Reflective Report: Comparing School and Higher Education Learning

This reflective report examines the transition from a school environment to higher education, highlighting the key differences in learning experiences and skill development. The report explores the distinct characteristics of school and college environments, emphasizing the shift towards student autonomy, practical knowledge, and critical thinking. It delves into the development of essential skills such as active reading, effective note-taking, and writing, as well as strategies for managing assessment anxiety. The report concludes that both theoretical and practical knowledge gained through schools and colleges are crucial for individual growth and success. This report is a valuable resource for students navigating the complexities of higher education. For further study, Desklib provides access to past papers and solved assignments.

Reflective Report

Table of Contents
AIM..................................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY ................................................................................................................................1
Difference between learning in school environment and higher education................................1
Critical Thinking.........................................................................................................................2
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................4
REFRENCES...................................................................................................................................5

AIM
To demonstrate development of higher education skills and competencies
INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development is a vast concept which plays an essential role in
enhancing the skills and knowledge of people (Ashwin, 2012). Reflective report can be
considered as a piece of writing which helps in summarising a critical reflection on a certain
topic or subject. This report studied about the progress in enhancing skills, knowledge and
abilities that represents through the study in higher education. In this particular report, the
essential differences between learning in schools environment and higher education will be
discussed in a detailed manner (Astin, 2012).
MAIN BODY
Difference between learning in school environment and higher education
An education institute is a place where people of various ages attain knowledge and
education in which various sources are involved such as per-schools, childcare, secondary-high
school, primary elementary schools and universities (Espinosa, 2011). School and colleges; both
are described as educational institutions which help in providing proper knowledge and skills to
individuals in order to develop their living standard. Schools mainly involve primary and
secondary schools and on the other side, college mainly consist as an institution which helps in
providing higher education to individual. From the childhood to adulthood, high school allows
an individual to attain some sense of various elements that are effective in future aspects. In
schools, people are bound to take some specific classes as these are essential in enhancing their
skills and knowledge and on the other side, college allows an individual to take total ownership
of their time as students take class as per their own requirement and interest. School helps in
developing the overall knowledge and skills of people as well as college helps in rendering
higher education in some specific sector.
It is exciting for me to join college as this is beginning of a new life which will lead me
towards attaining my career goals and objectives. Sometimes, this also discouraging me that now
I won’t go back and spend my school life again, this makes me feel pressurised that have to
study in order to reducing competition and reaching at higher position in my life. College allows
1

me to select my own time for taking classes and even a subject area in which my interest level is
high. School life doesn't allow an individual to take subjects as per their choice. In school, it is
required for ever people to take all subject in proper consideration as it helps in enhancing
overall knowledge of human. In the college, professors are not aware about each student because
a large number of people spend their huge time in outside activities rather than taking classes.
In school, students are bound to attend each class and getting some specific period of
time for conducting various other skill development activities. The higher education helps people
in providing practical knowledge as they are more focused on developing practical base of
people because this is effective in attaining high growth and success in career. There is a huge
difference in between schools and the environment of higher education. So, I make some
strategies to bridge the gap among them as it helps me in enhancing my skills and abilities to
gain various types of knowledge to achieve a significant position in my career. In my school life,
I used to spend more than 40 hours in a week for self-study which is separate from my school
hours. I used to come first in my school and gained high percentage.
In college, I don't even remember about my study timings as I spend my maximum time
in other activities. In colleges, it is required for each individual to take regular classes as it helps
in gaining significant knowledge and skills from their experienced professors. This is also
effective in attaining higher percentage in the college. Each individual has some personal as well
as professional plans which help them in gaining growth and success in their future and support
in developing their living standard.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking is considered as an ability to think rationally and clear on things that are
required to do or which is to be believe. It involves the cognition to engage in independent or
reflective thinking. The major focused area of this section is to analyse different statements and
views that are presented in a detailed manner.
Active reading:
Active reading is the way to something evaluate and learn for relevance and self need.
When I was in college I used to interact with different types of research books and take part in
various workshops which help me in enhancing my knowledge and to analysis my depth in
evaluating my performance. I used to resolve the queries as my own and for this I used to design
various type strategies which provides a way to solve the conflict in easy and effective way. I
2

focus on the important thing which is very relevant to solve the problem in some specific
situation. I used to read and also marked it as to remember it for long time. I always take part in
various activities in the college which helps me in enhancing my knowledge and also give a path
to solve the queries which are relicts from any condition. I make an executive summary of the
various type of topics so that it is easy for me to understood and situation and solve the
questionnaire.
Effective note taking:
When I attend the lecture in college I used to write important lines which helps to solve
the questions and also clears my concept regarding the topics. Effective notes helps me in
memorising the topic and it considered as a relevant skills of learning which creates an idea for
resolve the question. I used to sit in front of the class where I less disturb and give my cent
percent concentration so that it is easy to make notes effectively highlighting the important
points regarding the topics I used to make pie chart and relate the point of different topics so
that I can clear my concept of different topic at one time. My major quality is that I used to
search a single topic on various books or sites as it helps in providing a clear understanding of a
concept or topic. This habit helps me in preparing effective notes which makes me superior in
my class and for this I am able to explain any topic in-front of class and my teacher also. My
major hobby in college timing was reading books of the different authors which helps me in
analysing a significant topic through view point of various writers who are having a vast
knowledge on it.
Writing:
Writing is a medium of communication that represent language and emotion with signs
and symbols. In college time I used to do various type of research paper in which I have to give
argumentation writing in my own words. I used to write essay in my own word with new and
innovative idea and this make me feel standout in front of my class and teachers. This make my
writing technique effective which helps me to resolve the topic in relevant manner. I use to
implement diagrams in writing the arguments in research paper which give imperative effect in
writing the paper. When I was in college my favourite place was the library and I used to read
different type of books in order to collect thoughts of different researcher, that helps me in
conducting an effective research in my future. I used to write important topics and after that I
apply my opinion on it which helps me to enhance writing skills and also increase my
3

knowledge of writing a research paper. Good writing technique always send a message with
clarity which emphasis the reader to acknowledge the topic and also increase the confidence to
write in a new manner with new thoughts and for this I use to write the synonyms of different
words and implement them in writing this also improve my knowledge in different sector this
hobby helps me in developing my own skills to implement words at right place. This give good
perception in writing the different types of essay, news article, arguments on the topics I used
to take the help from teachers as to gaining relevant discussion on the topics which signifies the
knowledge on some specific area.
Alternative assessment anxiety:
In college time doing repetitive work results in burden of tasks thus there are tension as
the work is not completed on time and this situation results in depression and irritation for
person as he is not able to focus on a particular task. When I am in tension due to depression
there is negative thinking regarding my work then I use to leave the work for someday and
engaged myself in watching movies and comedy serials which give entertainment and fresh my
mind also regenerate my power to work on the topic again. It help me to innovate new idea of
doing work. It also gave me calmness in doing work so that I will not distracted with the
situation and handle the situation in relevant manner . It gives me opportunity to do work hard
and achieve the target in appropriative time and increase my performance in the schools in a
better manner.
CONCLUSION
As per the given report it has been concluded that it is required for each individual to
develop their skills and knowledge through gaining theoretical and practical knowledge from
various sectors such as schools and college. Schools are effective in providing primary and
secondary education and in order to attaining higher education people usually moving forward
towards college institutions.
4

REFRENCES
Books and Journal
Ashwin, P., 2012.Analysing teaching-learning interactions in higher education: Accounting for
structure and agency. A&C Black.
Astin, A. W., 2012. Assessment for excellence: The philosophy and practice of assessment and
evaluation in higher education. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Espinosa, L., 2011. Pipelines and pathways: Women of color in undergraduate STEM majors
and the college experiences that contribute to persistence. Harvard Educational Review.
81(2).v pp.209-241.
Graham, C. R., 2013. Emerging practice and research in blended learning. Handbook of distance
education, 3 .pp.333-350.
Hwang, G. J., Yang, L .H. and Wang, S. Y., 2013. A concept map-embedded educational
computer game for improving students' learning performance in natural science courses.
Computers & Education,69, pp.121-130.
McInerney, D. M., 2013.Educational psychology: Constructing learning. Pearson Higher
Education AU.
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S. and Zvacek, S. M. eds., 2014. Teaching and learning at a distance:
Foundations of distance education. IAP.
Sung, H. Y. and Hwang, G. J., 2013. A collaborative game-based learning approach to
improving students' learning performance in science courses. Computers &
Education,63 .pp.43-51.
Online
The differences Between High School and College Learning. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerpts/the-differences-between-high-
school-and-college-learning>.
5