CPD Reflective Journal: Employability and Study Skills Enhancement

This report presents a reflective journal detailing the impact of university modules and experiences on the development of employability and study skills. Utilizing Gibbs' Reflective Cycle, the author explores experiences related to communication, research, ICT, teamwork, time management, and problem-solving. The reflection includes descriptions of situations, feelings, evaluations, and analyses of both positive and negative aspects. Key skills developed include research, communication, and teamwork, while areas for improvement, such as time management and decision-making, are identified. The report concludes with an action plan for future skill enhancement, emphasizing proactive planning, leveraging individual strengths, and continuous self-improvement. This journal provides valuable insights into the importance of continuous professional development and self-reflection in achieving personal and professional growth. Desklib offers a variety of similar solved assignments and past papers for students.

Continuing
Professional
Development

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
TASK ..............................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is basically an acronym for an individual
for continuous development in any specific field. In simple terms it may be defined as any type
of learning which is undertaken by an individual which not only help them in learning but also
help them in better understanding with their experience in an specific subject area or role(Allen
and et. al., 2021). CPD is basically the combination of different ideas, approaches and techniques
which help an individual in managing their learning and growth. The following essay is going to
cover a reflective journal in which the how the modules and class in the universities help in
achieving the employability and study skill. The whole essay is based on Gibbs model.
TASK
Gibbs Reflective cycle is being considered as one of the famous cyclical model of
reflection which help an individual to explore their experience. This model was proposed by
Graham Gibbs in 1988 which give structure to an individual learning throughout their life form
valuable experience (Anasi, 2018). With the help of this frame work an individual can examine
their experiences and along with this allow them to make plan and learn from their experiences.
The following framework comprises the six stages which help me to evaluate my experience in
the universities. The Gibbs Reflective cycle has been discussed below :-
Description is the first stage of model in which I have the chance to describe all the situations
which I have faced in the university. I would like to describe a very important situation which I
have face and along with this when these situation has been happen. In the university a group
project has been assigned to me and my group(Kitto, 2021). The task is being consisted of
different elements so I decided to bifurcate the given element between us so that we only have to
research only one element. We expect that we could completed the given task in the afternoon
but when we sat down we see that we are not writing in the same writing style. For effectively
complete the work we have to rewrite most of the element of the given assignment. So these
types of things has been done in my university time which help me to develop many skills like
research skills, team work skill and many more.
Feelings is the second stage of this model I am able to explore my feelings and thoughts during
the university experience and how these feelings impacted impacted on my experiences. In this
stage I would like to describe feeling before and after I have faced the situation. The group

project which have been assigned to me and my group we realised that we still have to do lot of
work and when we divide the task I feel that we were quite smart but when we realised that we
are not able to complete the given assignment within the given time then I got frustrated. The
motivation skill within me actually motivate me to rewrite the task(Koskimäki and et. al., 2021).
The couple of people within the group had to cancel their plan due to which I feel quite guilty.
But after completion of the task I am feeling very satisfied. The motivation skill within me help
me to complete the given assignment in very well effective manner.
The third stage of the model is evaluation in which I got the chance to evaluate the good and bad
experiences which I have faced and what ideas has been worked and what not in these situation.
In this stage I would try to be honest and objective as possible and the reflection which I gave on
the situations which I have face is being given on both positive and negative way(Maher and
Fitzgerald, 2020). The assignment which have been assigned to us is not going well and but the
good thing which worked is that each group member is producing effective quality of work and
along with this the two members which cancelled the plans motivate us more. Due to these
people I was able to develop effective research skills within me. Some of the things which I have
assumed not gone in the same way that we don't write in the same style. Due to which the time
which is being set by us for completing the task is not been achieved by us. In this stage not only
the verbal communication skill but also written communication skill help me to complete the
task in very effective manner. As we are not able to manage ourself in relation to time
management or self management so it is very important for me to develop these skills within me.
The fourth stage of the Gibbs Model is the analysing in which I got the chance to analyse that
what happened in that situation. In this stage I am going to ask question from myself that,
whether the different target went well or not and why (Naidu and et. al., 2018). I personally
think that we divide the roles and responsibilities according to the strength and weakness of the
group members. I assigned the task whatever they want to do. I experience that I will enjoy the
working in those areas which matches my strengths. I also discover that the same thing happens
within my group. But in reality we have to pay the cost like we stressed out and rush through the
writing. The fact which I have realised that we hadn't plan for the structure in which we are
going to complete the task. With the use of information and communication technology I am able
to search on some literature topic which are based on group. With the of this research I
understand the situation in very effective manner. Due to which the research skills and ICT skills

has been developed within me. The main reason which help us to complete the assigned task is
group thinking and communication skill(Ramani, McMahon and Armstrong, 2019). With the
help of effective communication and group thinking we are able to share the team role and ideas
in front of each other in a very effective manner.
Conclusion is being considered as the fifth stage of this model in which I got the chance to
conclude what ever the things which have done with me in a very effective manner. This stage
also known as summarising stage in which I am going to highlights the different skills which
help me to overcome from the situations which I have faced and along with this, the different
employability and study skill need to be develop within me to achieve successful position in life.
I learned the most important thing that to divide the task among the group members, first of all
we must have to plan that what the outcome we want from the each section and along with this
we have to plan that all the things can be done in the same way as we plan. In addition to this, I
also concluded that with the help of “Belbin team role” frame work the individuals of the group
members is going to identify the strength in the best possible way which not only help them in
short term project but also help them in long term project(Sherman and Chappell, 2018). With
the help of effective communication, motivation and research skill I am able to find this model
which helps us in various manner. While facing the difficult situations not only the decision
making skill but also the information and communication technology skill has been developed
within me due to which me and my team members effectively complete the task. I also learned
that the decisions which have been made by us not up to mark and the members of the group not
agreed on the same things. All these things has been done because of the ineffective decision
making skills.
The action plan is being considered as the last stage of this model in which I got the chance to
develop all the employability and study skill with in me which I need to be. In this stage an
action plan has been discover which help me and my group members if we face the similar
situation. In future if I will get the chance to work in team then I will ask them that what are their
strength and in which field they are specialized. With the help of communication skill I insist
them to for carry out the task we first have to make the plan. To improve the team work and
problem solving I start taking decision in my regular life and set the small set of goals. Which
the help of this time management and self management skill also be enhanced within me.

CONCLUSION
From the above essay it has been concluded that continuous professional development
plays a very important role in an individual life. With the help of Gibbs model the whole essay
can be effectively describe and along with this the situation which have been faced by an
individual has also been concluded. The employability and study skill like communication,
research and many more has been developed with in an individual during the study of module
and attending the classes in the universities.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Allen, L.M and et. al., 2021. Measuring impacts of continuing professional development (CPD):
The development of the CPD impacts survey (CPDIS). Medical Teacher, pp.1-23.
Anasi, S.N., 2018. Influence of gender on attitude towards the use of social media for continuing
professional development among academic librarians in Nigeria. Information and
Learning Science.
Kitto, S., 2021. The importance of proactive and strategic technology-enhanced continuing
professional development. Journal of Continuing Education in the Health
Professions. 41(1). pp.3-4.
Koskimäki, M and et. al., 2021. Development and testing of the Educators' Professional
Development scale (EduProDe) for the assessment of social and health care educators'
continuing professional development. Nurse Education Today. 98. p.104657.
Maher, A.J. and Fitzgerald, H., 2020. Initial teacher education and continuing professional
development: the perspectives of special school physical education
teachers. Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education. 11(1). pp.18-33.
Naidu, S and et. al., 2018. Designing Continuing Professional Development MOOCs to promote
the adoption of OER and OEP. Open Praxis. 10(2). pp.179-190.
Ramani, S., McMahon, G.T. and Armstrong, E.G., 2019. Continuing professional development
to foster behaviour change: from principles to practice in health professions
education. Medical teacher. 41(9). pp.1045-1052.
Sherman, L.T. and Chappell, K.B., 2018. Global perspective on continuing professional
development. Asia Pacific Scholar .3(2). pp.1-5.