Module 1: Reflection on Progress in Higher Education Study Skills

Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments. This report details a student's progress in developing higher education study skills.

Report on my progress in developing the knowledge and
skills for study in higher education for the module
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Body.................................................................................................................................................4
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8
Reference List..................................................................................................................................9
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Introduction
Developing skills and competencies is an essential part of higher education. Skills like critical
thinking, leadership, problem-solving and others make individuals excel in their professional
career. In this current report, I am going to highlight the difference between learning in the
environment of the school and higher education by considering learning styles and time
management. It will go through some business cases to show my critical thinking and reading
skills. I am going to show my ability to collect and locate information and data applying ranges
of academic resources like articles, journals, e-books and others. I will reflect my readability
skills such as speed, critical reading and comprehension. Additionally, the report will identify the
skills that I want to improve.
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Body
1. The distinction between learning in the School environment and Higher Education
I can observe a significant distinction between learning environment in school and higher
education. By remembering my school days and the current environment of higher education, I
can draw many bases of differences such as learning style worksheet, time management skill and
others. When I was continuing my schooling, I do not have the idea of how to manage my time
and perform tasks as per a routine. Even, I did not hear of time management skill and its
importance. I was not able to determine which tasks to be completed on an urgent and priority
basis. I was not given proper training on how to utilise my time at its best level. Most of the time
of mine was spent on watching cartoon shows, playing computer games, and other activities that
have no values in my professional life. However, I have learnt the benefits and importance of
time management skill during higher education. In this period, the particular skill is important to
finish a major academic project within time to avoid penalties. It is important to improve my
grades and make me competitive in my career ladder. It is enabling me to lead more in the
university.
Effective learning styles are not being followed in the school environment for which I could not
prepare myself for learning new idea, skills, concept or language. Due to the presence of a vast
syllabus in higher education, I learnt how to breakdown each topic through worksheets. These
sheets enabled me to have a track of my progress with time. I understood the types and
importance of different learning styles such as visual, verbal, physical, logical, solitary, and
interpersonal and others.
2. Engagement with critical reading and thinking
Concerning critical reading, I am citing an example of a news article published by BBC focusing
on the VW emission scandals. I have gone through the article thoroughly and identified the
overview, issues and further consequences of this scandal. Volkswagen Group was found the
culprit for violating the Clean Air Act. I found that the popular automobile company
programmed TDI or turbocharged direct injection in its diesel cars intentionally in order to
activate emission control (bbc.com, 2019). I have studied the article in an active way. I was in a
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deeper engagement with the article to analyse, interpret and evaluate the issues associated with
the scandal. I have read another case study of Lidl and Aldi in BBC news pages. Both companies
have topped in the supermarket survey (bbc.com, 2019). Through critical reading and thinking, I
found that both supermarkets have scored poorly in previous years due to staff unavailability and
high queuing time. By implementing a superior marketing strategy, they have owned higher
customer satisfaction. I reflected these two cases through engagement with independent,
reflective and critical thinking skill.
3. The ability to locate, collect and record appropriate information using a range of
academic resources
When I was going through the Volkswagen case, I was following ranges of academic sources to
get a detailed overview. I gained skills and capabilities concerning locating, collecting and
keeping a record of appropriate information. Additionally, I followed many research papers,
articles, books and blogs in order to have knowledge of Volkswagen’s team task. I collected and
recorded the information on Volkswagen’s team task that I have collected from academic
sources. The sources let me understand how the teams perform well through digital knowledge
network, pair programming and agile working. The teams not only make decisions properly but
also engage in various discussions.
I have used certain tools including Microsoft Excel and word to locate and record the
information. I can use this information for future requirement purpose. Additionally, I have
developed the skill of locating information in the appropriate platform. I can save my time, as I
have systematically recorded the information. I applied ranges of academic sources during my
studies and researches such as news sites including bbc.com, cnn.com. and nbc.com along with
Google Scholar to find out books and journals on a particular topic. While conducting an
academic research project, I have utilised Researchmethodology.net site to cite justification of
the research instruments used by me.
4. Evaluation of the reliability of information
In order to evaluate the reliability of particular information, I have considered many parameters.
I understood the importance and benefits of evaluating materials before using information in
academic purpose. I used to make sure that any fake information has not been used in my study. I
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ensure that the information collected by me is related to my academic topics and subjects. I used
to prefer scholar-based and peer-reviewed articles to get reliable information. Many changes
come into the picture with time. Therefore, I ensure that information is not outdated and I prefer
to collect information from journals published after 2014. I used to choose information having
relation with theories that I have studied in my academic syllabus. Other bases of evaluating the
reliability of information are reputation level of the publication, authors’ background, use of
measures in the articles to gather data and others. Performing this evaluation related tasks
encourage group participation that enables me to take the right decision on taking information
from various sources.
5. Reading skills
It is the ability to read properly and interpret written words effectively (Yeatman et al., 2012).
The particular skill is beneficial for enhancing the power of thinking and reading a particular
topic in a critical manner.
While I was continuing my schooling, I had the capability to read 120 words per minute. The
normal level is 200 that every individual needs to read in each minute (Mart, 2012). With the
beginning of my higher studies, I used to go through news sites like BBC, NNC and others. After
some days of this practice, I developed the speed from 120 to 250. My friends and teachers
appreciated me for drastic improvement.
In the initial stages, it takes minimum of thirty minutes to comprehend a paragraph having 500
words. With continuous reading practice, I developed the skill up to a higher level. Now, I am
taking 10 minutes to comprehend a paragraph, which is 20 minutes less than the time I was
taking previously.
During my school days, I did not focus on understanding the contents found in a particular
subject. I used to read them just for reading purpose. When I started my higher studies, I made it
a habit of reading things with continuous learning and in a critical way. Now, I am analysing the
views of different authors on a particular topic. Reading contents in a critical way has helped me
to identify the positive as well as the negative aspects of each content covered in a book.
6. Self-reflection
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I have made extensive improvements in my existing skills and knowledge and developed some
new ones. My tutors and faculties are quite impressive on these improvements. The good thing in
this aspect is that I have developed strong time management and reading skill. I am utilizing in
my time in the best and possible way. I am able to comprehend contents quickly. However,
critical thinking skill could have been improved more as before. I should have presented things
more logically to transfer knowledge effectively and establish judgments of the contents I have
covered in the past.
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Conclusion
At the end of this report, it is observed that there is a significant distinction present between the
learning environment of schools and higher studies. Nobody gives importance to time
management skill and learning styles during the school days. These aspects are mandatory during
higher studies to prioritize tasks, judge things properly and complete the task within the required
time. Now, I am capable of allocating time for each subject evenly, thus making me capable of
gaining adequate knowledge on each academic topic equally. I have shown my talent in
engaging myself in critical thinking and reading process. I have started reading popular
newspapers that enabling me to develop reading speed and comprehend skill. Before applying
any information, I used to check its reliability. This is helping me to come with a precise
conclusion. I have also learnt how to collect information from academic sources and record them
with help of appropriate tools for future use.
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Reference List
bbc.com. (2019). Aldi named top supermarket by survey. [online] Available at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-43026318 [Accessed 8 Feb. 2019].
bbc.com. (2019). How VW tried to cover up the emissions scandal. [online] Available at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44005844 [Accessed 8 Feb. 2019].
Mart, C.T., 2012. Developing speaking skills through reading. International Journal of English
Linguistics, 2(6), p.91.
Yeatman, J.D., Dougherty, R.F., Ben-Shachar, M. and Wandell, B.A., 2012. Development of
white matter and reading skills. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(44),
pp.E3045-E3053.
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