Learning Theories and Professional Skills: A Reflective Essay

This reflective essay explores the author's understanding of key learning theories, including cognitive, behaviorism, humanism, and constructive learning, applying the Gibbs reflective model to analyze personal experiences within a team presentation scenario. The reflection identifies key behaviors from the CIPD professional map, such as valuing people and passion for learning, and discusses how individual behaviors and external factors influence the experience. An action plan is developed to enhance communication skills, creative thinking, and procrastination management for future professional growth. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and self-improvement for overall performance.

Individual reflective
essay

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Knowledge of the key theories on learning and reflection.....................................................1
Key behaviours identified in CIPD professional map............................................................2
Key aspect influence on experience.......................................................................................2
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
This report reflects on the learning theory of individual and their conduct reflection over
it. Learning is the continuous process that goes throughout the life time of an individual. There
are several experiences takes place within the day to day life whether the professional and
educational level (Joshi, 2021). The report tends to apply the Gibbs reflective model to analyse
regarding the own experience of the learning and lastly an action plan is made for the future
growth and development.
MAIN BODY
Knowledge of the key theories on learning and reflection
Learning is considered as the most critical factor for the individual that takes place in the
different manner. For this, each and every individual is different from each other that reflect the
variety of behaviour while learning several things. These learning theories are discussed below:
Cognitive learning theory: It represent the ability of thinking of an individual that impact
different factors (Hobfoll and et. al., 2018). It includes that how an individual think about the
different factors of life that depends on their overall surroundings.
Behaviourism theory: It represent the thinking of an individual which is depends on their
overall behaviour. It discusses that how the external factors make changes into the attitude and
overall personality that plays an important role within the learning for these individuals.
Humanism theory: This theory put focus on the needs of an individual. Here, an
individual tends to learn to fulfil regarding the self-actualisation needs as it works as the
motivation for them.
Constructive learning theory: Here, the thinking of individual makes them learn from
their past experience. They tend to amplify the overall knowledge according to the prevailing
experiences that enhances the knowledge factor.
Gibbs reflective model:
This model is useful in explaining the overall experience of event and also identify the
needs for the further improvement:
Description: Considering my own experience of the teamwork when me and my team
members were indulged within the group presentations (Nakamura and Nagayoshi, 2017). Here,
we need to conduct proper research on the given topic and also present my own thoughts by the
1

PPT slides. For this, being a leader I need to assess the overall knowledge of each member in
terms of classifying the work among them to find some difficulties and also make them learn
regarding the overall concept.
Feeling: In regard of distributing the work according to the behaviour and knowledge of
individuals, I felt little bit tensed as people wants to get easy tasks and no one is ready to
participate as the volunteer (Rhee and et. al.,2017). At that time, I felt tired and helpless to make
people understand regarding the essence of teamwork like co-operation and coordination.
Evaluation: From this, I came to know that there is the need to know that each individual
behaviour tends to make things learn and also pursue the tasks effectively. I also prepare list of
activities in regard of boosting the overall knowledge and also enhance the cognitive thinking.
Analysis: It has been analysed regarding my experience that I need to enhance my skills
and properly interact with my team members to make my team involved within the group tasks.
Conclusion: From my self-analysis, I concluded regarding the development of my own
good team working skills for the better growth.
Action plan: I need to put more emphasis on effective communication skills, creative
thinking and also being patient while the delay of work.
Key behaviours identified in CIPD professional map
According my reflection regarding the experience of group presentation, there are three key
behaviours which are identified that represent my own professional skills:
Valuing people: I was concerned regarding the attitude and behaviour of different
individuals regarding the learning that represent the concept like I value others vision and then
come to any decision.
Passion for learning: I am more passionate regarding my work as I always look for
correcting my mistakes and learning the new concepts that leads to boost my overall knowledge.
Decisions as per different situation: I try to make decisions after identifying the overall
criteria by the several aspects. It is useful for me to take decisions through end to end relevancy.
Key aspect influence on experience
Behaviours of individuals for neglecting things and also get indulge in terms of taking the
external surround leads to impact about the overall politics that impact on my experiences to
perform task in an appropriate manner (Saad and Abbas, 2018)
.
2

Action plan
Skills required for future Why it is important How it will achieve
Communication skills It is essential for an individual
to develop communication
skill for having better relations
with others and it also help to
convey message in proper
manner which is easy to
understood by others.
It can be achieved by coaching
where coach will assist the
ways of developing this skill.
On the other hand, watching
business news channels in
English language will also help
to enhance communication
skill.
Creative thinking It is essential for making
innovative decisions in
personal and professional life.
This can be achieved by
practice and observing others
while taking any innovative
idea.
Avoid procrastination This is most important skill to
reduce work pressure and help
to manage it effectively.
Meditation and mental
exercise will help to achieve
this skill by controlling stress.
CONCLUSION
It is concluded from the above information that there are various kind of individual
theories which can describe human behaviour while learning. This behaviour will help an
individual to enhance their performance. Gibbs model also help to identify weak skills and what
all actions will be taken to convert these weak skills into strengthening skills.
3

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Hobfoll, S.E and et. al., 2018. Conservation of resources in the organizational context: The
reality of resources and their consequences. Annual review of organizational
psychology and organizational behavior, 5, pp.103-128.
Joshi, H., 2021. Nature of Reflection after Organizational Experience by Managers across
Developmental Levels: A Study Using Excerpts from Subject-Object Interviews
(Doctoral dissertation, Teachers College, Columbia University).
Nakamura, J. and Nagayoshi, S., 2017, December. Perceived distance as a reflection of an
organizational culture of learning from failure. In 2017 IEEE International Conference
on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management (IEEM) (pp. 171-175). IEEE.
Rhee, J., and et. al.,2017. Organizational structure and employees' innovative behavior: The
mediating role of empowerment. Social Behavior and Personality: an international
journal, 45(9), pp.1523-1536.
Saad, G.B. and Abbas, M., 2018. The impact of organizational culture on job performance: a
study of Saudi Arabian public sector work culture. Problems and Perspectives in
Management, 16(3), pp.207-218.
4