning environments. Reference services review. 40(1). pp.61-74.
Thiry, H., Laursen, S.L. and Hunter, A.B., 2011. What experiences help students become
scientists? A comparative study of research and other sources of personal and
professional gains for STEM undergraduates. The Journal of Higher Education. 82(4).
pp.357-388.
Bhatia, V. K., 2014. A generic view of academic discourse. In Academic discourse (pp. 31-49).
Routledge.
Gross, M. and Latham, D., 2012. What's skill got to do with it?: Information literacy skills and
self‐views of ability among first‐year college students. Journal of the Association for
Information Science and Technology. 63(3). pp.574-583.
9