Reflective Practice on Academic Skill Development using Kolb's Model

Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments. This reflective journal uses Kolb's model to assess academic skills.

Academic Study Skills
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Reflection.........................................................................................................................................3
Conclusion and future actions.........................................................................................................6
Reference List..................................................................................................................................8
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Introduction
Reflective practice can be defined as the process of studying or assessing own experiences, to
improve the way of work. In both the academic as well as professional career, individual needs
to reflect the learning or experience, which can help the individual in several ways to shape the
skills and competencies (Johns, 2017). In this context, reflecting own practice helps the
individual to identify own strengths and weaknesses, by exploring what has been done well and
what needs further improvement, to gain the maximum success. Further, it has also been
revealed that the act of reflection is a great way for increasing confidence and be a more
proactive and qualified professional. In this context, it has been revealed that conducting the
reflective practice is crucial for every individual, irrespective to their educational or professional
background. In this context, it is crucial to understand and execute the reflection in the right way,
which could assist the person to get the best results.
To do so, it is crucial to identify and follow a useful reflective framework, which will aid the
reflective practice in a way. There are several useful reflective frameworks, which are highly
used, like Gibb's reflective cycle, Kolb's reflective model and others. These are indicating that
the reflective model is significantly helping the individuals, who are attempting to identify the
loopholes in own practice or attempting to shape their competency level. Considering this, the
following assignment is focusing on conducting a reflection on my academic skill development.
To do so, I have selected the Kolb's reflective model. This particular reflective model is focusing
upon the way to develop learning from own experience. This reflective model is suitable for
reflecting on and understanding the learning experiences. Being a student of management, I have
selected this reflective model, as it would help me to focus on my experiential learning.
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Reflection
I am a management student, studying and developing a range of management skills. While
studying through the semester, I have attempted to explore my own learning experience, so that I
could gain enough understanding about my understanding for the studied areas and the ways I
could improve my knowledge, understanding and experience, for shaping my skill and expertise.
Considering this, I have selected the Kolb’s reflective model. This model is also known as the
“Kolb’s experiential learning model”. This particular reflective model is focusing on learning
from the reflective practice. Thus, it has included some key stages for reflection, which includes
the "concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualisation and active
experimentation” (Kolb, 1984). The process is emphasising upon our own experience of
learning, which is reviewed, analysed and evaluated in a systematic way. Once the process has
wholly undergone, the new experience begins from the starting point of another cycle of
experiential learning.
Concrete experience – At this initial stage, individual attempts to note a specific situation, while
describing what have been seen and how the individual is feeling or what is being thought
(Gould and Taylor, 2017). Through this current semester, I have undergone a range of activities,
focusing upon self – management and the effective management of own learning. To do so,
based on my academic learning, I have identified my learning strategies and developed
techniques to get the most out of the lecture. I have learned how to communicate effectively and
the tools that are crucial for information sharing and communication.
Additionally, my group work expertise has also been shaped through the learning in this current
semester. I have learned about the key roles and behaviours expected from an individual while
working within a team or group. Additionally, I have ed searched academic journals and
attempted to understand how to develop academic journal articles. Besides, through the semester,
I have also experienced referencing and searching for the best resources, which could increase
the quality of the journal article. In this context, I have focused mainly upon finding and using
the references in the Harvard Referencing style, in the journal article.
While developing a journal article, it is crucial to develop the skill for paraphrasing, which is
needed for including the secondary data from different resources, in own research. Further, I
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have also learned about different types of writing used in different areas, like essay or report. The
academic style of writing differs significantly from informal writing, which we need to shape
through continuous practice. Besides, I have become familiar with different types of reflective
model and the significance for using those in the different context of reflective practice in both
academic and professional career.
While going through this semester, I have worked with others in a group. At that time, I have
also become familiarised with the theory of team development and the role of each team
member, to achieve shared goals. I have understood the need for delivering the effective
presentation in such a way, that it could be efficiently delivered to the targeted audience,
ensuring their understanding and engagement. I have attempted to develop my learning and
execution strategies, while working within the team, in a collaborative framework. I have also
attempted to be an active listener, which is crucial for being an active member of the team and
work on the shared goal.
Reflective observation – In this stage, the situation and related descriptive are reflected deeply,
to understand what has happened in that situation, which was right and which was wrong in the
practice (Johns, 2017). Based on the above experience, highlighted in the initial stage of
reflection, in this stage, the thoughtful observation would be explored here. While searching for
the pieces of literature, to gain understanding about how to develop and write the journal articles
in a proper way, initially I was in trouble, as I was unable to understand the systematic literature
search. My supervisor helped me to conduct the same in the right way. Further, I have conducted
the teamwork-related tasks very well. I have excellent communication skills, which helped me to
develop good interpersonal relationships with other team members. Besides, I have also helped
my fellow team members in achieving the task goals.
I have good listening skill, which further helped me to understand others' perspective and include
learning from them in my practice. Another good thing that I used to do is not making. Once I
did a job, I have always noted the requirement and the evaluation. It also helped me in reflecting
my practice, considering all the aspects correctly. While studying proper academic writing,
initially, I failed to use the references in proper Harvard referencing style. Then I searched for
example on the online website, from where I learned the easy way to do Harvard referencing.
Although I failed initially to maintain the academic writing style in my article, my mentor
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rectified the issues, for which I submitted the assignment a bit late. Further, while assessing my
learning style, I revealed that I am a reflector, indicating that I attempt to develop own practice,
upon observing others and gaining learning from their actions. Overall, my performance could be
rated as average, and I have significant scope for improvement.
Abstract conceptualisation – In this stage, the evaluation is done through abstract thinking that
in which way the practice could be better or what were the alternatives, those could be explored
(Schon, 2017). Once I have identified what I have done well and what not, now I need to identify
the ways, which could help me to do better in future and shape my skills. From my own learning
experience, I revealed that I need to improve my reasoning skill, for effective decision making. I
am attempting to improve abstract thinking while deciding for my learning as well as while
evaluating my practice.
To do so, I need to find out appropriate tools to manage and regulate my learning style. For
becoming a competent professional in my future career, I need to build effective learning
strategies, which is suitable and fit my learning style. For instance, I could better manage my
learning and shape my skills, if I undergo more brainstorming activities, which will help me to
identify the most effective practices for me through proper reasoning. Besides, my teamwork
skill could be improved, through improving my time management skill. As I have revealed that
delay submission was made; these types of conducts reduces the productivity and effectiveness
of the entire team. Thus, developing time management skill will help me in this aspect. I could
do this by maintaining to – do list or setting own deadline for the task.
Active experimentation – At this final stage, from the experience and evaluation, new
knowledge is acquired, which could be executed in the following practice (Johns, 2017).
Theoretical and practical, both type of knowledge is gained. At the end of this cycle, the new
cycle starts, with a new area of learning. In this final stage, my focus is to improve my existing
practices and shape my expertise. Through the reflection, I have learnt a lot, which I would
utilise in my further reading.
For instance, I have become familiarised with the academic style of writing and ensuring
effective presentation targeted to the audience. According to my gained knowledge, I would now
attempt to execute the academic writing style in my research article, to gain useful results.
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Further, I have also become familiarise with the teamwork related theories, which I would utilise
further, for making a capable team. It would also shape my management skills and expertise
further.
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Conclusion and future actions
In conclusion, it can be said that reflective practice is highly crucial for the organisation. Besides,
this is necessary to utilise a proper framework for conducting the reflective practice in both
academic as well as the professional field. Here, I have used the Kolb's reflective model, which
helped me to evaluate my own learning experience throughout the semester. In this context, it
can be said that the reflective practice helped me to identify some of my critical positive aspects
as well as some of my vital negative aspects, which I need to improve immediately.
In this context, I revealed that some of my key strengths are good communication skill and good
teamwork skill. I am good at listening, which helped me to avoid errors in practice and
appreciate others, thereby enabling me to be committed towards effective communication.
Further, I have developed the skill related to academic writing, while being able to identify my
learning style and preferences, based on which I would be able to establish my future academic
career path. In this context, some fundamental weaknesses have also been found related to my
learning.
Considering this, I revealed that some key areas I need to develop further, for improving my
existing skills. It is suggested that I need to develop my reasoning skill so that I could be able to
make my own decision. For this, I need to undergo brainstorming activities. Further, I have also
attempted to improve my time management skill, so that I could not let down my team while
working collaboratively. Further, I would develop my personal and professional development
framework, with the help of which I would be able to engage myself in continuous professional
development.
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Reference List
Gould, N. and Taylor, I., 2017. Reflective learning for social work: research, theory and
practice. Routledge.
Johns, C. ed., 2017. I am becoming a reflective practitioner. John Wiley & Sons.
Kolb, D.A. 1984. Experiential learning: experience as the source of learning and
development. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Schön, D.A., 2017. The reflective practitioner: How professionals think in action. Routledge.
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