Learning Portfolio Assessment - Assignment Example

Learning portfolio Name of student Professors name: Subject: Name of institution: Date of submission: Introduction This paper presents a learning portfolio of three topics that have been covered in week eight, nine and ten. It will involve analysis of personal considerations in regards to the three topics. It will exhibit the experience, achievement and competencies that I have gained by demonstrating my understanding and reflections concerning the three topics. Each portfolio entry will consist of integration of my personal experience and own research about the topic. The first point of focus will be to relate the topics to my prior knowledge. Secondly, is to compare the knowledge with other researchers concerning the topics. Finally, I will present the course of action I intend to take basing this learning experience as the backbone. Week 8: Building self-confidence Relation of my prior knowledge, experience and expectations to the topic learning My prior knowledge in regard to this topic is that self-confidence is important in all aspects of life. It is demonstrated by the manner in which someone behaves, speaks, accept mistakes, take risks, and use body language among others. However, many people have difficulties in developing self-confidence in their day to day lives. As a result, they end up being unsuccessful in their activities whether in business or leadership. Confidence level motivates and inspires the audience of the supervisors and the customers of an individual. Customers will tend to purchase products from a confident seller, who demonstrates the qualities of his products and the reasons for the specified price overtly. An impending employer will be convinced by a confident employee to give him supervisory and administrative duties. In short, the confident people can inspire other people’s confidence. Confidence can be learned and built on to high levels. Research about the topic Tracy (2012) explained that self-confidence increase the mental fitness of an individual. They become unstoppable and unafraid in their day to day live activities. It is a combination of self-esteem and self-efficacy with the belief that one can accomplish his desired goals throughout life. Confident people can engage in risky investments involving expensive assets, huge capital and liabilities with hope of yielding much profit without guarantees. It is an outer expression of inner life of an individual that makes him to become what he likes in life. However, expression of overconfidence has lead to frustration to some people who fail to weigh risk to benefits. Further research has compared the confidence levels between men and women, most of which indicates that men are more confident (Ellen, 2012).In all aspect of life, women are depicted as fearful and naïve and unwilling to take risks and lack support from the social institution. Men end up dominating in risky aspect of life. Although women are rarely involved in the risky areas of life, research shows that there is no difference in the level of confidence with the men. The sex difference is due to poor emphasis placed on gender comparison and evaluation. Action plan This topic was an eye opener in my life. I realized that every aspect of my life depends on how much I love myself and the goals I would like to achieve. These aspects can only become evident by outward expression and action of my interest. To achieve this, I need to identify the pessimistic thoughts that hold me back from achieving my goals and replace them with optimism. I will be able to maintain the positive thought my close association with my role models and avoid the external reminders of the negative thinking. I will identify my talents, take pride when utilizing them and be ready to receive compliments from others. Self-confidence may not eliminate fear. However, I will acknowledge presence of fear as a stepping stone to greater achievement. Patience will be of essence in building my confidence. I will avoid comparing with others but instead seek for help from them. At the end, I will improve my confidence. Week 9: influence on decision-making Relation to my prior knowledge, experience and expectations People make different decision in life for careers, politics, business, romance and financial decisions among others. They are affected by age, race, gender, work position, economic status, academic requirements and others. The decision that one makes has consequences to the lifestyle of the individual. It all relies on the current situation of the individual and how the decision will impact his future. The major difficulty in my decision-making is the uncertainty of the outcome. Deciding the field of study to specialize in was thus difficult. It involved weighing the availability of vacancy, training institution and the available venues of utilizing the gained knowledge. Moreover, the peers around me affected my decision making the decision with each one recommending different specialty according to their judgment on my characters. My age was another consideration in this decision making in mind that my children were in the middle of primary school education. Research on the topic Dietrich (2010) identified several factors that influences decision-making. These included; age, experience, cognitive biases, belief in personal relevance, economic status, and escalation of commitment. These factors also affect the outcome of the decision. Past decision that was unsuccessful serves as eye opener to the individual not to repeat the same mistakes. He further showed that people make decision based on the irrational escalation of commitment. If they feel that they made mistakes in the past, they continue to invest in the same ventures to correct the mistakes. Age is another influencing factor in decision-making. As the age increases, the cognitive function decreases. The old people become overconfident in their decision, and make decisions without applying the correct strategies. The old people make few choices that the young people since they have achieved most of their goals (Reed, A.E., Mikels, A.J., & Simon, L.K. 2008). Furthermore, a person’s belief of relevance influences his decision-making. In his report, Dietrich (2010) showed that the voters would turn in large numbers to vote when they believe that their decision will determine the governance of their country. Action plan The above analysis and evaluation shows how sound decision-making is important and that it affects the future outcomes. It is a critical aspect of life that determines if I will remain happy or unsatisfied in life. Despite the various factors that influence decision-making, it is important to compare the benefits against cost and losses of a decision. Experience is always the best teacher that allows one to repeat the same decision, or manipulate it for better outcomes. I learned on how to apply various heuristics in decision-making. They include representative, availability, adjustment and anchoring heuristics. Moreover, I will use the outcome of the decision that I made to make future decision depending on whether the previous decision were satisfactory or disappointing. I will use the following strategies in making sound decision; brainstorming, cost-benefit analysis, writing down the other available choices and remediation plans. Week 10: Role modeling. Relation to my prior knowledge, experience and expectations A role model is an individual who possess qualities and characteristics that can be emulated by other people. The people to emulate him may be the students, children employees or subsequent leaders in a certain position. It is a form of passing knowledge, skills and behavior from one person to the other. Role modeling is important in school where the teachers must recognize themselves as role models to their students. It is also important in medical training institutions where young doctors and nurses learn from their lecturers and senior consultants on the best ways of caring for a patient. At home, the children copy their parent’s behavior and code of conduct. A young girl, for example, emulates her mother in cleaning the house. In my previous job, my supervisor arrived thirty minutes earlier than reporting time to work. The rest of the workers emulated him in improving our reporting time. Research about the topic Research shows that adults, who are the mentors to children in the society, determine the behavior pattern of the children. In a study on the urban adolescent girls, Zimmerman et al., (2009) Observed that their exposure to adult bad behavior lead to involvement in substance abuse and negative attitude toward school. The children copy the negative behavior from the adults with non-parental mentorship. Adolescents are in the puberty stage where their sexual characteristics are maturing. They tend to copy what adults to determine the acceptable behavior they should follow. Mitchel (2011) described the various characteristics of a good role model. It include; passion and ability to inspire either in the workplace or in a leadership position. They also have clear set of positive values and committed to the community. For example, they would support financial assistance to the less fortunate. He found that students admire a selfless person who can accept other people regardless of the social and economic barriers. Action plan All the people that I lead teach and who I exceed in age directly or indirectly look upon my behavior to shape theirs. I have realized that I should instrumental in impacting change of behavior to these people. The children, for example, will emulate my behavior in belief that it is socially correct and acceptable. At the same time, I learned that I should develop resilience in behavior when am exposed to negative behavior in my role models. Another action will be influencing the other people to become good role model to their mentees by involving them in community welfare program. Visiting of the schools where I can address the students on the positive ways of living can also impact good behavior to the students. In the workplace, I will demonstrate good behavior through obedient to my supervisors and respecting the work mates. References Tracy, B (2012). Power of self confidence: Become unstoppable and irresistible in every area of your life. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons publishers. Ellen, L (1977). Women self confidence in achievement settings. Psychological Bulletin, 84(1), 1-13. Reed, A.E., Mikels, A.J., & Simon, L.K. (2008). Older adults prefer less choice than young adults.Psychology and aging. Psychol Aging, 23(3), 671-5. Dietriech, C (2010). Decision Making: Factors that Influence Decision Making, Heuristics Used, and Decision Outcomes. 2(02), 1-3 Retrieved from http://www.studentpulse.com/articles/180/decision-making-factors-that-influence-decision-making-heuristics-used-and-decision-outcomes Zimmerman, A. M., Hurd, M. N., & Xue, Y. (2009). Negative adults influence and protective effects of the role models: A study with urban adolescents. Journal of youth and adolescent, 38(6), 777-789. Mitchel, M. P. (2011). What is a role model: Five qualities that matters to teens. 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