Skills Required to Succeed as a Student - Coursework Example

Name: Professor: Subject: Skills Assessment and Action Plan Date: Introduction This paper intends to discuss skills required to succeed as a student. The skills have been classified into various categories including skills to succeed as a social being in the world, skills required for critical thinking, skills required to adapt to the world, and skills necessary to solve problems. Given the identified skills, it is imperative to assess my own level of achievement of these pertinent skills then proceed to identify gaps and how to bridge the gaps. Audit of own skills Skills for socialising with others My level of attainment of social skills is excellent. The rationale behind this assertion is that I am able to read, write, speak, and listen to others in the official national language. Besides being able to communicate nonverbally, I have collaborative skills that have enable me to contribute to discussion groups in class. I am also a good leader given that I often lead my group discussions. In times of conflicts, I have been able to lead others, reach a resolution, take action, and be responsible for particular events. Throughout my education, I have managed to develop a healthy and positive relationship with my classmates specifically in daily school activities. Notwithstanding the fact that I relate well with people, I usually establish appropriate boundaries. Skills for making sense of nature Cognitive processes play a critical role in the development of skills that aid in making sense of the world (Cooper 48). One of the skills within this category is logical reasoning. I have substantially developed this skill such that I am able to make predictions, identify faults, and draw conclusions. On a daily basis, I have been using numerical data to make decisions. Such data included my own finances and how I will spend the funds during a term in college. I am still in the process of shaping my analytical skills, which will be evidenced by the capacity to identify patterns, classify elements, and compare and contrast. In my class, I have been exposed to various materials hence gained the ability to evaluate sources and draw conclusions from the provided evidence. Concerning integration skills, I am working towards improving ability to combine separate ideas into a single coherent idea. Skills for personal growth and success Amy, Gwenn, Lori, and Terry (6) assert that self-reflection develops a successful student. Concisely, achievement is evaluated by conducting a self-assessment of personal abilities. This is also in line with understanding own strengths and weaknesses. Through feedback from college examinations, I have been able to come up with a plan of how to improve my grades in subsequent semester i.e. working harder and participating within groups. Grading often acts as a reference point for personal development. Besides, I have a clearly outlined personal goals and objectives that have been instrumental in guiding my progress. In situations where I was not able to meet my goals and objectives, I would develop new strategies that served the purpose of driving me to attain the goals. Considering the skill of self-management, I have always managed my time by developing a timetable and schedule of daily activities both school and non-school activities. This is why I have been proficient in managing activities consequently avoiding deadline related stress. To add on the aspect of self-management, I am always independent in making own decisions but also consult peers and other senior personnel when faced with difficult situation. Metacognitive skill is also requisite in personal development. In line with this skill, I am aware of my own strengths and weaknesses. I have also changed my approaches to learning in order to realise a better outcome. Skills for solving problems Solving problems is part of my daily events in school. I am able to identify a problem and come up with necessary mitigation measures. Martin (19) makes it clear that the best possible solution can only be developed after carefully consideration of the problem and possible solutions. Using information technology, my information literacy has improved. The library has also been an accurate source of information for my studies and for general knowledge. Regarding creativity, which is part of problem solving, I am still exploring ways of enhancing the skill. I have identified research as a tool to be used in gaining the art of innovativeness. Possession of technical skill is further necessary for the development of the ability to solve problems. This area requires more attention. Importance of the skills The skills identified above are essential for a successful student. By appreciating the fact that a student is a social being, it is important to develop skills that enhance interaction with others in school and after school. Ultimately, a student will leave school and start working in a teamwork environment. This is why communication, collaborative, interpersonal, and leadership skills are vital. Often, employers look for people who will fit into groups thus the need to be successful in interacting with people. Skills comprising of logic, argument, quantitative, analytical, evaluation, and integration skills helps people make sense of the world. As a student, I am required on a daily basis to make use of cognitive ability by reasoning and reflecting upon events and research. A student’s success relies heavily on behaviour directed by cognition. A student therefore has to be able to make assumptions, logically make conclusions, identify areas of deficiency, and make inferences. Quantitative skills such as probability and statistics help a student to make prediction, check areas where data have been misused, and make interpretation. Classification of elements according to particular criteria is usually done in college hence the need to acquire analytical skills. When presented with variety of materials, students must as well be in a position to weigh evidence before making conclusions. The importance of integration skills is visible when students are called upon to collect several ideas in order to develop a coherent idea. Thirdly, the identified skills play a vital role in personal growth and development. Being able to assess self and identify strengths and weaknesses is part of personal development. By understanding ones abilities, a person will seek to find ways of improving the weakness while capitalising on strengths (Downing 21). Personal development further requires a student to be able to set realistic goals and objectives. Outcomes of these goals and objectives determine whether tasks were fulfilled. As a student, time management is critical given that assignments, research, and other course work occupies most of a student’s time (Andreatta 65). Prioritizing work, planning, and making informed decisions contributes to self-management skills. These skills will be employed after college since a person has to balance between work and life. Metacognitive skill was as well identified as a critical element in personal development and growth and it helps a student to weigh alternative approaches. In school, students are required to solve problems. Problem solving skills comes in to help a student to approach, analyze, and complete tasks in a successful manner. In the present world, information technology has reinforced the speed at which study resources are obtained by a student (McIlroy 82). Creativity is also enhanced via information technology. A creative student is able to solve many problems in a short period. Gaps in my skills The first area that I must seek to improve is analytical skills. This will be improved through research, asking questions, realizing the unknown, drawing assumptions, and converting information into knowledge. The second area that requires improvement is problem-solving skills. This skill will be cultivated by understanding the problem then choosing the best solution from a variety. The third skill that I seek to enhance in my career plan is interpersonal skill, which captures how I relate with other people. In order to improve this skill, I will always allow members of my group in classroom discussions to contribute before making any criticism (Burns and Sinfield 118). Secondly, I will consult with my teacher on how I can improve interpersonal skills. Thirdly, I will conduct online research on how interpersonal skills can be improved. A personal skill such as intelligence is vital both as a student and as an employee. This skill will be improved by reading widely and participating in intelligent talk with peers, family members, and other people in the society. Finally, the area of information technology must be improved. This will be done by enrolling for short courses in information technology and using internet to learn more about information technology. Action plan to improve skills Action Target date for review Strategy Improve analytical skills Dec 2014 While proceeding with my undergraduate studies, it is necessary to continuously research on various topical issues, which will help me to convert information into knowledge. I will also enrol for professional courses that will enhance my analytical skills. Specifically I intend to enrol for ACCA, which is an internationally recognised profession. This profession will expose me to various fields in quantitative analysis. Additionally, I will consult successful professionals in the field to decide on the specific area to concentrate on. Resources necessary to complete this plan comprise of money, books, and time. Improving problem solving skills Dec 2014 Since employers are constantly looking for people who are able to solve problems in the society, it is important for me as a student to put more attention on gaining experience by going for internship. During this period, I will also learn to relate with other people. This will help me to handle real life problems. Resources required is money and an organization where I will do my internship. Develop interactive skills Dec 2014 I will achieve this goal by being a member in school organizations. I will also actively participate in classroom group discussions and presentation, which will improve how I communicate ideas and value members of a group. The outlined strategy would see an improvement in my skills to expert level, both verbal and non-verbal methods of communication. Resource required is time, books to consult, and place to conduct discussions. Improve personal skills Dec 2014 To be a successful student, I need to have high level of intelligence. It is also important to note that employers usually assess IQ level of candidates thus; it is significant for me to look for ways of developing my intelligence while I am still in college. To realize this goal, I will browse various websites to learn ways of improving intelligence. Additionally, I will consult my tutor on various matters. Resource required is internet, laptop, and library. Improve knowledge on information technology Dec 2014 I will enrol for a short course in information technology. This will keep me informed of technological changes in the society. Resources required are time, money, and I.T materials. Conclusion It is evident from the paper that success in school also means success in work place. Most of the skills required for a successful student are essential in a work environment. These skills were classified into various categories including skills to succeed as a social being in the world, skills required for critical thinking, skills required to adapt to the world, and skills necessary to solve problems. Each category mentioned above has skills that a student requires to succeed. As an example, skills required to function well as a social being are communication, collaboration, leadership, and interpersonal skills. Taking note of these skills, I assessed myself then drafted an action plan to improve the skills. Works Cited Amy, Solomon, Gwenn Wilson, Lori Tyler, and Terry Taylor. 100% Student Success. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2012. Andreatta, Britt. Navigating the Research University: A Guide for First-Year Students. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2011. Burns, Tom, and Sinfield Sandra. Essential Study Skills: The Complete Guide to Success at University. London: SAGE, 2012. Cooper, Geoffrey. The Intelligent Student's Guide to Learning at University. Altona, Vic: Common Ground Pub, 2003. Downing, Skip. On Course, Study Skills Plus Edition. Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2011. Martin, Donald. How to be a Successful Student. California, Marin Trails Publishing, 1993. McIlroy, David. Studying at University: How to be a Successful Student. New Delhi: SAGE, 2003. Read More