Reflective Journal on Employability Skills using Gibbs Model

This reflective journal employs Gibbs' reflective cycle to analyze the development of employability and study skills within a university setting. It details experiences, feelings, evaluations, and analysis related to a group presentation on skills required for professional and personal development. The journal identifies strengths in communication and time management, while also acknowledging weaknesses in ICT skills and conflict resolution. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of self-reflection for personal growth and outlines a detailed action plan for improving research, problem-solving, and team-working skills. The action plan includes specific resources and target timelines for skill enhancement, aiming to transform identified weaknesses into strengths.

Reflective Journal

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Gibbs reflective cycle framework..........................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
References:.......................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Reflective analysis is the self-acknowledgement process by which an individual
introspects the own strengths and weaknesses in relation to the performed work to identify which
skill or area of an individual requires an improvement (Andika and et. al., 2021). For the self-
reflection analysis process Gibbs model is used that helps in examining the experiences in
repeated manner due to its cyclic nature. This model is considered as good way to work on
reflection writing. The present report is the reflective journal using the Gibbs framework to
demonstrate the contribution of achievements of the employability and study skills.
MAIN BODY
Gibbs reflective cycle framework
The Gibbs reflective cycle is the self-reflection tool introduced by the American
Sociologist Graham Gibbs (Gibbs Reflective Cycle by Graham Gibbs, 2021). The model is useful
in thinking systematically about my experience at the university in terms of learning and
development of skills. The model is structured into six phases in the form of cycle that allow me
to think in all direction regarding the experience while attending the university and making me
aware of my actions. The six phases of the Gibbs reflective cycle are discussed below:
Figure 1:Gibbs Reflective Cycle by Graham Gibbs,2021
Phase 1: Description- This is a stage where I will be defining my whole situation or experience
at the university in detail without crafting the conclusion. In this phase I will be answering
several questions such as what happened, when it happened, where it happens, who all were
involved and much more. In context of my experience I am the current student at the university
where I daily attend different classes regarding the different subjects as per the course I have
opted. Among all my lectures I like to attend the lectures of employability and study skills where
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the tutor taught us through different methods of teaching. Sometimes I am provided with
theoretical lecture notes and sometimes practical knowledge for better visual of the concept. This
subject includes the learning of different skills such as communication skills, the use of ICTs,
problem solving skills, team working and much more. Once in the class the tutor asked to
prepare the group presentation on the topic “Skills required for professional and personal
development”. For this there was deadline of 15 days and each team has 5 students. I was
appointed as the leader of the team and was asked to manage and guide the team. All the team
members conducted the survey of many professionals and other people in university regarding
respective topic to collect data for the presentation. During the whole presentation I faced many
challenges and also there were many victory and support from external and team members. To
submit the presentation on time I has to tackle many issues.
Phase: 2 Feelings- This stage is all about reflecting on my feeling that are triggered while
attending the university. As I was appointed as the leader of team I felt very nervous and under
confident in beginning due to my lack of team working and networking skills. But with the
ongoing working on the presentation as a team I felt that I have good communication skills both
verbal and written which helped me a lot as the leader of the team. I felt that the presentation on
the skills required by professional is highly useful in learning different set of employability and
study skills. According to me for the other members of the team there were both kind of situation
happened positive and negative. After the completion of the work everyone was highly happy
satisfied with the performance.
phase: 3 Evaluation- This stage is for me to evaluate each stage of the activity in order to
analyse the strengths and weaknesses. While working on the presentation I evaluated that I have
lack of knowledge and learning about the ICTs skills as I faced many problems in assembling the
work of all the team members into the digital presentation. In addition to this as the all the team
members are diversified in nature due to which in between of the working there were conflicts
and issues of difference in opinion and perspectives and that where not resolving quickly.
Through this I analysed that I have weak problem solving skills. As we were able to meet each
and every deadlines of the assignment as a team by which I evaluated that the time and self-
management skills were the key strength. The survey on the skills required by professional made
me analysed that my research skills are moderate and requires some improvement.
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Phase: 4 Analysis- Through my analysis on the whole process of completion of the assignment
assigned by the tutor, I have analysed that I have gained the sour and sweet experience as whole.
I have analysed that as a leader of the team I have encountered many positive things in me by
evaluating my strengths and also encountered the opportunities of learning new things for my
own development. But, I also experience the negative experience in terms of conflicts in team
members and lack of knowledge of some subjects. Due to this I faced many challenges as the
team leader.
Phase: 5 Conclusion- I have concluded that from my above reflection on the experience at the
university that my most positive experience is as a leader of the team as this was my first time to
become a leader of the team. The negative experience as the whole was my incapability of
resolving the issues of the team members. After analysing the whole situation, I realized that
whenever in future when I will lead a team I will firstly research on the project topic in order to
have in depth knowledge. Secondly, I will also distribute the responsibilities to others in order to
allow others to grow.
Phase: 6 Action Plan- this stage contains action plan, the tool used by me to transform the weak
areas into the strengths.
What do I want to
learn? What do I have to do? Resources required Target time
Research skills
To improve my research skills, I
will read more articles, books,
journals regarding the specific
topic. Also, I will learn different
methods of research in order to
conduct effective research as per
the requirement of the project.
Library resources like
books, journals and
articles of authors.
10 months
Problem solving
skills
To improve my problem solving
skills I will work on my observational
skills and also to solve problem I will
try to become more practical and
Some problem based case
studies
4 months
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logical.
Team working and
networking skills
To improve my team working and
networking skills will use my
communication skills and interact
with team. In addition to this I will
more focus on feedbacks and also
listen to their views to understand
them in better manner.
Social communication,
good contacts, support of
team members.
6 months
CONCLUSION
It is concluded from the above report that writing self-reflection on the individual’s experience in
the particular situation is effective for personal growth. The Gibbs reflective cycle is the most
effective tool for individual to analyse the self-reflection of the experience due to its cyclic
nature. In terms of employability and study skills for a student it is very important to have
effective communication skills.
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References:
Books and Journals
Andika, Y., and et. al., 2021. THE DEVELOPMENT OF PORTFOLIO ASSESSMENT FOR
LEARNING FRENCH IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS (SMA). IJLECR-
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE EDUCATION AND CULTURE
REVIEW, 7(1), pp.18-31.
Micallef, R. and Kayyali, R., 2019. A systematic review of models used and preferences for
continuing education and continuing professional development of
pharmacists. Pharmacy, 7(4), p.154.
Natin, B.P., 2021. The Implementation of Portfolio Assessment in the English Class at Junior
High School. EFL Education Journal, 8(3), pp.9-15.
Vermunt, J.D., and et. al., 2019. The impact of Lesson Study professional development on the
quality of teacher learning. Teaching and Teacher Education, 81, pp.61-73.
McAleavy, T., and et. al., 2018. Technology-Supported Professional Development for Teachers:
Lessons from Developing Countries. Education Development Trust. Highbridge House,
16-18 Duke Street, Reading Berkshire, England RG1 4RU, United Kingdom.
Zahiruddin Fitri and et. al., 2018. Portfolio-Based Assessment.
Tajeddin, Z. and Aghababazadeh, Y., 2018. Blog-mediated reflection for professional
development: Exploring themes and criticality of L2 teachers' reflective practice. TESL
Canada Journal, 35(2), pp.26-50.
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Gibbs Reflective Cycle by Graham Gibbs, 2021, [online], Available through: <
https://www.toolshero.com/management/gibbs-reflective-cycle>grahamgibbs/><https://
www.toolshero.com/management/gibbs-reflective-cycle-graham-gibbs/>
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