Knowledge & Creativity I: Self-Assessment Essay on Academic Goals

This essay documents a student's self-assessment of their development in the 'Knowledge and Creativity I' course at LSCI, focusing on academic and professional growth. The student reflects on learning styles identified through VARK assessments and the application of SWOT analysis to evaluate personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The essay highlights the impact of teamwork and communication skills learned through the course, particularly in preparing a group presentation using PEST analysis. The student details how understanding team dynamics and improving communication fostered a more collaborative and effective working environment. The experience has refined the student's goals, shifting towards not only entrepreneurship but also seeking broader career opportunities in business management, with a stronger emphasis on continuous learning and adaptability.

29th, March, 2022
Preparing for Success at University Knowledge and Creativity
I am writing this essay as a way to record my self-assessment of the
development I am achieving with the course, and to briefly explain what my
goals and objectives are for the future in my academic life.
Since joining LSCI, I have taken insightful classes that are giving me
academic insight and introduction to the business world. These classes are
teaching me the importance of good study planning and organization, as it can
help achieve my goals.
Starting from a brief reflection on the content, I can mention the classes
that dealt with S.O.W.T. According to Fleming (2001) “...there are four learning
styles that are called VARK (Visual, Aural, Read/Write and Kinesthetic sensory
modalities)”. During these first classes, some tests were carried out to identify
the learning style that best defines us. In the test done in Professor John Davis'
class, the result was well balanced between the four styles, highlighting the
Visual Style. However, the test conducted by teacher Jennifer Newland the
result was the Reading Style.
Reflecting on the result, I agree with the second result. Because
throughout my life I managed to get a better understanding of Reading. Another
way to learn for me is through flowcharts (Visual). Breaking what I'm reading
into blocks, structuring what I'm learning in a progressive and cumulative way.
According to Meyer (2002), the S.O.W.T. defines a strategy that
combines Strengths (S) and Weaknesses (W) (internal factors) with
Opportunities (O) and Threats (T) (external factors).
Between the first and second week of the course, we used this analysis
in order to self-assess ourselves regarding these four points. As a result I got
the following points: i) Strength: dedicated, determined and focused; ii)
Weaknesses: inflexible, difficulty speaking in public; iii) Opportunity: start a new
course; iv) Threats: advanced age to start the course and personal pressures.
After three months of class, I once again performed the Analyze
S.O.W.T. and I got the following results: in the Strength field I added:
identification with the course. In the Weakness field I still observe that I am
inflexible, but I already notice an ease in listening to others more and I notice
that sometimes there are other ideas that are more effective in solving
problems.
The contents taught by Professor Jennifer that helped me to observe that
I needed to have a different attitude about my Weaknesses was about

Teamwork (Partnership). With this content, I could see how the group
partnership can work to develop an activity. I used this learning to draw up an
action plan with the organization of my group in preparing the presentation
requested by Prof. John Davies.
This work aimed to analyze the type of business, the products sold, how
the external environment influences a company. Use the S.O.W.T. to analyze
the company's internal structure, and use the PEST Analysis to identify the
external factors that influence the company's guidelines.
According to Gupta (2013) the PEST Analysis is used as a situational
analysis tool for business evaluation purposes and is one of the most used
models in the evaluation of the external business environment, which is highly
dynamic.
Starting the meeting, we had a group conversation where each member
expressed their point of view, listening and discussing the topic of the
presentation. Afterwards, we then developed a presentation structure identifying
and delegating the part of each member in the elaboration of the presentation.
This conversation showed me the importance of getting to know the
various forms of communication. According to Cohn (2005) “To actively listen is
to listen with all the senses”. So, throughout the conversation, I could see that
some members talked more, others took notes, others just confirmed, and
others just sat with their arms crossed. So my attitude was: as we defined what
would be done, I would write the key points in flowchart form (this person does
this, then the other does this, depending on the other person).
The second meeting took place a week later, where we talked about
what we had produced, and the difficulties we had. In this meeting I could see
that the group had some communication problems, they were not knowing
exactly what each one would do, and that the absence of a leader was
hindering the performance of the presentation. Without being authoritarian and
in an easy-to-understand way, I explained to the team how important it is for us
to be communicating while carrying out the activities and how important it is to
share the work done, as this exchange can help those who are struggling.
Upon learning about all the activities, we started to unify the parts of each
one in a single presentation. As the preparation of the presentation progressed,
I noticed that there was a lack of motivation in the group for personal reasons or
fear of giving the presentation. That's why I suggested we set up a face-to-face
meeting where we could talk about other matters to get to know each other
better.
At this meeting, we went for coffee and each member of the group was
able to talk a little about themselves and their goals. With this approach, I could
see different interactions that didn't happen before and that we could use this to
our advantage.

With these new interactions, I could see in the meetings that members,
when feeling doubts about certain points, already asked directly the group
member who could respond or add another point of view. This showed me that
when we know our team's strengths and weaknesses, we are able to optimize
our time, we are direct and assertive in our choices.
This shows me how important it is to share ideas, communicate, express
our opinions and most importantly: listen to each other, because when we work
openly, where everyone interacts, but always with specific goals, these goals
are achieved more quickly and accurately.
With these few months of classes and the experiences that LSCI has
been offering me, I am increasingly maturing my perspectives and goals with
the course. Not only having the objective of opening my own business, but also
of obtaining a qualification so that in the future I will have better job
opportunities in areas involving Business Management.
REFERENCE LIST
Fleming, N.D., 2001. Teaching and learning styles: VARK strategies.
Meyer, M. W. 2002. Rethinking Performance Measurement: Beyond the
Balanced Scorecard. Compensation and the balanced scorecard. Cambridge,
UK: Cambridge University Press.
Gupta, A., 2013. Environmental and pest analysis: An approach to external
business environment. Merit Research Journal of Art, Social Science and
Humanities, 1(2), pp.13-17.
Cohn, K H. 2005. Better Communication for Better Care: Mastering
PhysicianAdministrator Collaboration. Chicago, IL, Health Administration Press.