Understanding Reflection And Evaluation In Professional Development: Applying Kolb's Model

1. Demonstrate the ability to relate to academic theory to the work environment and recognise the contribution of practice to the development of theory.
2. Confidently apply work related skills in a professional context.
3. Demonstrate a critical approach to evaluation techniques and reflective practice.
4. Produce a career and personal development plan to support their level 6 studies and entry to graduate employment.

The term portfolio is used as a catch-all that covers a wide range of methods for collating learning material and assessed work’ (McMillan and Weyers, 2008, p.38). For this portfolio you are expected to complete a number of tasks and maintain a weekly reflective log. The following is an overview of the portfolio:
Task 1a - Reflection on a particular weeks event
Task 1b - Reflective final report
Task 2 - Career and personal development plan

The Concept of Evaluation and Reflection

The concept of evaluation and reflection has been increased and covers the field in different professional disciplines.

The word EVRE stands for Evaluation and reflection, Reflection means the mirroring effect of the experience, that the individual learns and Evaluation is the process of perception about the experience or the person (UNSW Sydney, 2018).

In the context, the discussion will be carried forward about the different theories and models of the reflection and evaluation and their implementation in the real world. During the workshop, I have experienced many things that will be presented as a learning unit. The experiences will work as assessment tools.

Firstly, we will discuss the Kolb’s Model, which is applied to explain the learning unit.

The Kolb model has been introduced by the David Kolb in 1984 (Learning theories, 2018). There are two levels in which the Kolb’s theory works:

1. Four stage cycle of learning
2. Four separate learning style

The Kolb theory is very flexible that can be applied in a different range of situations. The Kolb theory states that new experiences help in the development of new concepts (McLeod, 2017). With the help of a diagram, we can understand the concept of Kolb theory.

1. Concrete Experience: This is the first stage in which individual having a new experience or facing the new situation or reiteration of existing experience.
2. Reflective Observation: In this stage, the individual compare the difference between the experience and the level of understanding, he can acknowledge that means about what he experienced and what he actually understands.
3. Abstract Conceptualisation: The individual can make a judgment about the learning from the experience and the conclusion in this stage.
4. Active Experimentation: This is the last stage in which the individual applies all the experiences in the real world. This is the stage in which a learner do plthe anning and tries to find out what he has learned and will apply the experiments in the real world.

Thus, from all the above matter we can understand the concept of Kolb theory. As I have participated in the workshop of EVRE, there I learned and experienced the reflection and evaluation concept (Kolb, 2015). Therefore, I will share my experience by using Kolb theory.

Three months before, I joined the workshop, which was organized by the community. The workshop was a very good level. They organize the workshop every six months. That workshop was the twelfth one. I was very nervous before joining the workshop because that would be my first experience. Yet I was excited too because I was going to learn new things and with new people. My first week of the workshop went with the introductory part because people came from all across the world, so everyone introduced themselves. In the second week, we learned about the Bound reflection model. Initially I found difficult to understand that theory but later on, I found it as a very useful process and understand how to apply it in practice. Next come in the third week, on the session of the first day of the third week, we got aware of how we interact, socialize with the people and the way we should do. During the activity, the task was assigned to us and the group was divided into the different group, we all had to finish the task, and the secession for discussion was arranged in the evening. The topic allotted to me was Project management. Firstly, understand the meaning of Project management:

Introduction to Kolb's Model

Project management includes planning, organizing and controlling the activities for the achievement of the objective of the organization (APM, 2018).

With the help of a diagram, the project manager would be easily understood. In the initial, the scope of the project will be decided which include planning, after that the work of organizing starts, the organizing will be done with the help of coordination between time, cost, and quality. In the end, the comparison would be done between the actual and expected work after the comparison, the corrective measure will be taken as a step. Thus, project management is the combination of planning, organizing, coordination, and controlling.

Therefore, the secession was arranged for the awareness about the reaction and involvement of the individual on the particular issue and the way of interaction with people. The activity of awareness reflected that how we think, visualize and how we could react on a particular issue. As group task was assigned to us, we all belonged from a different culture, society and with the age differences so the main reflection of that particular activity was to understand how to work in a group and how to interact with the new persons. With the help of the activity, we learned the way to socialize with other individuals and their involvement, to understand their views and perspective.

The event of the third week played a very important role in my learning curve because with the help of the group activities that have been done on the third week, I have learned the concept of learning contract and how to complete the task of the learning contract. Learning contract means a contract for the student in which the student has to complete a particular task at a particular time. Therefore, with the help of group activity, I have learned how to complete the task in a particular time limit.

I have also learned regarding the concept of ethics, which is important for every individual (Homann, Koslowski and Luetge, 2007) and their importance in the GSM code of conduct. I have also learned the importance of collaboration. The word collaboration signifies when two or more than two individuals work together by sharing their views and ideas for a particular project (Schuman, 2006). Therefore, when we work in collaboration then it gives the opportunity to participate and communicate with different individual ideas, we learned how to work as a team.

Reflections and Experiences from the Workshop

While doing the activity I had also learned about the topic of leadership quality and their importance. For maintaining the team, the individual should have a leadership quality so that he could lead the team successfully. In between the activity that has been assigned to us, we have to choose a leader among us so that he could lead the whole team. Therefore, during that period I have learned how the leader is important for the team. For the good leader, the person should have the quality of leading, patience, confidence and good communication skill (Gill, 2011).

Moreover, the other significant thing I have learned is the communication, the person should have a good communication skill, and we should know how to share our views in front of an audience. Therefore, communication skill is like the cheese on the bread.

The reflection would effectively change with the change in the model or the technique because every model has a different aspect and concept. We have applied Kolb’s theory; this theory is been mostly consider for a basic starter. In this theory, individual acknowledges about the consistency of doing, their experience, their effects, the question about how and why it happens, after that making judgment and in the end testing out by making planning and applying that strategies in the real life. Thus, if the technique will change then the reflection might be affected. Let we take an example of Brookfield model, the model mainly focused on the personality development, self-reflection and feedback about patience. This model is suitable for self-motivation.

Thus, we can see that both models are different and their reflection depends on the different situation if the model change then their reflection would also get affected.

If any individuals learn from reflection model then they could understand more effectively and prominently because they would learn through practical experience. Reflection is the effective tool for learning, as models cover different aspect. It covers the whole personality development of the new or existing learner. Therefore, some points explained below to understand the importance of reflection as they are:

With the help of reflection, the individual or learner can understand the social issues, goals, and values of the individual.

An individual can improve their level of thinking and problem-solving issues.

Through reflection, students are aware of the social structures in the service environment.

With the help of reflection, the individual get aware of their sense of responsibilities towards others and towards themselves (Ayoubi, 2013).

Importance of Reflection in Personality Development

Conclusion

From the above discussion, it can be concluded that reflection plays a prominent role. The Kolb’s theory has been applied in the above discussion. Firstly, I participated in the group activity that was my new learning experience, in between the activity we got aware about how to interact, handle the issues, and socialize with other individuals and how other people react and think about the same situation that supported me to understand about their perspective and views. These were my reflection and after these reflections, I can come to the judgment that I have learned new things about the project management, the importance of leadership, communication, collaboration. With the help of these tools I can enhance my personality and can use in my real world.

The reflection has a different kind of models and tools to support. Reflection depends on the action. Thus, it supports in decision-making about the best practice and helps to figure out that practice. In general, there are three steps in reflection:

1. New experience: Facing the significant event or the new event.
2. Reviewing: Individuals has been aware of how the situation is and how it could be. We get knowledge about new things and learn the activities that are beneficial to us.
3. Learning and Evaluating:  In this, there will be a comparison between the new experiences, the things we already know and the way to use new knowledge (McGregor and Cartwright, 2011).

Thus, there will be a discussion about the importance of reflection in the professional development with the help of a reflective model and knowledge gained from the reflections by comparing with the previous knowledge.

Learning from reflection would be beneficial for the individual. Some research has been conducted which shows the positive impact of the reflection on the behavior of the individuals regarding service (Lombardozzi, 2018). Following points explained below:

1. Reflection helps in enhancement of observation capacity and ideas, an individual can learn from their service experiences.
2. Reflection helps in, minimizing the tension and makes the individual more active and energized.
3. Learning from reflection aware the individual about the things which may create an impact on the personality of the individual (Sanders, 2018).

Thus, with the help of reflection I have learned and aware about lots of things that would help in the enhancement of my professional life. I have learned about the bound reflective model in which I understood that every experience has some reflections, we only have to learn from the experience. As in professional life, I would experience many things, these experiences may have different reflections that I have to understand and learn from that experiences. In my third week, I have learned that how to interact with other individuals and how to get socialize with others. It also developed knowledge about how people think and react to understand their perspective and view, which would help me in my professional life.

I have also learned how to tackle the issues and conflicts which may have a positive impact on my professional culture. My behavior and attitude have changed because of the deeper learning and reaction towards the incident have changed. These all experiences will help in my professional development.

Different Models and Tools of Reflection

The Johari window model has been developed in 1955 by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham (Selfawarness, 2013). The model is mostly used to improve the communication skill and perception of individuals for others. This model is based on giving and receiving feedback. The individual learns from the feedback given by others and reveals some information to others about themselves.

With the help of the above diagram, the Johari model can be illustrated. In this diagram, the four boxes divided into two column and two rows. The columns represent for self and rows represent the group. The first column signifies about things I know about self and second column signify things I do not know about self. The first row signifies things others know about me, the second row signify things other do not know about me.

The first box involves the open area in which the things I know about myself even other also know about that things.

The second box involves the blind spot, which means the things I do not know about myself, but others know about me. When we express ourselves in front of groups they would get know about the things that we do not know until now through observation.

The third box contains the hidden area in which the things we know about ourselves but feel hesitate to express in the group in the fear about how other think to react about when they will get know.

The fourth box represents an unknown part which means the things that no one knows about it even we also do not know about that thing, this could be unrecognized resources (South, 2007).

I have selected the Johari model because this model help to know about the individual personality by giving and receiving feedback. This model is appropriate if we want to recognize ourselves. For the whole activity, I have applied this theory and I got knowledge about the amount of information that can help me in my personal development.

The three aspects that I have personally experienced in the whole activity explained in below points.

1. Firstly, when we started the activities, some of the things I have already know about me was that my communication skill was not good even other individuals in the group also knew about my flaws. Therefore, this covers the first box of the model. However, through working on the project management, my communication skill was improved but still, I am working on it.
2. When I was been indulged in the group activities, some work was allotted to us by the leader in our group, I was not aware of the skills that I used those skills to complete the project. This covers the second box of the model. Through this activity, I got knowledge about the potentiality that I have.
3. The third thing that I have learned was to resolve the conflict, most of the individuals did not know about my temperament. Even I was not aware of it. Therefore, from this experience, I have learned how to handle the conflict. This covers the fourth box of the model.
4. I have also learned how to use the reflection and set goals accordingly, for achieving that goal I have learned how to prepare plans through the Gantt chart activity.

In the workshop, I have covered different topics. I already had some knowledge about the topics, that has been discussed in the session, but the detailed knowledge experienced here only. The concept of reflection, their different models, and the uses or implementation of this theory on individual life had experienced in the workshop.

Research on Positive Impact of Reflection on Professional Behavior

Through the workshop, I have learned new things, which helped me to know about important topics. I could feel the changes, which has been experienced before and after the sessions, I have attended. I was unaware of many things that I should know about earlier. My knowledge enhanced. I can feel the difference between my previous thoughts towards my life and now I have thoughts and goal towards my life.

When I used the Johari model, I have gained practical knowledge about the model. When I applied that model to me then I realized how much I did not know and how should I know. With the help of Johari model, I have learned about what I did not know about me and what other observed about me. This is the best way to know about the personality of ours. This would help us to improve in decision-making. If we know about the pros and cons of ourselves then we can easily achieve goal and objective. With the help of this model, we can get knowledge about our strength and weakness. If we know about our weakness then we can work on our weakness and achieve success in the near future.

The knowledge I have gained during the sessions plays a very important role in my professional and personal life. I have learned about the theories, their importance and learned the importance of collaboration, leadership, and lot more. All these things I would apply in the real world. I have set a goal and with the help of the Gantt Chart, the goal can be achieved. The Gantt chart is the best tool to make a plan for the near future (Rouse, 2018). Thus, I will try to apply the models of reflection. This is the best tool to know about any individual.

From the above discussion, it can be concluded that the theories of reflection play a prominent role in the individual life. Different theories have different aspects. In this task, I have selected the Johari model. This model is been based on the process of giving feedback and receiving feedback. Through Johari model, the individual get to know about their personality. The strength and weakness can be easily measured with the help of Johari model. I have also applied this theory and with the help of the theory, I would able to know about my strength and weakness. I have earned knowledge about the new things, which help me to enhance my knowledge. The qualities that I have learned and experienced will help me to improve my personality and will help me in decision-making. With the help of Gantt chart, I can achieve my goal and objective very effectively. With the help of the activities, I can feel the improvement in my patience level, observation, communication skill.

Success plays a very important role in every individual life. Each person wants to achieve success in his career. For achieving the success, the individual should know their strength and the weakness so that he can learn from the weakness and can use his strength to achieve the success. For achieving the desired thing, the individual should set some goals and accordingly achieve. In this learning unit, I will discuss my career development plans and use tools to achieve my objective.

The word SOAR means Self, Opportunity, Aspirations, and Results (Morrison, 2017). With the help of this tool personal and career development plans are been created. As they are, explain below:

SELF/STRENGTHS	OPPORTUNITIES
· Punctuality · Self-Govern ·   Leadership · Elastic ·  Focused ·  Supportive ·   Energetic ·   Motivated ·  Innovative ·   Imaginative ·  Confidence ·  Patience · Passionate · Dedicated ·  Positive Attitude · Quick Learning · Team worker · Socialised	· Work at a higher position · Commitment to further studies ·  Opportunities for job · Work as a Coordinator ·  Work as a team leader ·  Self-Teaching ·  Learn to earn good grades ·  Entry in business Field
ASPIRATIONS	RESULTS
· Wanted to be a good listener ·  Good communicator ·   Be in a position to do something for the community · Enhance my level of skill ·  Interact with new people. · Lead the team ·  Explore new ideas ·  Wanted to be successful in my career	· Work as Coordinator · Work as team leader Self-Satisfaction ·  Involvement in Social activities ·  Boost Confidence level and skill, which will help in decision-making. · Satisfactory Job · Earn a good salary

The SMART tool was been introduced by the Peter Drucker, who is the author of Management by Objectives (Smith, 2018). Smart goals mean the set of targets that have to be achieved by an individual in the near future for the individual growth. S.M.A.R.T stands for (Yourcoach, 2018):

S stands for Specific

M stands for Measurable

A stands for Attainable

R stands for Relevant

T stands for Timely

Thus with the help of SMART goal tool the individual can achieve the desired result. I have used the SMART tool that is explained below.

What do I want to learn?	What do I have to do?	What support and resources will I need?	How will I measure my success?	The targeted date for review of results.
Understand the importance of leadership.	Deeply learn on the topic.	I can learn through attending secession and through internet surfing.	I can measure through practical knowledge. Through apply all the theories in the real world.	6 weeks
Understand the use of reflections.	Learn about the different theories, their implementation, and effects.	Through books, senior and seminars I can understand more effectively.	The changes that occur by implementing these theories will measure my success.	25weeks
Conflict issues.	Work on control of my temperaments.	Proper guidance provided by the experienced person.	When handling the conflict issues.	8 weeks

Understand detail on Project Management.	Study of the importance of the project management.	Through, reading books, suffering internet and group activities.	Through test and working on the project, help me to measure.	4 weeks
Communication skills.	Have to on the Have to work on the improvement of my skills of communication.	Through reading, attending seminars, group discussion.	When I would be able to communicate in public seminars	12 weeks
Interact with new people.	The way of interaction.	When attending seminars, videos, and observation.	When I do not feel hesitate with interaction with new people	8 weeks
Gantt chart	Learn about the Creation of Gantt chart.	Through proper learning	When I will be able to create a Gantt chart	4 weeks

Short-term goals include goals for the near future.

Medium-term goals are more specific in term of goals, which include two or three years.

Long-term goals are the goals, which are set for long-term success; it covers more than five years (Topan, 2018).

There are some personal objectives that I have set and planning to attain in the near future. These explained below in tabular form:

Short term goals (next four months)

Within four month ·  Enhance my communication skills and ·  Capable to interact with new people. ·  Capable of apply proper use of a Gantt chart. ·  Must be capable to work on project management and handle team efficiently. · Attend at least two seminars or a workshop to enhance my skill.

Medium Term goal (next 2 – 3 years)

In the next two years · I will settle down with a good job and. ·  I will try to implement the reflection in my personal life so that I can develop my personality. ·  I will buy my own house ·  Will be able to resolve or handle the conflict issue.

Long Term Goals (following 3 to 5 years)

After three years · I wanted to see myself in a position of manager with a high salary. · Learned to present properly in front of an audience in seminars and lead the organization. · Learn new things from experienced persons or through books to enhance the skill and knowledge. ·  In the end, I wanted to be a successful person between three to five years.

Conclusion

From the above discussion, it can be concluded that the tools are the best source to be known about our strength and weakness. The SOAR tool is been used for getting knowledge about my strength and the opportunity that I can grab and my aspiration with results. Through this tool, I got knowledge about the opportunities that I have. I have also used the SMART tool, which helps me to know about my weakness and the way to cure it, within a targeted time. In the end, I have prepared personal development plans in which I have covered short-term, medium-term and long-term goals. With the help of these plans, I can achieve my goals in an effective way.

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