Reflective Essay: Preparing for Success at University - Essay

This essay provides a reflective analysis of a student's learning experiences within the 'Preparing for Success: Knowledge and Creativity' module. The essay explores the student's preferred learning style, identifying themselves as a visual learner and explaining the benefits of this style. It also examines the importance of communication skills, discussing how the module has improved their ability to express ideas and overcome stage fright. Furthermore, the essay delves into different reading styles, the skills required for success in university, and personal weaknesses, such as lack of concentration. The student outlines strategies for improvement, including time management, study skills, and social interaction. The Gibbs reflective model is used to structure the essay, encompassing descriptions, feelings, evaluations, and action plans, ultimately concluding with insights on personal development and future academic endeavors.

Preparing for success
knowledge and creativity

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Gibbs reflective model:....................................................................................................................3
Description...................................................................................................................................3
feelings.........................................................................................................................................4
evaluation.....................................................................................................................................4
analysis.........................................................................................................................................4
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................5
Action plan...................................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
In this study I will discuss the learning style which my tutor had taught and select one
which I liked. I will write about the communication importance and why it is helpful in future
and the profession which I will choose and my weakness in that. Reading styles and skills which
is required in university.
MAIN BODY
Gibbs reflective model:
It is the model which is used to examining the experiences. It has 6 stages which are:
Description
I had learned 3 learning styles in the classroom which are:
Visual learning: it means that the information is given in the form of graphic presentation or
images or symbols is the visual learning. Apart from explaining only theory teacher under this
prefer diagram to explain.
Aural learning: under these learners learn by just hearing the information. I observed that
students who prefer this also do not take notes when the teacher is teaching because they do not
want to break the listening concentration.
Reading/ writing learning: I feel that students who fall under this category, from the written
information they develop strong learning. This can be in the form of simple classroom teaching
or power point presentation. They take notes in the classroom.
I am a visual learner because images, diagrams, graphs etc. make me easy to understand any
topic and if the teacher explain with the help of picture then I can quickly understand the topic.
As it is also said that as compare to theory learning visual learning is more effective because in
this we visualize what we see and brain work more effective in this case. Visual learning style
saves time as I learnt more quickly (E-portfolio, 2019). Through this I develop high order
thinking skills and it is also very helpful in retaining the learning and recalling the facts as it
enhance eye-mind connections. I develop the skills that now I started thinking in picture after
learning through visual and also learn the whole words and how to spell it well. I observed that it
is very helpful in solving the problems now and then. The memory which I get visually stayed
for long time.

Feelings
After learning from my teacher I got to know that how communication change my personality
now I can speak appropriately and can share my thoughts, views and opinions clearly among the
people or whoever come around be I can talk to them without any hesitation (Hidecker, 2020). I
got excellency in communication when my teacher make me aware about the importance of
communication it will definitely help me in every stage of my life and in my professional career
as well. In the professional life will meet various business, companies and organisations etc.
good communication will help to put my point of view clearly in front of others, in will be able
to grab the opportunities which will help me to grow in near future.
After my teacher taught me about the importance of communication I got a chance to
speak in front of public. I feel that I am not that much confident in public speaking, after seeing
large group of people I forget many things which I have to address. I realize that I have stage
fear, I have to develop more skills which can help me in building confidence. I have to practice
more while I go on stage and my teacher has suggested me that I can even practice my lines in
front of mirror which is also helpful in confidence building.
Earlier I was having little knowledge about communication but after learning from my
teacher I got to know it is a very conman but very important in life and career. I was not having
such skill and it was my weakness I was not able to face and answer anyone if somebody asked
anything to me, apart from this due to lack of communication I have missed out many good
opportunities as I was not able top share my views clearly (Quintanilla, 2018). But I have
overcome this after learning from my teacher, by continuously interacting with my teacher,
reading novels and newspaper besides this I try to use new words and vocabularies in my
communication. Thus help me a lot in improving the communication skill now I have no fear in
interacting with others.
evaluation
Reading styles are of three types skimming, scanning and in depth reading.
Skimming: under this one only reading the heading and first line of paragraph and do not read
the complete topic. It only covers important thing.
Scanning: under this only specific topic is searched and read like if finding particular answer.
In depth reading: under this complete content is read thoroughly to understand the concept of
topic, it is the detail study.

I am in depth reader because I believe that reading complete topic will only give you complete
idea of the content (Markkanen and et.al., 2020). If someone reads only heading then there are
changes that they do not understand or misunderstand the topic as it is said that incomplete
information is harmful, so I ensure that I take complete information of the content.
analysis
Future challenges and expectations of university course:
the skills which are required to be successful in the course are:
Time management: time management is very important, I believe that if I managed the time
then it will be easy for me to finish the course effectively. As it is said that time is money so time
should be utilized wisely.
Study skills: I will develop study skills by making time table and follow that regularly which
will help me to cover every aspect of the course.
Research skills: I will develop research skills through that I will research about my course and
research is also helpful in gaining the additional knowledge.
My weakness is I have lack of concentration or do not have strong concentration power. To
improve this I will do yoga regularly in morning which will increase blood circulation and
enhance concentration power and also take care about my diet.
I want to gain social skills as I am introvert so to develop this skill I will interact with more and
more people at my university (Newton and Miah, 2017). I will also participate in every cultural
activity at my university. I will listen to everyone and make new friends and also share my views
and opinions when it will asked.
I think that home sickness will be the biggest obstacle in the university life as I will be away
from my family and friends, so I will definitely miss them and which can also put impact on my
studies.
I had learnt communication skills which will definitely help me in future when I will go in
university as it will become easy for my to interact with my fellow mates and teachers and I will
also helpful for me at the time of giving classroom presentation.
Conclusion
I have learned the visual learning skills and enjoyed it. I also found that I have stage fear which I
can get rid of them by developing some skills.

Action plan
If will get chance to speak on stage then I will practice more and do not hesitate in front of public
(Sekarwinahyu and et.al., 2019). I had also developed skills which are appropriate and will be
helpful.
CONCLUSION
Through this report it can be concluded that I had developed visual learning style because
in that I am more comfortable and easily understand the topic. Learnt about communication and
skills required for profession. I had also come to know about skills which I have to built to be
successful in university.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
E-portfolio, A.K.S., 2019. How does the Gibbs Reflective model integrate with Evidence based
practice in veterinary medicine?.
Hidecker, M.J.C., 2020. The importance of communication classifications in cerebral palsy
registers. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology.
Markkanen, P. and et.al., 2020. A reflective cycle: Understanding challenging situations in a
school setting. Educational Research. 62(1). pp.46-62.
Newton, P.M. and Miah, M., 2017. Evidence-based higher education–is the learning styles
‘myth’important?. Frontiers in psychology. 8. p.444.
Quintanilla and et.al, 2018. Business and professional communication: keys for workplace
excellence. Sage Publications.
Sekarwinahyu, M. and et.al., 2019, February. Development of problem based learning for online
tutorial program in plant development using Gibbs’ reflective cycle and e-portfolio to
enhance reflective thinking skills. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 1157,
No. 2, p. 022099). IOP Publishing.
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