Individual Reflective Journal: University, Skills & Employability

This reflective journal documents a student's learning experiences at university, focusing on the development of employability and study skills. Using Gibb's reflective cycle, the student analyzes their participation in university events, reflecting on their feelings, evaluation, and analysis of their experiences. The journal highlights the acquisition of skills such as communication, adaptability, and time management, as well as the ability to understand different perspectives. The student identifies initial nervousness and challenges in adjusting to the university environment but notes significant personal and professional growth throughout the course. The journal concludes with an action plan for future improvement, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and skill development to achieve personal and professional goals. This document is available on Desklib, a platform offering a wide range of study tools and solved assignments for students.

Individual Reflective
Journal

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
A reflective journal refers to the individual records of learning experiences of a person. It
helps an individual to identify essential learning events which has great impact on the betterment
of their life. The learning events involves their relationships, personal and professional life. It
also allows a personal to understand better about their thoughts, interest, ideas and perceptions
(Bassot, 2020). Continuous professional development is a procedure of documenting and
learning the professional skills, knowledge and experience by a person to achieve success in their
life. It helps them to improve their skills and knowledge as well as manage their time for future
development in their personal or professional career.
The reflective journal cover personal reflection, which discuss attending the University
in general has contributed in my achievement of the employability and study skills.
MAIN BODY
Gibb's reflective cycle
While attending the lectures and event in University I get to know more about the
different areas and skills which I need to develop for the future growth in my professional and
personal life. Gibb's reflective cycle is a most common reflective learning model which was
introduced by Graham Gibbs in 1988. It gives a structure to learning from education and
experiences that can be evaluated by mistakes which will be corrected by a student in their future
professional practices. It helps a learner and student to develop their skills and knowledge from
their experiences as well as mistakes (Breunig, 2019). This model has six steps in its learning
cycle that helps a personal in reflecting their experiences, current skills and mistakes at the
University or workplace. It refers a process of self assessment of mine in my academic learning
process at university. By using Gibb's reflective cycle model the personal experience of mine at
the University while attending an event that are reflecting below:
Description- In the university, me and my friends participated and attend a course to
know or learn more about subject areas which we pursue as a profession in our life. There are
also various students who belong from different places, cultures and backgrounds to learn
multiple subjects which helps them to grow successfully in their professional life. In University,
there are various subject or courses such as science, political, maths, management, law, and so no
as well as many professors who taught and gave guidance about the scope or importance of these
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subject in our professional career. I went to this University to explore and learn multiple skills or
knowledge which will helps me to achieve success in my life. Also, it allowed to develop various
skills which is essential to conduct my professional practices easily. Further, it also helped me to
know, interact or understand more about the people who come from different culture and
background. Through learning there I got to understand my future interest in a subject which I
can pursue as my profession in my future life. In the starting of course, the classmates and my
professors helps the learner to adjust in the environment of University or classroom (Dadaboyev
and Baek, 2021). The lecturer of University make many efforts to provide better and healthy
environment for the learners so, they can study dedicatedly in their learning process of specific
course.
Feelings-In the starting days of my course, I was quite nervous and low because of
different people or environment. Also, I found many difficulties to understand the course and
nature of people from with I have to complete my learning. But after being familiar with course,
environment, students and professors I got to know more my interest and my self. In the mid of
course, I noticed and experienced many changes in my perception, mindset or personality which
allowed me to enhance my concentration in lectures. It also helped me to develop my skills,
knowledge and personality for the future growth. During the course, through out the learning
process, there are multiple skills of mine like pro activeness, good communication, adaptability,
and good listening helps me to do crucial task of the course associated with many typical topics
(Flynn and Korcuska, 2018). I also learned and gained several new skills and knowledge like
better understanding about situation, process, topics of learning during entire course. Reflective
learning also allowed me to know or understand the behaviour of people and their mindsets as
well as now I am well known and aware about that, the future is uncertain and what many
opportunities and challenges are forthcoming for mine (Habibikaleybar, 2021). In addition to
that, I also learnt about most crucial topics such as future challenges or tends, business
environment, economical structure, legal structure, advances technologies, social culture and so
on that can helps me in my personal as well as professional career.
Evaluation- There are several skills and knowledge like optimistic, analytical and
adaptability approach that I developed and learned through out the course which will help me to
enhance my learning abilities for the better outcome in my professional life. These approaches
helped me to find out many solutions of multiple mistakes or challenges as well as to find the
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reasons behind these mistakes so, I can reduce and eliminate these faults by enhancing my focus
or commitment on learning in lectures at university. I also develop my knowledge by discussing
and asking question on multiple topics to professors as well as my batch-mates which helps me
to better understand the meaning and purpose of topic. By this I generated better knowledge
about several topics and how it is beneficial for me in my future career. It leads me to take extra
efforts to learn valuable things for my career development as well as helps me in my
professional and personal life to accomplish success and aims. For the attainment of future
success and goal I need to learn effective personal reflective learning to co-ordinate my efforts
and current learning process. There are various courses in the University like future challenges,
trends, business environment, business environment, business operations, economical structure,
legal structure, advances technologies, social culture and many more (Himangshu-Pennybacker
and Fuller, 2018). Also, these has concept, scope, functions, benefits, managements, market
trends, customer trends, competitive challenges and advantages. This model helped me, my batch
mates and friends to understand clear and more about the ideas, process and concepts of these
topics. I also got to know more and understand about various process, ideas, alternatives,
assessments and courses which were performed by me and my team mates with full dedication or
efforts to complete the task efficiently. It also provides guidance to my practices or activities in
learning process related to various topic at university (Lee and Abdul Rabu, 2021).
Analysis- In the beginning of this course I was quite nervous and demotivated to adjust,
understand and measure the learning process. I did my study and assignments by dividing the
process of task into multiple steps for better understanding. It helped me in determining the
benefits of each steps which provides proper guidance to me to perform the task with full
potential. I also get to know about the benefits of effective communication in a team to complete
the goal of task efficiently. In the last week session of the event, the professors gave us proper
guidelines on many topics or ideas that were helpful in the development of reflective learning to
all the students (Maynard, 2019). Also, the learners of my class were capable to build and
improve their intellectual and communication skills that useful for them to understand better
about the rules, principle, process and concept of the different topics. I also developed various
important skills such as multitasking, time management, flexibility, awareness and so on while
learning in the university. Now, it allows me to do multiple task with innovation and manage
time to do complex task efficiently. If we design proper time schedule to manage the workload
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of task as per the plan and requirement of project, then we will maintain the accuracy and quality
of the performance to achieve the goal on time. Moreover, I also did many research and reading
that further helpful for me to know more about the benefits of writing and learning style by
multiple theories in the professional career of a person. The accurate information and research of
topics and course helps the learner to get proper knowledge about multiple ideas, concepts and
theories which helped them to conduct their practises smoothly (McFlynn, 2018). While
attending the event at University, I was able to develop various skills and knowledge that was
necessary for me to achieve professional and personal goals for the development of future career.
Conclusion- From the information presented above, it is concluded that reflecting
learning is the most essential process to determine about the individual interest, skills and
knowledge in the life of learner. My behaviour, attitude and mindset have been changed as I was
able to face multiple problems without any hesitation or trouble. During the process of event at
University each learners have equal chances or opportunities to develop their personality so, they
can make better plan for their future development and career. There are various skills that I
learned during the process of event like management skills, decision making skills, problem
solving, researching skills and analytical skills to perform the job and project with full
motivation, dedication as well as capabilities (Nagro and Monnin, 2022). Now, I will more
capable to deal and handle typical situations easily associated with professional life. Also, I am
capable to break the project into multiple steps because of better knowledge and understanding
of concepts, theories, ideas , benefits and process of important topics. These skills helps me to
generate and think creative ideas for the formulation or implementation of project as well as to
solve multiple challenges while conducting the task at the workplace. I think, I also develop and
improve my intellectual or communication skills to interact better with other at my work place.
In the beginning I faced problems but later, I enjoyed and familiar the process of learning as
well as got new skills or experience to handle problems associated with people or work in future
professional career.
Action plan- While participating in the event at University I found many difficulties or
challenges to perform the project with my team members and batch mates like understanding
problem, communication problem, disagreement among us. Because of different background,
viewpoint and mindsets of learners then with mutual efforts and effective communication we
reduce the issues and accomplish the task efficiently on time (Thornton and Cherrington, 2019).
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Further, I developed various skills like time management, better coordination and
communication skills which helped me to get understanding about the allocation of available
resources in right manner. Also, it allowed me to know the benefits of these information for
future success and improvement. With all these skills and knowledge now I am inspired and
confident to perform my duty with more potential as well take effective decisions in the group at
my workplace as compare to my perception at beginning stage of the event. At last, I am so
happy after completing the event at University with the successful achievement of purpose of
project on time at important stage of my career. Throughout the event I learned leadership skills
and adjustment with people that helps in creating a base for future professional life. From this
experience I get to know more about my personal interest, weaknesses and skills. In future, I will
work to improve my skills which reduce my mistakes and weaknesses.
CONCLUSION
As per above report, it is concluded that the personal reflective journal helps a person to
identify their interest, skills and knowledge which they can pursue as a profession in their future
career. Also, personal reflection of a person while academic life has contributed in the
achievement of the employability and study skills. They learned various new skills like
management skills, research skills, communication skills, writing skills, problem solving skills
and many more as well as they also improve their current skills which helped them in their
future success. After this, they feel motivated and confident to perform their task with full
abilities for the growth.
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REFERENCES
Books and journal
Bassot, B., 2020. The reflective journal. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Breunig, S., 2019. Towards a reflective stance of honor and dignity:-A phenomenological
inquiry into the use of force by analyzing the US Navy’s Crossing the Line ritual. Journal
of Military Ethics, pp.1-29.
Dadaboyev, S.M.U. and Baek, Y., 2021. Review of Organizational Misbehavior Constructs:
Hierarchical Reflective Model. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2021, No.
1, p. 16201). Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510: Academy of Management.
Flynn, S.V. and Korcuska, J.S., 2018. Credible phenomenological research: A mixed‐methods
study. Counselor Education and Supervision. 57(1). pp.34-50.
Habibikaleybar, R., 2021. The Effectiveness of Teaching Metacognitive Strategies on Academic
Self-Disability and Reflective Thinking in High School Students. Journal of Educational
Psychology Studies, 18(41), pp.135-150.
Himangshu-Pennybacker, S. and Fuller, D.P., 2018. Preparing pre-service candidates as effective
reflective practitioners using edTPA. In Fostering Reflective Teaching Practice in Pre-
Service Education (pp. 205-217). IGI Global.
Lee, S.J.C. and Abdul Rabu, S.N., 2021. Google docs for higher education: Evaluating online
interaction and reflective writing using content analysis approach. Education and
Information Technologies. pp.1-31.
Maynard, D.M., 2019. Transposing Reflective Practices: Learning to Teach Abroad. Teaching to
discern: Forming Connections, Decolonizing Perspectives. p.91.
McFlynn, P., 2018. Supporting beginning physical education teachers to become reflective
practitioners. In Mentoring Physical Education Teachers in the Secondary School (pp.
135-150). Routledge.
Nagro, S.A. and Monnin, K., 2022. Using Simulated Video Analysis to Promote Special
Education Teacher Candidates’ Professional Knowledge and Reflective Ability. Teacher
Education and Special Education, p.08884064211059854.
Thornton, K. and Cherrington, S., 2019. Professional learning communities in early childhood
education: a vehicle for professional growth. Professional development in
education. 45(3). pp.418-432.
Yuan, R. and Mak, P., 2018. Reflective learning and identity construction in practice, discourse
and activity: Experiences of pre-service language teachers in Hong Kong. Teaching and
Teacher Education. 74. pp.205-214.
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