Evaluating Self-Managed Learning: A Personal and Professional Report

This report delves into the concept of self-managed learning (SML) as a holistic approach to personal and professional development, emphasizing individual ownership and responsibility for learning. It explores the learning cycle, particularly Kolb's experiential learning cycle, as a framework for continuous improvement. The report evaluates various approaches to SML, including visionary, goal-setting, networking, and technology-based methods, along with their advantages and limitations. It also discusses strategies to encourage lifelong learning, such as setting goals, fostering motivation, promoting constructive competition, and emphasizing the importance of acquiring new skills and reflection. The report aims to demonstrate how SML can be used to plan and acquire learning experiences relevant to personal and professional growth, focusing on acquiring managerial, communication, and interpersonal skills.

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT REPORT
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Introduction
Self-Managed Learning (SML) is a holistic approach whereby an individual take
ownership of their learning (Bembenutty, 2011) It is a method whereby an individual
takes the initiative and the responsibility for their own learning activities at any time in
any place through self-development based on increasing self-awareness which allows
the person to responsibility for relevant, flexible and continuous experiential learning
(Bembenutty, 2011).The ongoing process of learning and development represents the
learning cycle. Bolton (2011) describes learning cycles as model of how people learn
from experience and it usually consists of number of stages. For instance, Kolb’s
experiential learning cycle represents a cyclical model of learning, which comprises of
four stages: concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualisation and
active experimentation (Simon, 2010). The learning cycle helps individual to form the
basis for reviewing, drawing conclusions and planning future learning.
The purpose of this report is to demonstrate how self-managed learning can be used to
plan and acquire learning experience that will be relevant to personal and professional
development.
TASK 1
AC 1.1Evaluate different approaches to self-managed learning.
Self-managed learning is an approach whereby an individual committed their energy
and ability towards increasing their competency especially in a particular field or job in
order to improve their knowledge or skill. Self-managed learning helps individual to
evaluate their capability in terms of skill, knowledge and ability in order to identify areas
of improvement that will enable them to acquire the skill and experience needed to
undertake to perform their task effectively or learning experience. The researcher aim is
to acquire managerial, effective communication and interpersonal skill that will enable
the researcher to have the ability to network and communicate with al level of
management. Self-managed learning is all about individual in managing their own
learning. It is responsibility of people to take decision on the basis of what, how, when,
where to learn. The different approaches of self-managed learning style also include
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internet, which are nowadays using in vast amount. It will give to individual to learn
something new from different styles. But the disadvantage is that while using internet it
contains lots of wrong information so it can waste the time of individual. Another
approach is social network; it is that services which are using by organisation in
facilitating the building of social relation with other people. It includes; online services ,
social media sites and many more. The advantage of this is that, organisation can easily
communicate with their customers but disadvantage is that managers have to resolve
the issue of individual at the same point of time which is not possible for them. Last one
is, team work, it is applied when organisation is paying attention to individual skills and
their ability. The advantage of this approach is that, it creates healthy working
environment and goals are also achieved in time period. But disadvantage is that, it will
create conflicts between employees. There are different approaches to self-managed
learning, the following approaches were identified by the researcher
 Visionary approach to self-managed learning
 Goal setting approach
 Networking approach
 The use of technology
 Opportunistic approach
 Learning from others around them
Visionary approach enables an individual to understand the future trend which can be
incorporated into their self-managed learning structure (Cunningham, 2010). For
instance, a teacher may start learning how to use mobile applications to enhance
students learning ability because learners are fascinated with the ideas of using their
mobile phones. The visionary approach will allow the teacher to understand that in the
future, more people including learners will be using their Smart phones for various
activities.
Advantage
The advantage of this approach is that it the educator to gain the skill and experience
on how to incorporate the use of mobile devices into their curriculum. Hence, through
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visionary approach, an individual or organisation will be able to identify future trend
which will enable the person to gain the competency needed to perform the task
(Cunningham, 2010). It will help to individual in learning some new things in visionary
approach.
Limitation
The limitation is that too much emphasis is centred around the future trend. The pace of
change in the environment and technology makes it difficult for learners to focus on too
much on the future. Self learning approach should focus on how to engage with the
current situation and environment in order to capitalise and take ownership of their
learning. So, individual should focus on those technologies which will help them to learn
the things in easy way.
Goal setting approach to self-managed learning is an effective method for thinking
about future and the motivation to turn vison into reality (Alessandra, 2006). The
difference between goal setting and visionary approach is that goal setting approach
focus on predetermined target, while visionary is more futuristic
Advantage
This approach enables individual or organisations to set goals they want to achieve in
certain period of time. Through this aspect, resources and ability are devoted to
achieving this goal. In regard to self-managed learning, Action plan is implemented with
specification when certain criteria will be met in order to stay focus. According to goal
setting approach, it will help to individual also in developing their skills and knowledge
about their task.
Limitation
According to Locke (2004), getting goals can lead to poor performance compared to
specific and challenging goals. In theory setting goals without the right motivation can
be vague. Students may need people that will motivate them to meet the set goals and
objectives towards their learning. And goals that are not properly crafted can become
demotivating. Hence, goals getting has to be specific. It can also lead impact on the
skills of individual and out pressure on them to perform all task according to
organization needs.
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Networking approach
People tend to learn more when they attend conferences, seminars or use the social
network to communicate with their peers. For instance, seminars and conference gives
people the opportunity to learn from each other. Individual with lack of presentation or
communication skills can learn the act by watching other people presenting in
conferences.
Advantage
This approach helps people to become more confident in speaking in public as well as
developing their presentation skills. Likewise, the use of social media enables individual
to learn directly by watching videos on how to gin managerial or presentation skills. For
instance, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram presents the opportunity for individual to
learn various skills without attending any course or training. It also helps organisations
and individuals to self-managed their learning and improve their knowledge and skills in
different aspects.
Limitation
The use of networking approach without discipline can lead to huge distraction for a
learner or people that are actively engage in using the social media for networking.
People make forget the important thing and get distraction from using the social media
like Face book or Snap chat.
The use of technology: The emergence of the internet as made it easier for people to
learn new skills at their own pace. Victual learning portal is a common platform where
people can self-managed their learning. It enabled individual to learn at their own pace
especially for people with families and needs to balance work and wellbeing. For
instance, Learning Direct is Government portal that enables organisations or individuals
to learn basic skills needed to start a business or get into employment.
Advantage
Technology is an essential tool for self-managed learning; it makes it easier for people
to manage their learning process and also the ability to have access to materials at real
time.
Limitation
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Equipment and services that are related to technology are expensive, and not everyone
can afford such luxury. For areas may not have better internet service that will enable
people to search the web or internet for their project, assignment or course work.
Learning from others around makes it easier for people to acquire skills and
knowledge that can be difficult to acquire in the classroom. For instance, shadowing and
reflecting on what is learnt is an effective approach to self-managed learning. People
tend to learn faster by watching people that already have the skills or knowledge. For
instance, teachers are usually told to watch their peers or experience tutors in order to
gain the skill to be a competent teacher. Watching videos on how to gain interpersonal
and communication skills enables individual to gain the confidence to do it at their own
time.
Opportunistic approach to self-managed learning is more of an individual taking
opportunity of their environment. People learn from what they read, travel to, projects
they have been involved or shadowing. This approach enabled individual to self-
managed their learning process or process. People reflect on what they have read or
travel to and use the experience to manage their own life or work. People that self-
managed their learning through their environment and interaction with other people.
The approaches mentioned above will enable the researcher to gain managerial,
communication and interpersonal skills as well as increasing the level of confidence and
motivation.
AC 1.2 Different ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional
context could be encouraged
Lifelong learning can enhance individual understanding of the world around them, it
provides people the opportunities and ability to improve their quality of life (Ates and
Alsal,2012). Lifelong learning requires self-motivation. Savin-Baden (2008) describe
lifelong learning as a learning activity undertaken throughout life either for personal or
professional development. Ates and Alsal (2012) indicated that learning to see learning
as mediation of the ability to cope with problems becomes itself a learning goal of prime
importance.
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There are various approaches to ways personal and professional learning can be
encouraged by an individual. The following points were identified by the researcher;
Long and short term goals: In order to encourage lifelong learning, individual have to
set short and long term goals which will encourage people to continuously improve their
skills and knowledge as well making their skills relevant in the work environment.
The short term and long term goals enable an individual to have direction and the path
to lifelong learning for a longer period. The teaching profession is a dynamic and
interesting career path that requires lifelong learning, hence, it compulsory for a
professional teacher have continuously review their career development plan in order to
meet the needs of their learners and the criteria of the awarding bodies.
Motivation is what drives an individual to achieve a goal (Spaulding, 2008). Lifelong
learning requires self-motivation to make most of the opportunities available. The
willingness and the ability to learn as well as the interest in discovering new things is
crucial to lifelong learning. One of the effective approach to motivation is reward and the
use of visualization. Rewarding oneself may sound odd but it helps towards achieving
objectives. Once a particulate task is achieved, a token of reward for oneself will help to
motivate the individual to do more task or set more goals. Another method is
visualisation. Visualising success ahead will help the individual to build of a mental
picture of what success can taste like
Health and constructive competition: We all live a competitive world and having a
constructive competitive attitude is actually a weapon for success. Most successful
businessmen are very competitive and it part if the motivation for them. Either at work or
learning environment, having a constructive competitive tendencies will enable an
individual to remain focus and also have the will to learn more.
Acquire and Search: The will to search and acquire new skill or knowledge are the
characteristics of lifelong learning. Individual that have propensity for acquiring new
knowledge or skill will continuously seek for such opportunities. Hence, lifelong learning
becomes part of life for the person.
Reflection is an essential tool of lifelong learning. The ability to reflect on past
experience, new acquired skills and identify areas of improvement encourages lifelong
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learning. Human beings will continue to learn as long as they are alive and education
itself is an inseparable part of living and it was what shapes our everyday life. Reflective
practice is an essential part of career minded people because it enables people to
reflect an identify their next line of action (Knott and Scragg, 2010). As the researcher
intend to gain learning experiment in teaching, the use of reflective practice will enable
the researcher to increasing self-awareness and have the ability to make a constructive
judgement of their own assessment.
Conclusion
The approached mentioned above will encourage the researcher to improve their
personal and development program which will further boost their lifelong learning.
AC 1.3Evaluate the benefits of self-managed learning to yourself and organisation
you work for currently or the one you wish to work for in the future.
Benefits of SML to an individual
 More is learnt and learned better than those who wait passively to be taught.
 Learning is entered into more purposefully and with greater motivation
 One tends to retain and make use of what is learnt better and longer
 Increase confidence in one’s ability and also capacity to learn in ‘novel’
situations.
 It enables one develop independent learning skills and a sense of accountability,
responsibility and assertiveness.
 Self-directed learners demonstrate a greater awareness of their responsibility in
making learning meaningful and monitoring themselves
 Enlarged awareness for individual strengths and weaknesses
 Increased ability to define and set measurable goals
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 Help to improve interpersonal skill, giving rise to creativity and flexibility
 Help individuals take on board their weaknesses, and how to overcome them
 Individuals set their targets assessing their own shortcomings
 It helps to achieve increased level of self-confidence among participants due to
the ability to acquire new skills
 Helps to create ability to work more effectively with colleagues
 Self actualisation
Benefits of SML to an Organisation
Decision Making: SML help individuals acquiring decisional making skills through
various learning experience they have that could be from education or work experience.
Ethical Values: An individual can learn about moral judgement from personal
experience that could be an advantage to the organisation in a professional manner.
Problem solving,: The skills an individual acquired through self-learning are
transferable skills that a person can acquire them from work, education, hobbies or
interests on how to solve various problems practically that could be applied in the
organisation.
Flexibility: People that have been engaged in self-learning tend to acquire flexible in
their work pattern. They can multitask and are not limited to one role, it will be an asset
to the an organisation to have an employees work in different department within an
organisation. In addition, other employees can learn through self-learning by focusing
on organisational objectives.
SML help employees to be focus on meeting their organisational goals and to know and
under their role better which in turn can lead to high productivity. It helps employers to
promote staff to take ownership and management of their learning, and also help to
create a dynamic working environment for all staff. This will in turn lead to low labour
turnover, higher job satisfaction and an increase in performance
Benefits for myself Benefits for the organisation
Ability to be self sufficient and
independent learner.
Help staff to take ownship of
their learning
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Help to improve my research skills
Improvement in analytical, problem and
critical analysis skills.
I will be bale to work better within a
team because I can develop some
ideas and share with my peers
I have learned how to work in team and
to motivate others. It helps me to
increase my skills as well as
knowledge which provides me
opportunity to achieve my goals. But
sometimes, conflicts have also been
occurred when in am working in team.
Increase innovation and
creativity
Helps to create a dynamic
environment where people are
encouraged to share their ideas
Improve decision making
process because people are
able to generate ideas
It gives advantage to to
organisation in solving the
problem of individual by brining
innovative ideas. But sometimes,
it gives negative impact on
organisation because different
views of employees are
regarding regarding one topic
which can create problem for
company.
For an individual, the benefits of self-managed learning in priceless, most importantly it
can help to increase self-actualisation. Oxford dictionary define self-actualisation as the
achievement of one's full potential through creativity, independence, spontaneity, and a
grasp of the real world. People that can take ownership of their learning tends to be able
to take ownership of their life. The ability to do what I like at my own pace without
pressure makes has made me happier and creative person. Furthermore, self-
managed learning has brought constant development which is directly linked to my
career advancement and job satisfaction.
In addition, self-managed learning approach helps enable the researcher to tackle his
weaknesses and overcome it through constructive reflective practice. It also helps to
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increase my confidence level due to the new skills I acquired through shadowing,
networking and appropriate use of technology. The ability of the researcher to identify
his weaknesses such as lack of interpersonal skill and presentation skill as helped to
create the ability to work more effectively with the colleagues. Self-managed learning
principle has enabled the researcher to short term and long term goals in order to
encourage lifelong learning.
The benefits of Self-Managed learning to an organisation
The key survival for any organisation is to encourage their employees to continue to
acquire new skill because of the past face of change in the business environment.
Business organisations needs employees with up to date skill that can give their
enterprise competitive advantage. Hence, encouraging staff self-managed their learning
will enable the workforce to continuously learn about new skill and knowledge needed in
the organisational settings. In addition, it helps to create a healthier and good working
environment as employees learn how to work effectively with others which tend to
reduce staff turnover. The ability for an employee to search and acquire new skills will
inevitably increase profitability and growth of an enterprise. Through, the use of
shadowing, liaising with experienced tutors and social media has enabled the
researchers know and understand his job better. Lastly, self-managed learning
enhances the workforce focus which helps the organisation to achieve its goals and
objectives
Self-managed learning can be a tremendous asset to business organisation if the
management can ensure that employees understand the need of continuous learning
and the need for self-direction in adult learning (Pedler, 2011).
TASK 2
Skills Audit
Skills which I have to considered for achieving my task and my ability rating between
one to five.
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Time management- It is important for to
manage time while performing any task in
organisation. So, individual have to maintain
their schedule on regular basis to meet out
with their objectives.
3 – I am managing my time on regular basis.
But sometimes it become difficulty for me to
manage time when there is a work pressure
on me. So I have to prioritize my time that
which work I have to done on prior.
Communication skill – It is essential for
individual to properly communicate with
manager or team leader. If they are not talking
properly, then it can become difficult to
understand their task.
3 – When I am performing any task and having
some problem, I am easily communicating with
the term leaders or seniors. But in front of
higher authority it become difficult for me to
properly communicate with them.
Organisational skills – It is important for me to
perform my all duties on regular basis. It
provides clear picture to me what is needs to
be done and how it can be achieve.
3 – I am managing my work according to m y
duties which I have to perform properly. It
gives me a clear that what I have to do and
helps me to complete my all task in time
period.
Leadership skills – When I am working in a
team, it increases my knowledge and skills
which help me to perform my all work in time
period. Leaders are also encouraging me to
complete my work in time period.
4 – While working in a team it increases my
skills as well as knowledge and gives me
strength to complete my work in time period. In
this, knowledge about new topic are increase
which can also help to achieve my own
personal aim of life in specific period of time.
Research skills – It is significant to find new
things. Nowadays, so many new technologies
are their which also save the time mine in
completing my work in easy manner.
3.5 – Nowadays, I am searching for a new
things and ability to use new technologies
which are available in market.
Knowledge and skills which I consider to be
important for my current studies
My ability rating (1-5)
Building and develop working relationships with
academic staff, peers and colleagues.
Interacting well with others and work co-operatively
as a team member
Understanding how to gain the attention of others in
a team or group when required
Making good use of verbal reasoning skills, able to
handle complex data and make selective use of
information
3
3
2
2
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