Reflective Essay: Professional Learning Experience in Australia

This reflective essay details a student's professional learning experience while pursuing higher education in Australia. The student, originally from India, addresses the challenges of cultural differences, language barriers, and financial constraints. The essay explores various learning theories, including experiential learning, communities of practice, and functionalist learning processes, and how these aided in adapting to the new environment. It discusses transformational learning, supportive leadership, behaviorism, constructivist theory, and cognitive information processing, as well as Vygotsky's cognitive development theory, to provide a comprehensive analysis of the learning journey. The student reflects on the application of these theories in overcoming obstacles and achieving academic and personal growth. The essay emphasizes the importance of adapting to new cultures, embracing global perspectives, and utilizing professional learning strategies for personal and academic development in a foreign educational setting.

Running head: REFLECTIVE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
REFLECTIVE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Emerged challenges.........................................................................................................................2
Goals and objectives........................................................................................................................3
Experiential learning........................................................................................................................4
Communities of practices................................................................................................................5
Functionalist learning process.........................................................................................................6
Reflections on my Transformational learning.................................................................................7
Reflection on the Supportive or shared leadership..........................................................................8
Reflection on Behaviorism............................................................................................................11
Reflection on the Constructivist Theory........................................................................................13
Reflection on Cognitive Information Processing..........................................................................14
Reflection of cognitive development by Vygotsky's.....................................................................16
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................19
Reflective.......................................................................................................................................21

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Introduction
In the current scenario, cultural difference is one of the major differences that are well
evident. This is due to the reason that currently, globalization is hugely popular and is having
wide impacts on the different aspects. One of the major aspects is the emergence of the cultural
differences along with having other differences being faced by the individuals away from their
homes culture. However, facing the differences also helps in having more opportunities to learn
something new. This is also applicable for me due to the reason that I am basically from India
and came to Australia for further higher studies. Thus I have faced the cultural differences
between India and Australia along with the new learning areas in higher education.
There are number of learning points being identified by from my journey from India to
Australia and these learning points provided me both opportunities and challenges. This essay
will discuss about the professional learning experience of mine by considering different areas
and aspects.
Emerged challenges
There are number of diverse challenges being faced by me in pursuing my higher
education in Australia. One of the major challenges being faced by me is the language problem.
This is due to the fact that though I am well aware about the English language and studied my
bachelor in education in English in India, but the approach and style of English speaking are
different between the two countries. Hence, coming to Australia, the major challenge faced by
me is the communicating with the local people. On the other hand, another major challenges
being faced by me is the difference in culture and social structure. This is due to the reason that

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Australia and India are having different cultural
approaches. This becomes difficult for me to get
adjusted in the new culture. I also faced the
challenge of adjusting with the new terms and
learning in my higher education. This is due to the
reason that education that I choose for further studies in Australia is new for me and I felt the
challenge to cope up with the new terms and concepts.
Another challenge that I faced is the financial reason due to the reason that the cost of
education along with the cost of living in Australia are much higher compared to the cost in
India. Thus, it caused financial constraint for me due to the fact that I was there in Australia in
order to have higher education and not for earnings. Therefore, it was important for me to have
part time jobs along with my education in order to support my daily expenses. On the other hand,
it was challenging for me to maintain both jobs and education at the same time. However, from
all these challenges, I also got the opportunity to identify my learning points, which further
motivated me to learn new things. One of the major motivating points for me is learning new
cultural and social approaches in Australia. These are not known to me and thus it made me more
motivated to learn new things from the Australian culture.
Goals and objectives
In order to overcome the challenges, one of the major and most effective helps came from
the use of the professional learning course. This course helped me in going through different
theories in regard to overcoming the challenges and learns new things from new cultures and
societies. In addition, this course also helped me in covering different aspects and factors in

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learning new things from the new cultures. The following sections will discuss about the
different theories that helped me in overcoming the challenges and initiate the learning process.
Experiential learning
Experiential learning helped me in having hands on experience in gathering new cultural
and social aspect in Australia. Moreover, this is more effective due to the reason that hands on
and practical experiences are the most effective process in learning. I got the opportunity to
interact with the
senior members
in the college
along with the
faculty
members in
order to have
the better idea about the learning approaches. One of the major learning issues being faced by me
is coping up with new terms and concepts in the higher education. In this case, experiential
learning helped me in dealing with the issues effectively (Easterby-Smith & Cunliffe, 2017).
Interacting with the senior members of the college helped to gain an understanding about the
new learning concepts. In addition, the real world experience provided by the faculty members in
the college also helped in overcoming the challenges in the learning process.

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Live assignments and projects acted as the experiential learning process. These projects
and practical assignments helped me in experiencing the real world situation in the Australian
society. Thus, initiation of the experiential learning helped in having both real world situations in
experiencing the new learning process in the Australian learning environment. On the other
hand, initiation of the experiential learning also helped in adjusting with the new culture in
Australia. This is due to the fact that having real world experience in staying in Australia also
helped in getting adjusted with the new social and cultural aspects of Australia. The experiential
learning will be helping me to undertake steps to culminate into differentiated approaches and
thereby enhance my learning skills through adaptability. On the other hand, it helped me to bring
in changes in the systems of the educational activities and thereby bring in continuous
improvements in the systems.
Communities of practices
Community of practices is another theory in the professional learning course that is much
effective in coping up with the local social and cultural environment. This refers to the
consultation with the peers including the faculties of the college (Bolisani & Scarso, 2014). As
discussed in the earlier section, one of the major challenges being faced by me is coping and
adjusting with the local environment of Australia. This is mainly caused due to the reason that
Australian and Indian culture and society are different in nature. In this case, consultation with
the peers and others helped me to get comfortable with the new culture and social structure. On
the other hand, initiation of the communities of practices further helped me to have the fair

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understanding about the Australian culture. It
also helped in learn new things and elements
from the Australian culture.
Functionalist learning process
In coping up with the social structures and cultural trend of Australia, it is important to
have a global approach. This is due to the reason that Australian social environment is much
global in nature compared to the Indian society. In this case, one of the most effective and
popular theories being used in the professional learning course is the functionalist theory (Joy &
Poonamallee, 2013). This theory helped me in enhancing the process of socialization in the
mainstream Australian culture. Thus, for the international student like me, it helped me in
socializing with the local culture. One of the major challenges being faced by me in studying in
Australia is the ineffectiveness in communicating with the local people. It was important for me
to socialize with the local people.
In this case, some of the artifacts that helped in initiating the functionalist learning
process are the global culture maintained in the college. Having the global culture in the college
also helped in managing the diversity among the students. This is due to the reason that there are
number of countries from where students are coming in the college. Thus, the global culture
thrived in the college is also helping in associating with different cultures. In case of mine,
studying in Australia helped me to get exposed to different cultural aspects and becoming a
global citizen.

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Reflections on my Transformational learning
I have faced several issues while coping up with the changes in the educational systems
and thereby to intermingle with the culture of the new place where I am looking forward to
continue my education. The differences in the language and the mentality of the people greatly
affected by learning attributes while conducting my research work in Australia.
Transformational learning has helped me in bringing in changes in the systems of the education
in the market. The identification of the issues and searching for more relevant ways to mitigate
the same will be helping me to make my progression while undertaking steps to educate myself
in a different cultural backdrop. It has helped me a lot in understanding the different attributes of
the professional learning that I am required to incorporate in me to identify the different issues
that are faced by the people while adapting themselves in some changed environment. The
transformational learning attributes has helped in enhancing the situations that are faced by me
while undertaking steps to educate myself in the foreign university. It has helped me in
identifying the different steps that I might undertake to bring in changes in the situation that I am
currently facing while attaining the higher education.

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The different issues that were faced by me are based on the transition in the cultural and
the language of the people. The transformational learning theory resonated with my situation and
helped me in bringing in changes to my systems of education. On the other hands, it helped in
enhancing the professional learning attributes that would be helping me to get hold of a job in the
sectors offered by the industry.
Reflection on the Supportive or shared leadership
There are situations where the shared leadership helps in maintaining a good record of the
activities that are undertaken by an individual through motivation of the employees and the other
subordinates in the work process. The decisions that are made by the leader affect the

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functioning of the workforce. Therefore, the understanding of the attributes of shared leadership
helps in maintaining the different levels of change in the systems. I have been facing the similar
issues while pursuing my education in the fields. Omni- competence affects the functioning of
the different levels of functions while bringing in changes in the approach of the education
systems. The different strategies to improve the structure of the functions are made through
questioning, investigating, and seeking solutions. The reasoning of the different levels of change
in the system of the education has helped in maintaining the levels of improvements in the
functioning of the education systems. It has helped me in the identification of the different issues
related to the cultural shifts and the manner in which they can be mitigated. Shared leadership
helps in keeping the people motivated and focused, which helps in enhancing the outcome and
the performance of the business. On the other hand, the key attributes of the change in the market
are dependent on the functioning of the different systems and the manner in which they affect the
performance of the same while operating in the markets.

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Mitigating the issues that are faced by the people has helped in maintaining the clear
conception of the changes in the functioning of the educational systems. On the other hand, the
time management issues that are faced by me through the culture shifts affected my academic
career in the university. “..findings further suggest that the referent used in measuring shared
leadership does not influence its relationship with team effectiveness and that compared with
vertical leadership, shared leadership shows unique effects in relation to team performance.
( Wang, Waldman & Zhang, 2014). On the other hand, the transformational servant leadership
quality has helped me in involving my coworkers and colleagues into the process that is
undertaken by me to enhance the outcomes. The different aspects of the leadership have helped
me in understanding the key attributes of the change in the structure of the issues and the manner

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in which I can break them off. “In total, our study not only cumulates extant research on shared
leadership but also provides directions for future research to move forward in the study of plural
forms of leadership. ” (Wang, Waldman & Zhang, 2014). The identification of the dynamic
issues that are faced by me has helped me in understanding the steps that I could take to bring in
changes in the present situation.
Reflection on Behaviorism
“Learning theories provide instructional designers with verified instructional strategies and
techniques for facilitating learning as well as a foundation for intelligent strategy selection.”
(Ertmer & Newby, 2013). The identification of the shared value and the manner in which it
helps in mitigating the issues that might occur due to alienation in a new place has helped me in
bringing in changes in the situation. The theory of Behaviorism has helped me in systematically
understand the behavior of humans. It helped me in assuming all behavioral traits that are
connected to the reflexes. The identification of the psychological aspects of the people living in
the communities has helped me in understanding the issues that are faced by me while adapting
myself to the new cultures of the region. The theory of behaviorism has helped me to identify the
different psychological trends of the people and thereby make myself adaptable to the changes to
facilitate the smooth performance in my academic role. The identification of the psychology
helps in maintaining the different levels of change in the systems and thereby undertake steps to
bring in changes in the manner in which I might take steps to bring in modifications in my
interactions. The interactions with the people have helped me in maintaining the different forms
of change in the communicative abilities as it will be helping me to intermingle with the cultures.
The response to stimulus is an important component of the theory that helped me in judging the
response based on the identification of the personality types of the people.

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The identification of the behaviors of the people living in the region has helped me in
understanding the different levels of changes in the systems and the functioning to improve the
educational value. “thoughts, feelings, intentions, mental processes, and so forth have no bearing
on what humans do” (Weegar & Pacis, 2012). the identification of the thought and beliefs of the
people living in the region will be helping me in bringing forth changes in the approaches of the
educational systems. On the other hand, it has helped me in adapting to the different levels of
change based on the understanding of the specific cultures of the region. As a student from India,
I had to face several hurdles to comply with the cultural shifts. However, the theory and its
proper application helped me to identify the different issues and thereby sort out the remedies to
mitigate the different factors that affected my educational systems.

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Reflection on the Constructivist Theory
The Constructivist Theory denotes the understanding of the issues that are faced by the
individual through proper observation. It helps in formulating different strategies that helps in
mitigating the issues that are faced by the individual due to a change in the culture and the
situation of the person. The identification of the issues has helped me in understanding the value
of the cultural shifts and the manner in which I can take steps to observe the people of the region
to bring in changes in the approaches that are undertaken by me. The observation of the
experiences gained by me has helped me in understanding the manner in which I can cope up
with the cultural shifts. “…Bruner's constructs of learning and it encompasses the presentation
of new information, both novel vocabulary and pictures, which could pose a cognitive overload
for students who are unfamiliar with the words and pictures from the viewpoint of Cognitive
Load Theory” (Jiang & Perkins, 2013). The theory has helped me in bringing forth
improvements in my cognitive abilities. The theory helps in the identification of the different
factors that affects the functioning of the people as per the needs of the systems in the market.
The identification of the issues and the manner in which they can be mitigated is the result of
careful observations. It help in constructing the definite perceptions of the change as per the
needs of the people living in the society.

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The enhancement of the cognitive abilities will be helping me to bring in changes in the systems
and functioning of the systems. The identification of the issues that are faced by me while
considering the shifts in the cultures and the fast paced lifestyle has helped me in mitigating the
issues through the formulation of different strategies.
Reflection on Cognitive Information Processing
The Cognitive Information Processing (CIP) is an approach where the complex career
issues and decision making criterion is stated for mitigation. It helps in the identification of the
issues that are faced by the people and the manner in which the issues can be mitigated to bring
in changes in the experience. “Cognitive science is the science "about thinking", or a science that

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"studies and models the principles of organization and operation of natural and artificial
intelligence systems” (Tsvetkov, 2014).
The identification of the issues, as per the theory will be helping me to brainstorm the
different strategies that might help me in improving my cognitive abilities and thereby bring in
changes in the situation through mitigation. The identification of the varied elements of the
change is based on the identification of the needs of the cultural and the manner in which I can
incorporate the same cultures into me to cope up in the community. On the other hand,
motivation played a major role in my part for understanding the different needs to incorporate
the cultural identities that helps in bringing in changes in the systems. Cognitive development
has helped in the reflective processes that I considered for bringing in changes in the adaptability
quotient. On the other hand, the identification of different aspects of the change that I have
considered is based on the identification of the issues and the manner in which I can formulate
strategies to mitigate the same.

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“The first subsystem, "perception", analyzes properties of the object being studied.
Cognitive factors in it play a defining role” (Tsvetkov, 2014). The identification of the role and
the manner in which it fits into the job that I am into night help me in reducing the different
levels of change in the systems and the functioning of the systems. The perception of the
different levels of change is infused in me through the understanding of the different
psychologies of the people living in the region. The motivation that I gained through the close
observation of the people in the region and their respective cultures has helped me in adapting
myself to the culture and the manner in which the different aspects of the change in the systems
can be assessed. The key idea of the change in the systems are based on the proper identification
of the needs of the assessing the cultures of the region and the manner in can influence me to
bring in improvements in myself to cope up with the clash.
Reflection of cognitive development by Vygotsky's
“Vygotsky states cognitive development stems from social interactions from guided
learning within the zone of proximal development as children and their partner's co-construct
knowledge. (Hopwood, 2015). The cognitive development of the individuals living in the society
is based on the identification of the social norms and their proper development. The theory has
helped me in understanding the manner in which the society and the community of the region is
framed and the manner in which the different issues can be mitigated thereof. The identification
of the cultural shifts is facilitated through the identification of the social norms and the manner in
which they are applied to bring in changes in the systems and the functioning of the individuals
of the society. The cognitive development of the individuals helps in maintaining different
levels of changes in the approaches of the educational systems. On the other hand, the
identification of the needs of the student’s cognitive abilities helps in maintaining the different

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levels of change in the educational systems. The identification of the social norms and the
manner in which the individuals apply the same helps in bringing forth improvements in the
social structure. The development of the cognitive abilities in the individuals at younger age
helps in bringing forth changes in the systems of the education and the social reforms that is
necessary. “The zone of proximal development, often abbreviated as ZPD, is the
difference between what a learner can do without help, and what they can't do”(Hopwood,
2015). The identification of the ZPD has helped in identifying the different aspects of the change
in the systems of the cognitive development. On the other hand, the identification of the different
issues that are faced by the people are dependent on the proper functioning of the theory to suit
the needs of the people to gather knowledge. ZPD helps in identifying the different instances
where the person is capable of gathering knowledge without the help of others or at instances
with the help of some. It helps in identifying the dependences of the people on the different
forms of units for making identifying the cognitive abilities of the people.

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“Vygotsky’s philosophical orientation was wider than Marxism. Indeed, his first insights into the
problems of the personality and human consciousness were philosophical rather than
psychological.” (Veresov, 2018). The identification of the philosophical aspects of the culture
has helped in identifying the different aspects of the change in the cognition of the issues that are
faced by me. The cognitive development helps in maintaining the different levels of
understanding of the cultures and the value of the nation where I have transported to pursue my
education. The clash in the culture between the Australian and the Indian communities is a huge
gap to me.
Self reflection and observations has helped me in understanding their values and thereby adapt
myself to the changes. The different stages of reflection are based on the identification of the

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needs of asserting the value creation in the educational systems. Self- reflection on the issues has
helped me in identifying the different issues and the manner in which the issues can be mitigated.
The identification of the needs of the people to acquire knowledge has helped in maintaining the
different levels of change while identifying the different social structures. Self- reflection on the
different activities helps in maintaining the modifications to address the issues that are faced by
me to deliver the outcomes as per the needs of pursuing the higher education. Self reflection
helps in enhancing the cognitive abilities which will be helping me to bring forth changes in the
different levels of activities that are planned by the curriculum. Adherence to the curriculum and
thereby delineating a favorable means of undertaking change will be helping me to bring in
changes as per my needs to bring in efficiency in the functions.
Conclusion
Therefore, from the above discussion it may be asserted that the different levels of
change in the systems and the functions that I undertook to cope up with the cultural clashes and
the lack of motivational attributes. The differences in the language patterns and the psychologies
of the people have asserted issues relating to the change in the cognitive abilities the application
based knowledge of the nation also contradicted to the culture and system of education prevalent
in the nation. The theories have helped me in understanding the different issues and the manner
in which they can be mitigated to bring in changes in the systems. The identification of the key
issues and the mitigating factors has helped me in formulating strategies to bring in changes in
the approaches and the manner in which I can pursue with the educational systems of the nation.
The differences in the psychologies of the people are identified through their approaches and the
manner in which the theories can be asserted to bring in adaptability in the system of the

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cognition. The key elements of the change is based on the identification of the diversified
cultural systems and the manner in which it affects the functioning of the cognitive abilities.

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Reflective
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management studies: a critical review. Journal of Knowledge Management, 18(2), 366-
381.
Easterby-Smith, M., & Cunliffe, A. L. (2017). From reflection to practical reflexivity:
Experiential learning as lived experience. In Organizing reflection (pp. 44-60).
Routledge.
Ertmer, P. A., & Newby, T. J. (2013). Behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism: Comparing
critical features from an instructional design perspective. Performance Improvement
Quarterly, 26(2), 43-71.
Jiang, X., & Perkins, K. (2013). A Conceptual Paper on the Application of the Picture Word
Inductive Model Using Bruner's Constructivist View of Learning and the Cognitive Load
Theory. Interdisciplinary journal of teaching and learning, 3(1), 8-17.
Joy, S., & Poonamallee, L. (2013). Cross-cultural teaching in globalized management
classrooms: Time to move from functionalist to postcolonial approaches?. Academy of
Management Learning & Education, 12(3), 396-413.
Mahn, H., & John‐Steiner, V. (2012). Vygotsky and sociocultural approaches to teaching and
learning. Handbook of Psychology, Second Edition, 7.
Tsvetkov, V. Y. (2014). Cognitive information models. Life Science Journal, 11(4), 468-471.

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Veresov, N. (2018). Marxist and non-Marxist aspects of the cultural-historical psychology of LS
Vygotsky. Experimental Psychology (Russia), 1(1).
Wang, D., Waldman, D. A., & Zhang, Z. (2014). A meta-analysis of shared leadership and team
effectiveness. Journal of applied psychology, 99(2), 181.
Weegar, M. A., & Pacis, D. (2012). A Comparison of two theories of learning-behaviorism and
constructivism as applied to face-to-face and online learning. In Proceedings e-leader
conference, Manila.