Reflective Essay: Preparing for Success at University - Knowledge

This reflective essay explores the key components of preparing for success at university, drawing on module learnings related to computer literacy, graduate attributes, digital literacy, reflection, and academic writing. The essay highlights the importance of basic computer skills, understanding the university's graduate attributes (leadership, knowledge application, social awareness, and creativity), and developing digital literacy for effective learning and working in a digital environment. It further delves into the benefits of reflection using Driscoll's model for personal development and emphasizes the significance of academic writing skills, including proper grammar, vocabulary, and structure, for success in academic pursuits. The essay concludes by referencing key sources that informed the learning process.

Reflective Essay - PREPARING
FOR SUCCESS AT UNIVERSITY
KNOWLEDGE AND
CREATIVITY

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Beginners guide and the bucks graduate attributes .....................................................................3
Digital Literacy ...........................................................................................................................3
Reflection ....................................................................................................................................4
Academic Writing .......................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

Beginners guide and the bucks graduate attributes
From the learning of the module about preparation for success at the university. I learned
beginners guide to the computer users and the bucks graduate attributes. The guide to the
computer user made me learned about BBC guide, interactive mouse tutorial, getting started with
first computer, understanding file management and much more. The basic knowledge were
provided related to the computer in the first week of the module. I also learned about the guide
for MS word. It refers to the platform where an individual can type and prepare documents that
relate information related to the topic (Al-Sharif, Bagci, and Asad, 2018).
I also learned about the bucks graduate attributes from the module. It refers to the
enshrined in the corporate strategy in the university. It also focused on the development of
innovative leaders. The attribute is consisted of four major topics that include leadership and self
development, knowledge ad its application, social and ethical awareness and responsibility and
creativity. Leadership and self development focused on communication skills, team work,
taking responsibility and decision making. Creativity focused on Commercial awareness,
productivity, flexibility and innovation. Knowledge and its application highlighted reflection, use
of digital sources and understanding technological innovation.
I learned about the reflection from the learning and beginners guide helped me in
improving basic skills of computer . I also learned to prepare the document in the Microsoft
word with the help of guide to the MS word during week 1.
Digital Literacy
It refers to having the skills that is needed to live, learn and work in a society (Tohara,
2021). From the module of week 2 which was about preparation for success at university. During
Week 2, I learned about the digital literacy. It plays an important part in the literacy as the
technology is increasing and people are being more aware about the digital literacy. Module
also helped me to learn technology skills it helped me in performing task effectively in the
digital environment. The module from the second week also provided details about the search
engine. It refers to the specialized web tool that are used to search information on the digital
environment. Search engine are very useful in searching and finding the information or content
in addition to webpages. It can provide everything such as images , videos, audio files etc. in

few clicks. I learned to make use of search engine, simple and specific searching lead to the
effective results.
Class activity in during the second week helped me to use the search engine of google.
The activity made me prepared for the searching. Module also helped me to learn how top
collect and save information. I learned to collect data from the google and one drive was very
useful to save the information on the digital platform. The module was also useful in learning
the use of Microsoft applications such as MS Excel and preparing PowerPoint Presentation.
Reflection
Learning from the module of week 3 included reflection . It refers to the thinking and
analysing of the activities of individual. It allows people to act differently after analysing the
situation. Reflection is necessary to analyse the situation before acting. It helps us to take better
decision according to the situation (Wain, 2017). Learning objective of the module was to
understand the benefits of reflection. Reflection benefits us in various ways such as it help us to
make better step and lead to the creation of a suitable decision making according to the situation.
Reflective practise is very important for personal development.
Module also helped me in understanding about the reflective writing. It refers to the
response to the experience , opinions, event or new information that help the person in the
personal development and improve the thinking capability. Module also helped me to learn
from the refection with the help of Driscoll's model. This model is consisted of total three steps
of reflection that is description of the situation, analysis the event and proposed actions
following the event (Golaghaie and et.al., 2019). The first step of the model help me to learn
detailed description of the situation or event. That include what I see and what was my reaction.
Second step refers to analyse of the scenario that include how id I feel, do I still feel troubled and
positive and negative factor o the situation. Third and final step of proposed action included the
decision of making change from the learning.
Academic Writing
Learning from the module in week 4 was academic writing. It refers to the formal styler
of writing used in academic area. Academic writing is consists of proper grammar and held no
mistakes and errors. Features of Academic writing were learned from the module along with the
different formats and structure of the academic presentation. It plays an important role in the
academic areas. The structure of the academic writing is formal and have specific details that be

easily understood by the reader. Academic writing is accurate and backed up[ with evidence.
Accuracy refers to the correct punctuation and grammar while communicating academic and
professional contexts (Kiriakos and Tienari 2018). Vocabulary also played an important role in
the Academic writing. The vocabulary errors are common in unprofessional writing but
academic writing needs proper vocabulary.
During the module I also learned the method to improve vocabulary in order to
communicate academic writing. The structure of academic writing also helped me to write the
academic format of writing. I learned that essay format of writing I continuous and
interconnected to the topics the aim of essay is described and evidence are also provided to back
up the writing. Reports are originated from the business environment. It is used to convey the
idea or message. It is also helpful in the critical evaluation of the topic of academic writing.
From the learning of the module, I also learned about paraphrasing. It refers to the adding
the information in own words. It helped the reader that a person has understood the topic and can
write into own words.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Al-Sharif, Z.A., Bagci, H. and Asad, A., 2018. Towards the memory forensics of ms word
documents. In Information Technology-New Generations (pp. 179-185). Springer,
Cham.
Golaghaie, F., and et.al., 2019. Integrating case-based learning with collective reflection:
outcomes of inter-professional continuing education. Reflective Practice, 20(1), pp.42-
55.
Kiriakos, C.M. and Tienari, J., 2018. Academic writing as love. Management Learning, 49(3),
pp.263-277.
Tohara, A.J.T., 2021. Exploring Digital Literacy Strategies for Students with Special Educational
Needs in the Digital Age. Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education
(TURCOMAT), 12(9), pp.3345-3358.
Wain, A., 2017. Learning through reflection. British Journal of Midwifery, 25(10), pp.662-666.