Reflective Report on Academic Study Skills Module, Semester 1

This report is a reflective analysis of a student's experience in an Academic Study Skills module. The report utilizes the Gibbs Reflective Model to evaluate the student's learning journey, covering topics such as time management, teamwork, presentation skills, and critical reading. It details the student's feelings, evaluations, and analysis of the coursework, highlighting areas of improvement and future actions. The student reflects on the importance of self-awareness, written communication, and the value of teamwork, while also discussing the application of reflection models. The conclusion emphasizes the positive impact of the module on the student's skill development and provides an action plan for continued growth in both academic and professional contexts, including enhanced reading and writing skills, and improved teamwork abilities. The report underscores the significance of reflection in identifying strengths and weaknesses and fostering genuine personal and professional development.

REFLECTION REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
REFLECTIVE .................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION AND FUTURE ACTIONS ..................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Skills set is defined as the application of knowledge and abilities in relation to a group of
functional units like planning, leadership, accounting, management and computer skills to attain
the specific outcomes. This can be categorised into two domains such as general and specific
skills (Kernodle and Noble, 2013). Therefore, there is need of tools and methods that assist in
improving an individual's skills and help in attaining success at both professional and academic
levels.
This report is based on Academic Study Skills module. It will include my individual
reflective on the course-work and the overall assessments that I have learned during the entire
module. This is mainly based on improving my skills through use of materials, attending the
classes regularly and other activities that might assist in my complete growth and self-
development.
Herein, the structure to be followed here is on the basis of components mentioned in the
Gibbs Reflective Model. It will involve number of stages such as the description about the
module and its included topics such as time management, group presentations, team work
building and such other skills. Next will be understanding the feelings and complete assessment
while exploring the different aspects of this module.
Along with this, there will be an analysis and judgemental evaluation to what extent this
coursework would be proved beneficial for my self-growth. It will contain an action plan so that
I can understand my personal development in those areas where I have a scope to bring
improvements. Lastly, it includes a conclusion to know the outcomes after attending all the
classes and how will it help me to recognise my strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, it will shed
light on the importance and value of reflection and the effective implementation of the chosen
Gibbs Reflective framework to bring genuine changes at individual level.
REFLECTIVE
This part consists of an elaborative section on the basis of each component of the
Reflective cycle of Gibbs (Husebø, O'Regan and Nestel, 2015).
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Description
In regard to the above, I had an interesting time while attending this module. This gave
me insights on understanding the importance of skills in terms of representing my opinions,
thoughts and ideas in proper manner. It has given me a platform to know the management
problems such lack of team work spirit, conflicts, resources allocation etc. that might affect the
future in a professional context. This module shed light on how an individual must manage the
time at optimum levels so that the work and assigned tasks can be done effectively. Moreover, it
also comprises about the team work and their presentation skills when all the members must
perform together. I understood that one must be flexible and adaptable as well to bring
something innovative while working in a team.
Along with this, there was an emphasis on reading skills and implementation of strategic
approaches that would aid in improving the reading speed (Paterson and Chapman, 2013).This
class was helpful as I found out that reading is an effective tool to leave a lasting impression and
this skill will be beneficial in my professional career. It helped me to gain knowledge about
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Illustration 1: Components involved in Gibbs Reflective Cycle
(Source: Reflective writing: About Gibbs reflective cycle, 2018 )

critical reading the articles related to my academics. Furthermore, it also emphasized on making
notes for future reference when I would not be able to use books or my digital tools. This note
making approach supported me to understand the topics with better clarity.
Additionally, this coursework added about the development of using genuine sources to
establish an authentic work when doing research or study. There were also comparative analysis
on the framework of writing. People tend to mix their own perspectives with factual details and
information. This leads to ambiguous situations and must be avoided at any cost. Thus, I realized
that one must write their answers or ideas in clear and concise manner to avoid any scope of
errors or mistakes.
Feelings
Personally I felt that I gained many valuable lessons from this module as it helped me
immensely in my own self-reflection. This module made me understand the importance of self
awareness to have an upper hand while interacting with others. I learnt that written
communication skills are necessary to build relationships and form strong ties. However, one
must be clear in their approachability as it might also lead to gaps and doubts. Along this, I had
gained knowledge regarding the strategic approaches while conducting reading. Earlier, I used to
read and forget things or important details in context to any topic or events.
Although now I am more confident and have trust that whatever I read is helping me in
some way or the other. In regard to this reading, I optimised my delivery speed when reading the
given materials and later furnishing it in my tests and evaluations. Along with this, I also
understood that team work is important these days as mostly it helps the tasks to be completed on
time with better proficiency.
Moreover, this coursework assisted me to manage my time so that I can overcome my
other challenges of daily life. This gave me confidence that I can deliver my work with quality. I
later demonstrated this skill while solving various problems related to my own struggles as well
as my friends obstacles. Earlier I thought that I am a good team-player, however after completing
this module I realized that there was a huge scope of improvements required to become a better
person. Additionally, I also got to know that in order to develop a professional outlook, I must
have a vision and integrity to survive in this competitive world. Lastly, I understood that
reflection is an effective tool for self-analysis.
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Evaluation
This is one of the important components of Gibbs Reflective Cycle (Davies, 2012). I have
done this evaluation on the basis of few practical examples to make use of this Cycle in more
effective ways. When I started group presentations, I made it a point to interact with all my team
members and take their inputs to make it more constructive. This helped me to have better
command on the topics that we chose to perform our presentations and interactive sessions. This
helped me to build better networking with my team members and also gave me experience to
cooperate when not agreeing with the proposed suggestions.
Furthermore, it proved useful as I had fear of failure while answering during such demos
and presentations. Along with this, I realised that my written communication skills was average
and I must work on it on regular basis to bring better outcomes in terms of my academics.
Through reading, I would be able to improve my vocabulary and enhance my knowledge of
grammar. This would be beneficial to present all the documentation and notes-making in more
elaborative and coherent manner.
In addition to this, I started reading and making notes and also tried to follow the models
of reflection to understand its significance in my life. Nonetheless, I found that it is indeed
difficult to follow all the induction topics at a time. If one tries to follow each topic on daily basis
then it would prove helpful when working in a group and attending seminars etc. The points have
both advantages and disadvantages attached with it. Thus, this is important to understand that
extreme steps must not be implemented and a balance should always be followed.
Analysis
This module included diverse models such as strategic approaches to reading, reflection
models etc. to give a better perspective and start working to bring improvements (Bulman,
2013). Moreover, this coursework assisted in managing the assigned work and tasks with more
disciple and systematic order. It aids in scheduling all my day's work in proper timelines so that I
can effectively finish my work with maximized effectiveness. Initially, I never thoroughly
researched about the topics I used to study in my coursework, however, now I started
questioning and analysing the text structure. Nevertheless, I am still lacking my visualization
skills to develop the integrity while using authentic sources and references from sites like Google
Scholar, Emerald-insights and more.
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Moreover, while attending this module, I realized that I am confident in taking risks and
decisions related to any subject. Herein I do not take others viewpoints and ideas which made me
look like a lonely warrior. It affected my image among my teachers and peers. Along with, I
have learned that Kolbe's Cycle of learning or Johns model of reflection are also important in
gaining knowledge about the surroundings. It will assist in building knowledge tower, which
would be based on experience and skills. Thus, I must keep learning and try to adopt the
strategies to bring improvements to unlearn old things and learn new and latest parts. There is
also focus on areas for improvements like in my case, I practised and brought new approaches to
make my reading faster.
CONCLUSION AND FUTURE ACTIONS
It has been summarized that this course-work has given me platform of opportunities to
make a better version of myself. It gave me insights on various subjects which mostly gets
ignored by students like us. This shed light on the overall assessment of managing work with the
help of few individual qualities and characteristics. After attending this module, I understood that
it is necessary to re-build few characteristics to make everyone comfortable around you. For
instance, my presentation skills have been enhanced after I adopted few strategies that helped me
to improve. I started interacting with all my team members to know about their way of doing
things. Additionally, I used note-making that later I distributed to my team members to prepare
for the questionnaire round after completion of presentation.
Furthermore, it helped me to make my written communication skills better and effective
as I have scored better marks. I learnt that a good command on grammar and vocabulary would
aid in fetching good marks and would leave a lasting impression on the tutor's mind as well.
Currently, I have become a problem-solver and now focus on giving solutions and bring
productive. It has laid the foundation that arguments can bring positive results by using the
analytical skills through adopting “the compare and contrast method”. This provided me
guidance how to use my mind and concentrate on the given tasks buying the elimination
technique. It is one of those methods that helped me to categorise my entire day's plan in
organized ways.
The recommended action plan is to bring novel changes in my adaptability and flexibility
by using this reflective model. On a personal level, I consider that an individual must be learning
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and re-inventing to survive in this competitive world. Therefore, after attending this module, I
am focusing to enhance my reading capacity so that I can grasp my basic concepts in more
profound modes. I would also like to draw my attention towards my writing skills as I am still
gets doubts while using few words and which tense to be used. Along with, I also want to
combine my reading and writing skills together to become a better student and later a
professional in my future. These two skills will always guide me to move ahead in my career and
academics as well.
I learnt that team work and collaboration are keywords to work in better environment as
it would support in maintaining the surroundings and relationships with others. Earlier I never
worked as a team-player and thus, I feel that I understood that working in team has added
advantages and support in fulfilling the expectations and needs of the required project and
assigned tasks. Moreover, I realized that reflection are of two types such as diffuse and specular,
which has helped me to know my shortcomings. This supported me to overcome the problems
and challenges that I faced in my academics and personal life. Lastly, I would like to sum up that
each and every component of this reflective cycle has benefited me and made me understand
myself in more improved order.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bulman, C., 2013. Getting started on a journey with reflection. Reflective Practice in Nursing,
fifth edn. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
Davies, S., 2012. Embracing reflective practice. Education for Primary Care. 23(1). pp.9-12.
Husebø, S.E., O'Regan, S. and Nestel, D., 2015. Reflective practice and its role in simulation.
Clinical Simulation in Nursing. 11(8). pp.368-375.
Kernodle, T.A. and Noble, D., 2013. Organizational Citizenship Behavior: Its Importance in
Academics. American Journal of Business Education.6(2). pp.235-239.
Paterson, C. and Chapman, J., 2013. Enhancing skills of critical reflection to evidence learning
in professional practice. Physical Therapy in Sport.14(3). pp.133-138.
Online
Reflective writing: About Gibbs reflective cycle. 2018. [Online].Available
through:<https://www.brookes.ac.uk/students/upgrade/study-skills/reflective-writing-
gibbs/>.
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