Reflective Portfolio: Gibbs Cycle and Certification Programs

This report presents a reflective portfolio analyzing the student's experiences and learning outcomes from four certification programs: Google Forms Essential Training, SPSS Academic Testing, EndNote Essential Training, and Learning Office 365. The student utilizes the Gibbs reflective cycle, a...Read More

Reflective Portfolio

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
Stage 1: Description.....................................................................................................................2
Stage 2: Feelings..........................................................................................................................2
Stage 3: Evaluation......................................................................................................................3
Stage 4: Analysis.........................................................................................................................4
Stage 5: Conclusion.....................................................................................................................5
Stage 6: Action Plan....................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7
APPENDIX......................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Reflection is a collective summary of insights and experiences of a learner from a course or
training. It assists a learner to regain, collect and organize the work completed in a precise
manner. In this regards, the report is prepared to present the reflective cycle of the four
certification courses done by the learner. The four courses will be clearly evaluated and
summarised in the report through Gibbs reflective cycle.
MAIN BODY
Applying the Gibbs reflective cycle to my certification programs which I had undertook recently
and I have made a summary of my learning. The Gibbs reflective cycle is a six step model that
says learning by doing. It is divided into six dimensions including Description, Feelings,
Evaluation, Analysis, Conclusion and Action Plan. This model basically outlines the interactions
and information acquired during certain events, circumstances or activities (Sicora, 2017). Thus,
it is the best way to create a reflection of my skills sets and acquired knowledge from the
certification programs.
Figure 1: Gibbs Reflective Cycle
(Source: SeekPNG, 2019)
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Stage 1: Description
This stage is the description of initial experience of a learner that defines the positive and
negative aspects of particular event or situation. It also defines the things that went well and the
things that didn’t. Also, the learner can describe the outcome of activity and the expected
outcome (Sicora, 2017). In the recent period I have been through four certification programs
including Google Forms Essential Training, SPSS Academic Testing, EndNote Essential
Training and Learning Office 365. Every program I attended brought a positive experience for
me and added to my skills set in a very pleasant mode. SPPSS course taught the leading software
and its uses for running academic research to interpret data from quantitative tests. It included t-
tests, variance analyses, and statistical measurements for the academic researches. On the other
hand, Goggle forms is the program that is quick and simple method of creaking online surveys
for taking responses from the recipients in an easy and efficient approach. Next I attended
Learning Office 365, a cloud based productivity suite that taught to organise my data and work
by using the applications of 365. Also, the EndNote essential training was necessary to save my
efforts and time wasted on referencing. The platform is a source to manage the tedious period of
creating citations and looking of authentic sources.
For the mentioned courses I attended online programs organised by LinkedIn Learning and got
certificates for each. These courses were chosen by me on the basis of my current qualification
and future profession. Therefore, I might through my abilities stand out from the crowd. Also, I
had many confusing things going on in my mind during the initial phase but later on realised that
I had to create some personal sections according to the term and coming chapters in the program.
Gradually, I made modules as per each section in program and created objectives for myself.
Then I learned that the idea of creating goals for me was the motivation factor that added to my
learning. Since, I had some friends who were doing same course I asked them about their
planning and learning. Those conversations helped me to understand the learning clearer.
Stage 2: Feelings
In the entire term of any kind of program or activity getting frustrated or irritated and it’s just
normal at times. Most of individuals are not very comfortable at the beginning due some events
or situations throughout the period (Oham, Pestano and Allen, 2016). Thus, the second phase of
reflective cycle explains the emotions, feelings and attitude of an individual during and after the
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event or activity that is described in stage one. Moreover, the actual emotions of learner are
evaluated here but the outcome due to feelings and they lead are identified in this stage. Since,
the emotions of a person are the main factor that either motivates or impels them. Throughout
my training period I had mixed emotions at different moments, sometimes I was happy and
unhappy at times according to my assignments. Since, we had test after every chapter completion
and that were motivating factor but they were impelling also due to the rankings. However, when
I look back to the term period it was essential for enhancements of employability and academic
research skills.
Before I felt these programs are just for a requirement but now when I see the upgrade in my
skills set and felt its importance in present and future. Since, I can easily create an online review
through Google forms also I can organise my work easily due to the expanded knowledge of
Office 365. Alternatively, I can conduct research with the help of SPSS and perform quantitative
research and perform statistical tests. Also, the EndNote training is a time saving factor during
my research. It trained me to create my own referencing library and creation or editing of
citation. Therefore, now I feel content with my training and its outcomes. As well, I the genuine
engagement I had during term made me more optimistic and curious to perform such trainings in
future also.
Stage 3: Evaluation
This is the third stage of reflective cycle of Gibbs model that evaluates the experiences of learner
and also the approaches used all through the term. It can be said that the approach that motivated
and assisted the learner to reach those objectives articulated at beginning phase are evaluated in
this step (Johns, 2017). The learner can identify the contribution in program by themselves and
identify the lacking from them and the mistakes in choosing the approaches. While looking at my
training from LinkedIn I have got good remarks on my certificates that defines that I had a great
learning period and proved myself. I got remarks that say I have sharpened my skills, expanded
my perspective and made myself in demand. Though, I could have done other courses that are
more demanding in this period but these courses were actually matching my current strengths
and weaknesses.
While learning Google forms I came to know about its assistance for data analysis and
conducting research through it. I can now create quick survey before planning an event for my
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business. Moreover, I learnt how to collect diverse information without making much effort in an
efficient manner. I could make real connections with people while doing a test survey and came
to know that a simple platform can be so much useful for development. Similarly, when I did
365 training I learnt the ways to organise my work form workplace and even after that. I do not
have to wait for next working day to finish the task. The application is user-friendly and I could
be able to manage my own form home and schedule future things with the fatuities it has. For
instance: the To-do-list feature in Ms Office is so good that I could create a time table for my
work according to priorities. Similarly, another program of Endnote training made me realise the
benefits of own reference library. Likewise, SPSS taught me actual academic research patterns
and approaches through a single platform. I could be able to create my own statistical tests
without going in public to perform an experiment. Now I can say that the objectives made by me
in beginning are fulfilled. But, some of them are completely realised due to my own mistakes at
initial stage. I could have paid more attention to my training. Since, I had some other tasks in
hand while I took this training. However, the loss is not so big that I couldn’t recover. Also, I
have reached the expected outcome but my own objectives are not fully realised.
Stage 4: Analysis
It is the fourth phase of reflective cycle that performs analysis of the happening during the term.
In previous four stages the four programs and their details are been focused upon. But, this step
extracts meaning out of all findings in previous stages and their gain for the learner (Sharp,
2018). Also, the learner can reflect the positive or negative experience from programs. I had
attended four certification programs that taught me dynamic skills to upgrade my employability
skills and academic research skills. I could have created module before my training program so
that the initial phase was not wasted. But, I realised the same during the training period. Thus,
some of the basic things were not systematically grabbed by me. But, the advanced features and
application installed on phone from LinkedIn assisted to analyse my progress and learning. Also,
I could identify my mistakes during learning process and rectify them. Additionally, the
instructor organised quizzes that boosts my confidence and motivation. Also, I applied Belbin
team roles to analyse my own strengths and weaknesses. So, I had managed to minimise my
weaknesses and win over them from my strengths. I added the skills I have learned to my
LinkedIn profile and share them with my network to ensure that my abilities match with my
goals and professional development.
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Stage 5: Conclusion
By this reflective cycle I can notice that the reflective portfolio assisted me to evaluate the
addition to me skills set. The certification program organised by LinkedIn are very beneficial for
my future and my professional development. The courses are certified but their certificates are
not accredited but enhanced my personal abilities and skills. I noticed that as a learner these
certification programs are source of upgrading personal skills through simple exercise. Also, I
learnt that identification of personal strengths and weaknesses is very essential to prepare a
framework for learning. Also, I will be continually performing personal swot to ensure that my
weaknesses are minimised by strengths. The information gathered in pervious stages is very
helpful for creating future action plan for me.
It can also be concluded in the end that the tests and quizzes organised by instructor at regular
intervals were positive for my upgrade. But, the distraction were social media that wasted my
time after the training immediately and I lost some points. However, now I’m prepared for
anything this in future. I would be practising my newly acquired skills to gain expertise in them.
Also, I learnt that it is apparently required to create an action plan for future.
Stage 6: Action Plan
It is final phase of Gibbs Reflective cycle that is created for future activities, events or similar
situations. The action plan is based on conclusion from past experiences and learning. Also, it is
the guide to avoid the past mistakes and repeat the positive actions in future (Fathelrahman,
2019). It helps to improve the approach of learning and create a correct schedule to avoid hustle
and unnatural promises.
In this regards, I have created an action plan for myself so that I would be doing things
differently and better. Since, I noticed that the certificates I acquired need some additional
certificates to complete the expert knowledge. Resultantly, I have chosen additional courses for
myself from same source in my plan. The Action Plan is as follows:
 I will create a schedule for my learning period including before and after things to avoid
the distractions that could lose my learning.
 Also, I will be aligning my current skills with future professional requirements.
 Perform SWOT continually to analyse my personality.
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 Genuinely engaged in learning process from initial to end stage.
 I will be practicing my newly acquired knowledge and skills to make sure that my skills
are not forgotten.
After the action plan selecting additional courses to enhance my academic research skills an
extensive analysis of current skills and future requisite strengths are required. Moreover, genuine
engagement is essential to properly grab the available knowledge and enhance the expected
skills. Thus, I will attend two additional courses i.e. Office 365 New Features and Survey
Monkey Essential Training (2017) to improve my academic research skills. New features will
improve my expertise in MS office to organise my work and use latest features to speed up my
work. Likewise, survey monkey would be adding business intelligence skills to my portfolio.
This is the software which allows the user to generate business surveys and perform online
review. The program provides templates for designing and configuring questionnaires
CONCLUSION
With this reflection report it is inferred that the certification programs have enhanced my
knowledge to a certain level. Also, I have noticed that these programs helped me to improve my
projection and organising skills. It is clearly evident that the skills sets are improved from the
programs attended and relevant research skills are learnt. It is also noticeable that creating action
plan for future will reduce chances of past mistakes that acted as backlog in previous trainings.
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REFERENCES
Ashwin, P., Boud, D., Calkins, S., Coate, K., Hallett, F., Light, G., Luckett, K., McArthur, J.,
MacLaren, I., McLean, M. and McCune, V., (2020). Reflective teaching in higher education.
Bloomsbury Publishing.
Fathelrahman, A., (2019). Using reflection to improve distance learning course delivery: a case
study of teaching a management information systems course. Open Learning: The Journal of
Open, Distance and e-Learning, 34(2), pp.176-186.
Johns, C. ed., (2017). Becoming a reflective practitioner. John Wiley & Sons.
Oham, C.A., Pestano, C. and Allen, J., (2016). Social enterprise and the wider community: one
possible model. International Journal of Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 4(2), pp.172-
181.
SeekPNG, (2019). Gibb's Reflective Cycle Model Explained - Gibbs Reflective Cycle 1998.
[Online] Accessed through: https://www.seekpng.com/ipng/u2w7u2a9y3q8o0a9_gibbs-
reflective-cycle-model-explained-gibbs-reflective-cycle/ [Accessed on 23rd January 2020].
Sharp, L.A., (2018). Reflective practice: Understanding ourselves and our work. Australian
Nursing and Midwifery Journal, 25(10), pp.48-48.
Sicora, A., (2017). Reflective practice, risk and mistakes in social work. Journal of Social Work
Practice, 31(4), pp.491-502.
Sicora, A., (2017). Reflective practice. Policy Press.
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APPENDIX
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