Personal Development Plan and Employability Portfolio - Coursework Example

DAES Employability Portfolio Reflective Review of the Year Name Institution Professor Course Date TASK 2: Volunteering Team work Prior to engaging in volunteering work, I saw it as just a basic task that did not require a lot of attention and planning in advance. But in reality, after engaging in the voluntary work, i realised that volunteering required a lot of attention and planning for one to achieve the goals of the volunteering activity in a timely and effective manner. In the volunteering activity, we were about four of us and for the volunteering to be effective we needed to find an appropriate time when we would all be free to undertake the activities. This proved to be very tasking since we schooled and had other extra curriculum activities to engage in. Despite the difficulties we experienced, the team work seemed to be effective since we attained the benefits associated with working in teams in that we were able to achieve the goals of the teamwork in a timely manner. Effective Communication For volunteering activities to achieve the desired results and success, the members of the volunteering team need to ensure that there is effective communication between all the team members. Initially, a great number of the members in the volunteering team lacked essential communication skills and this in a way derailed our volunteering activities. For instance, so many members failed to show up for the volunteering activities without prior communication to other member’s team. After some time, we ensured that there was effective communication and all members were required to inform other members in advance in case they were not in a position to attend the voluntary activities. This played an essential role in that, with prior communication, the available members allocated the task for the day in an effective way and ensured that they were completed on time and in the most effective manner. Through this, I learned that, effective communication was essential and mostly when working with a group of people. Initiative and Creative Problem Solving When working with a group or a number of people, there are aspects that individuals cannot avoid. For example, conflict and in this regard, there should be creative and initiative problem solving. When in our volunteering work, there was conflict between some members and there was a member who ignored the ideas and opinions of other and always thought that his ideas were the best and should be followed by all the other members without questioning. As the leader of the volunteering team, I ensured that all opinions and ideas were evaluated and the most appropriate one was chosen and was followed. This played an essential role in that, there was reduced level of conflict in the group and all members felt that their ideas and opinions were valued and even though some ideas were not used the most appropriate one was chosen and applied when undertaking the various activities involved in the volunteering activity. Task 4: Reflective Review of the Year My first year in university had its own ups and downs but looking back, it was a great year in my life for I experienced a number of changes that changed and molded me in so ways and played an essential role in the remaining years of my university education. Prior to joining university, I was very shy and rarely interacted with people and always kept to myself. I opened up since at times we were required to engage in others and mostly in group discussions (Urquhart & Pooley 2007). Additionally, during my first year at the university, I became a better reader than I was during my previous studies. I had to change if I wanted to succeed in my university education. I also learned on how to make references and make use of academically accepted resources and search for articles, books and periodicals from the university’s library. Through this, I learned that, not all sources are termed as academically acceptable. For example, it was not appropriate to make use of Wikipedia and blogs as sources of information. I also learned on how to write different types of essays and articles, for example, argumentative essays, and making summaries (Calaguas 2011). In relation to time management, I had a lot of difficulties since in my previous study time, I lived with my parents and thus they kept a close watch on me by making sure that I was on time for the lessons and that I spend a considerable amount of time studying. After joining the university, I had to make some decisions and mostly on managing my time for there was no one watching over me (Calaguas 2011). I drafted a schedule to help me in managing my time. In this regard, I kept note on when the lessons started and when they ended and allocated a considerable amount of time undertaking personal studies and mostly on topics that I experienced some difficulties. In relation to time management, I also ensured that I kept good company and shunned away from activities that were likely to distract my studies. The schedule that I drafted played an essential role in that, even when the exam time, I was already prepared due to the adequate time I dedicated to my studies (Parker et al. 2005). During my first year in the university, I experienced a number of challenges. A major challenge related to the life skills. As many other students heading to college, I had not coped well with some of the general life skills prior to my university education. I experienced challenges in using my credit cards in a responsible way and budgeting and shopping for essential items. At times, I had to request for more money since it was over before the semester ended. At first, I also experienced challenges related to balance (Smith & Khawaja 2011). At times, I dealt with challenges in balancing my academic life and social life. This was a great challenge for I had the freedom to engage in activities that I wished to without anyone’s supervision. At times, I would engage in more in social life and I realized fail to place a great emphasis on my studies but later, I realized that and changed for the better. Task 5: Your Personal Development Plan Aims What do I want to achieve/ learn? Actions WhatwillIdo to achieve this? Resources What resources / supportwillI Need? Measurement Whatwillmy success criteria are? Review and timescale Date and method of review? Develop my presentation skills Engage in a number presentations in the course of the semester Use books on effective communication skills Achieve good grades in presentation assignments Second year Develop my written skills Discuss some of my work with my fellow students and submit better essays Make use of information on the web, books and journals that guide students in written skills. This will be assessed based on the grades that I attain in essays provided as sources of assessment by the tutors Second year Develop team work skills Being an active member in both academic and other form of groups for example a leader of a union in the university Being engaged in group activities and learning more on how to make team work more effective Organize and be actively be involved I organizing events in the university Third year Graduate with good grades Engage in activities that enhance my success such as research Make use of books, journals and any other relevant materials Engage in continuous learning Third year Being up to date with continuing research in my area Engage in continuous learning Keep up with research my joining professional bodies in my respective field. Number of new and recent articles read and seminar that have been attended Third year References Calaguas, G 2011, Academic Achievement and Academic Adjustment difficulties Among College Freshmen, Journal of Arts, Science and Commerce, vol. 2, Iss. 3. http://www.researchersworld.com/vol2/issue3/Paper_8.pdf Parker, J., Austin, E., Hogan, M., Wood, L & Bond, B 2005, Alexithymia and academic success: examining the transition from high school to university’, Personality and Individual differences, vol. 38, pp. 1257-1267. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/James_Parker3/publication/247167167_Alexithymia_and_academic_success_examining_the_transition_from_high_school_to_university/links/0f3175330e1a054f38000000.pdf Smith, R & Khawaja, N 2011, ‘A review of the acculturation experiences of international students’, International Journal of Intercultural Relation, vol. 35, pp. 699-713 http://isplaza.dreamhosters.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Smith-Khawaja-2011.pdf Urquhart, B. A., & Pooley, J. (2007). The Transition Experience of Australian Students to University: The Importance of Social Support. The Australian Community Psychologist, 19(2), 78-91. http://ro.ecu.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2365&context=ecuworks Read More