Reflective Essay: Analyzing Learner Development and Future Challenges

This reflective essay provides a comprehensive analysis of a student's personal learner development journey within a higher education module. The essay begins with an introduction to reflective practice and its significance in analyzing past experiences to improve future performance. It details the student's development, highlighting the acquisition of essential skills such as referencing, data interpretation, IT proficiency, essay writing, presentation skills, and rephrasing techniques. The student discusses the application of frameworks like SWOT and PEST analysis. The essay reflects on both positive aspects, such as supportive teaching and improved communication skills, and negative aspects, including challenges with PEST analysis and data interpretation. The essay concludes by outlining approaches to future challenges and expectations of university courses, emphasizing the importance of enhancing existing skills and adapting to future demands through training, feedback, and seminars.

REFLECTIVE
ESSAY

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
How and Why have I developed as a Learner.................................................................................1
Approaches towards Future Challenges and Expectations of University Course............................3
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................4
References........................................................................................................................................5

Introduction
Reflective Essay is an appropriate practice, which is subjected towards analysing
effectively the past activities, teachings or understanding which helps a person in analysing how
they have developed as a learner (Howlett, Ferreira and Blomfield, (2016). The report below
covers essential topics such as presentation, which refers to presenting the data in an appropriate
and understandable manner. Furthermore, SWOT Analysis has been included as well, which is a
framework related to identification of strengths and weaknesses of the company and
determination of their strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, Rephrasing is also discussed below
in detail, which is an essential part of academic writing. Hence, the reflection below is based on
how the module contributed towards development as a learner. Furthermore, it relates to how
further challenges would be addressed appropriately.
In addition to this, certain skills such as IT skills, which is associated with how best a
person can work with technology, along with academic writing that is related to the
professionalism, readability and understandability within a person's written communication.
Moreover, data interpretation skills are also an effective part of the reflection below, that means
appropriate interpretation and evaluation of data and information related to different aspects.
How and Why have I developed as a Learner
Learning is an essential aspect which appropriately allows an individual to be competent
to ensure success in their academic and future career (Landis, Scott and Kahn, (2015). Different
teachings and activities which assists in enhancing knowledge helps in development of an
individual as a learner. The module was subjected towards increasing the knowledge and skills in
relation to ensuring success in higher education and professional careers by effectively
enhancing their knowledge with respect to several essential skills and attributes. As an example,
Week 1 was associated with Referencing which relates to acknowledgement of work of others.
Moreover, Data Interpretation became the prime focus in Week 2, which was associated with
how best different sorts of data is interpreted which could help organisations gain effective
advantages. Further, till Week 6, certain activities were performed by me within the module
which were directed towards certain skills, such as IT, English, Essay, Presentation, Rephrasing
and so forth. However, within these weeks, one important and crucial aspect that was taught, was
related to external and internal analysis by some frameworks. One such framework is SWOT
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analysis, which helps in determining strengths and weaknesses, along with opportunities and
threats for an organisation. Moreover, for external analysis, PEST analysis has been utilised in
relation to analysing the external environment of a company that possibly influence the
functioning of an organisation. Another prominent aspect that had been taught was academic
writing, which emphasised on effective and essential usage of words and phrases, which could be
used to develop professionalism in the work
The factors mentioned above have been very crucial to develop as a learner as these
contains skills and competence which appropriately paves the way to success in both academic
and professional career. However, there have been certain things which effectively worked in my
favour and positively contributed my development as a learner, however, there are certain
aspects, which were very much challenging for me in this module.
In terms of the positive aspects, teachers within the module have been very much
consistent in making students feel comfortable and encourage them towards achieving higher
alternatives (Mackay and Tymon, (2016). In addition, the module provided an insight towards
various essential topics that would help in future career growth. For instance, development
within IT skills provided me with opportunities to learn about different ways in which
technologies could be utilised within working, such as knowing about Emails, different IT
related software, and so forth. Furthermore, SWOT analysis was very well understood, as well
as appropriately applied by me within the activities, which assisted me in gaining an insight as to
how best the strengths and weaknesses of an organisation could be used in context of
determining the opportunities and threats for an organisation. In relation to communications, use
of language and academic writing were strongest points within the module, which helped me in
becoming expressive and present my facts in a professional and desirable manner, that is
essential for development of an individual as a learner. In addition to this, another positive skill
which was applied by me was related to effective rephrasing. In relation to this, I was quite
appropriate in rephrasing the information in my own ideas and language due to which,
modifications within information became quite easier for me.
Moreover, there have been several negative points as well, which induced certain
difficulties in terms of ensuring my development as a learner. For instance, the PEST framework
was very complex for me to understand and apply on organisations as I constantly failed in
analysing the impact which these factors had on the companies. Another challenging aspect was
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related to Data Interpretation. Throughout the module, multiple incidences provided several
challenges to me in relation to interpret data in a way which helps me in analysing the current
and the probable future situation in an organisational context (Sharif and Zainuddin, (2017). For
instance, within Week 2, certain financial statements were required to be analysed by me, which
required strong interpretation. However, I found it very complex to evaluate the data as it was
required to be done within the module. Hence, this represented several weaknesses which were
required to be addressed in the future. Furthermore, while my command on the language had
been very well appreciated throughout this module, there had been times where my work lacked
the flow which was needed for it to be professional enough.
Hence, despite several challenges, the overall module had been quite enriching in
perspective of ensuring my development as a learner. Furthermore, enhancing my competence in
so many aspects helped me in expanding my frame of mind, which had been essential for future
development.
Approaches towards Future Challenges and Expectations of University
Course
For future challenges and expectation of university course, it is highly crucial for me to
enhance my skills and adaptability towards addressing the same in a very competent and
effective manner. Hence, to achieve this aspect, there are several activities which will be
undertaken by me with respect to increase my skills and competence. For example, in relation to
expanding my knowledge in context of PEST, I would be undertaking certain training and
development activities that are required to enhance the scope of improvement in this aspect.
Furthermore, to ensure that the flow is achieved within my academic writing, I would be
undertaking feedbacks from my assessors and classmates, which would help me ensure that my
presentation with proper structure is achieved within my reports in personal and professional
career. In addition, data interpretation is required to be enhanced as it could represent itself as a
prominent challenge, hence, to achieve this, seminars will be attended by me which would
expand my competence and skills towards interpreting various information and ensure my
development as a learner (Postma and White, (2015).
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Conclusion
Hence, it is concluded from the report below that reflective essay is a crucial activity
which helps in analysing past situations in order to improvise the future. Moreover, development
as a learner and enhancing competence for future challenges helps an individual in enhancing
their competence towards future career growth.
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References
Books and Journals
Howlett, C., Ferreira, J.A. and Blomfield, J., (2016). Teaching sustainable development in higher
education: Building critical, reflective thinkers through an interdisciplinary approach.
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 17(3). pp.305-321.
Landis, C.M., Scott, S.B. and Kahn, S., (20150. Examining the Role of Reflection in ePortfolios:
A Case Study. International Journal of ePortfolio. 5(2). pp.107-121.
Mackay, M. and Tymon, A., (2016). Taking a risk to develop reflective skills in business
practitioners. Journal of Education and Work. 29(3). pp.332-351.
Postma, T.C. and White, J.G., (20150. Developing clinical reasoning in the classroom–analysis
of the 4 C/ID‐model. European Journal of Dental Education. 19(2). pp.74-80.
Sharif, A.M. and Zainuddin, S.Z., (2017). Students' perceptions of their reflective essay writing
experience and teacher feedback comments. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics.
6(2). pp.204-212.
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