Self-Managed Learning - Assignment Example

personal and professional development Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 Introduction 1 Task 1 2 Evaluation of approaches to self-managed learning 2 Task 3 5 Processes and activities required to implement the development plan 5 Development activities as planned 6 Evaluation of professional and Personal Skills 7 SWOT analysis 9 Updated the development plan 10 Conclusion 11 References 11 Introduction Self-managed learning entails a situation where individuals manage their own learning. This involves individuals taking responsibility for choices about what they learn, when they learn, the strategy they use to learn, where they learn and most importantly why they learn. In order to improve the performance of their employees and students, firms and learning institutions have adopted self managed learning. For example, learners are allowed to select one or more units or courses from the curriculum that is provided by their departments. Similarly, in the cases of structured on –the- job training, employees can be allowed to choose the pre-designed modules that they can adopt during their training. Despite being one of the ways that learners can improve their experience and skills, self managed learning can create a challenge even to the most motivated and brightest learners. Self-managed learning provides people with opportunities to come up with their own strategies in learning. This section of the paper discusses how self managed learning can enhance lifelong learning. Task 1 Evaluation of approaches to self-managed learning One of the major approaches through which people can learn is through seminars and conferences. By allowing individuals to participate in seminars, they are able to make changes in future. Seminars and conferences are essential avenues thorough which people are given an opportunity to air their own views about something to other thus making other people to learn new things (Centre for Teaching Excellence, 2014). Additionally, seminars and conferences make people to have confidence while communication as well as developing presentation skills. In the contemporary world, improvement in information technology has also enhanced self-managed learning. Through social networks which includes Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and My year book among others, individuals can spend sometime learning new things from other for example when chatting with friends. Similarly, individuals can learn through bulletin boards as well as new groups. One example of issues that individuals can learn is how entrepreneurs Mark Zuckerberg became successful. Learners can also learn on new ways through which they can improve their career. On their part, the employees can share their experiences an aspect that makes them to have skills to address their personal challenges. Another notable approach that is being used in the self –managed learning is internet. Through the internet, individuals can learn different things for example through the articles that are written by different contributors. Articles such as the ones touching on risk management, management studies and strategic planning are essential for students who can use that knowledge in their future jobs. Different sites provided in the internet provide individuals with significant amount of information and services that enlighten the individuals who visit them. Ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts could be encouraged Lifelong learning encompasses continuous learning at personal level that could result to professionalism. It is imperative for individuals to assess themselves as one of the aspects of lifelong learning. This entails evaluation of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT analysis). Through undertaking of SWOT analysis, a learner is able to emulate professional learning by use of toll such as self reflective as well as continuing professional development (Centre for Teaching Excellence, 2014). During lifelong learning, self-reflective allows the learners to review certain opinions, judgments, and actions that they are focused at in a proper manner and in an honest way. In this way, one will be in a position to link their professional development to real issues that they have experienced in their academic and social lives. Additionally, self reflective learning could help individuals to acquire new skills in the schools or in the work places. Through the responsibilities assigned to the learners or employees as well as work tasks, individuals are in a position to develop their own personal skills. One of the major points to note is that self-reflective allows the learners to review issues while on its part the continuing professional development puts together the ideas, approaches as well as strategies that assist one to develop their personal learning. It is vital for learners to link their learning with their professional through the use of effective learning that entails proper planning and self evaluation. Additionally, individuals should embark on studying how other people are doing things, accepting judgments from other parties as well as accepting opinions from others. Benefits of self-managed learning to the individual and organization Being a way through which individuals take their own initiatives, self-managed learning is important to an individual and organizations in various ways. Students who graduate from the universities for example, are able to acquire professional skills that they apply in the firm which hires them. One of the positive impacts of self-managed learning is that it results to team work skills. During their studies in the universities and colleges, students learn about working as a team. Through the group assignments and projects that they are given by their instructors, learners are in a position to share ideas and opinions thus making them to acquire skills that they apply in their organizations once they are employed. Another notable that individual benefit from is presentation skills. During seminars and other forums, individuals make presentation by use of laptops or projectors. In this way, individuals are provided with an opportunity to express the skills they have learnt from a certain topic. In addition, seminars and presentations make a person to become confident while talking to other either in the college or in their organizations. Improved communication skills are another benefit of self-managed learning. As the result of the independence that the learners are provided with, they are in most cases faced with challenges that allow them to come up with their own ways of dealing with them. Once they are able to face off such a problem they can share their strategies with other for example through social sites or verbally an aspect that improves their communication and writing skills. Most of the learners who have good communication skills as well as high level of confidence are elected as class representatives. In this way, they are exposed to leadership skills an aspect that makes them to be good managers in future. To the organizations, self-managed learning is also a key issue that results to a successful firm. People learn about moral judgment that during self-managed learning an aspect that is applied in an organization. Based on the ability of the learners to solve their own problems during self-managed learning, they are provided with skills that they apply as future managers in their organization. This implies that an organization may not need to hire outsiders to make strategic plans and solve internal organization problems. Self learning makes one to be flexible while at the same time focusing at a task without allowing personal commitment distracting him or her. Such commitment is the one that organizations expect their workers to have, thus making the firm to improve on their performance. Task 3 Processes and activities required to implement the development plan Personal development plan involves the way an individual student or any other person makes a plan that will help to identify where they are and where they are heading in terms of their professionalism and personal lives. According to professional bodies, it is vital for the people to keep on updating their plans. Professional development plan indicates that a person like me should have a proper planning. My future development will not only be flexible but also I am focused at making aspirations changes in various aspects of my life. It is worth to note that changes happen in various aspects of life, implying that individuals should emulate new knowledge in order to be in line with the changes in life. The following are the processes and activities that I will follow and implementing my development plan. Preparing Curriculum Vitae: During this stage, I will indicate my position in terms of education and the skills that I need to develop Developing short-term objective: During this stage, my focus is on what I am doing currently Long-term objectives: During this stage, I will indicate the future plans I have SWOT analysis: In order to evaluate my skills and challenges, I will undertake an analysis of my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats Time frame: I will focus creating a professional development plan from the time I started my career up to where I am focused at reaching Regular review: During this stage, I will regularly review my plan in order to update it based on the evaluation Development activities as planned STUDENT’S NAME: Rangel Draganski ID NO: 21364 Goals Current proficiency Target proficiency Time frame 1.To improve my business and to find the right people for it Young manager with not enough experience To become more confident when communicate To practice and communicate with colleagues, friends and workers To provide a training course for the workers Responsible employees – successful business 2016 2. To complete my college course successfully Completed a few modules already To pass them all To attend the lessons and classes My past assignments and grades The current results from the modules aren’t good enough 2015 3. To find a better job Looking for opportunities To find a new job that would satisfy me Possible promotion Improved my knowledge and skills I have an ability to find a better job with my current experience and skills 2015 4. To continue my education at the university I’m studying in the college To complete the education in the college and to prepare for university Learning hard and regular, more practicing, used more sources of information I am still learning and improving myself professionally 2017 Evaluation of professional and Personal Skills STUDENT’S NAME: Rangel Draganski ID NO: 21364 Location Skills gained Grading Ways to improve At the work and college Listening Skills 4 To be work confident At the college and work Leadership Skills 4 To listen more carefully At work and business Planning and Organizing 4 To be friendly with the right attitude In the real life, at work and home Presentation Skills 3 To stop dreaming and be more realistic At the college and work Problem Solving 3 To be sure about my own skills At work and the business Professional knowledge To complete my assignments on time At work Self- Management 5 To control myself At work and college Team work 3 To be more responsible To have a diary book At work Technology Skills 3 To do the job at least on the level of my colleagues At work and college Time Management 2 Need to improve urgently In the real life and at work Time Management 5 To keep it on the same level SWOT analysis STUDENT’S NAME: Rangel Draganski ID NO: 21364 Strengths Ambitious Significant level of patience Open minded to new ideas To listen carefully and to remember what I need to do To show my skills in the team work To create a plans and follow them Opportunities To get a better position at work To run my business successfully To improve myself in both things above To improve myself at the work with computers and word and excel To be sure in my skills Weaknesses Inadequate skills in time management Threats Need to do a course to improve the using of the computer and new technologies, because most of the good jobs in my tread needs the use of modern technology In the current business environment, managers must ensure that they have adequate skills to deal with the challenges that face their organizations. Based on my SWOT analysis, it is clear that in order to become an effective manager and be a successful leader I will require expanding my information technology skills (Armstrong, 2006). As indicated earlier, it is vital for an individual to regularly update his or her personal development plan. After undertaking my SWOT analysis, the table below indicates my new development plan Updated the development plan Goals Current proficiency Target proficiency Time frame 1.To improve my business and to find the right people for it Young manager with experience High level of confident when communicate strong communicate with colleagues, friends and workers More strong team work 2016 2. To complete my college course successfully Skilled potential employee To pass them all To attend the lessons and classes My past assignments and grades 2015 The current results from the modules aren’t good enough 2015 3. To find a better job Opportunities are available New job with more opportunities to develop 2015 4. To continue my education at the university Completed my college studies Undertaking computer studies 2017 Conclusion Based on the above discussion, it is clear that the success of self-managed learning depends on the approach that is adopted. Notable approaches that individuals can use include conferences, seminars, internet and social media among others. Out of self-managed learning both an individual and the organization can benefit. For example while an individual acquires adequate skills, an organization uses such skills to increase its profitability. Personal development plan is vital if individuals are to become successful. Additionally, an individual should undertake self evaluation that includes SWOT analysis in order to come up with strategies to deal with the weaknesses and threats as well as to take advantage of the strengths. References Armstrong, M. 2006. A handbook of Human Resource Management Practice. London: Kogan Page. Centre for Teaching Excellence. 2014. Self-directed learning: a four step process. Available at https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/teaching-resources/teaching-tips/tips-students/self-directed-learning/self-directed-learning-four-step-process Read More