Reflective Cycle using Gibbs Model: Summary of Four Certification Courses

Reflection is a collective summary of insights and experiences of a learner from a course or training. It assists a learner to regain, collect and organize the work completed in a precise manner. In this regards, the report is prepared to present the reflective cycle of the four certification courses done by the learner. The four courses will be clearly evaluated and summarised in the report through Gibbs reflective cycle.

Main Body

Applying the Gibbs Reflective Cycle to my certification programs which I had undertook recently and I have made a summary of my learning. The Gibbs reflective cycle is a six step model that says learning by doing. It is divided into six dimensions including Description, Feelings, Evaluation, Analysis, Conclusion and Action Plan. This model basically outlines the interactions and information acquired during certain events, circumstances or activities (Sicora, 2017). Thus, it is the best way to create a reflection of my skills sets and acquired knowledge from the certification programs.

Stage 1: Description

This stage is the description of initial experience of a learner that defines the positive and negative aspects of particular event or situation. It also defines the things that went well and the things that didn’t. Also, the learner can describe the outcome of activity and the expected outcome (Sicora, 2017). In the recent period I have been through four certification programs including Google Forms Essential Training, SPSS Academic Testing, EndNote Essential Training and Learning Office 365. Every program I attended brought a positive experience for me and added to my skills set in a very pleasant mode. SPPSS course taught the leading software and its uses for running academic research to interpret data from quantitative tests. It included t-tests, variance analyses, and statistical measurements for the academic researches. On the other hand, Goggle forms is the program that is quick and simple method of creaking online surveys for taking responses from the recipients in an easy and efficient approach. Next I attended Learning Office 365, a cloud based productivity suite that taught to organise my data and work by using the applications of 365. Also, the EndNote essential training was necessary to save my efforts and time wasted on referencing. The platform is a source to manage the tedious period of creating citations and looking of authentic sources.

For the mentioned courses I attended online programs organised by LinkedIn Learning and got certificates for each. These courses were chosen by me on the basis of my current qualification and future profession. Therefore, I might through my abilities stand out from the crowd. Also, I had many confusing things going on in my mind during the initial phase but later on realised that I had to create some personal sections according to the term and coming chapters in the program. Gradually, I made modules as per each section in program and created objectives for myself. Then I learned that the idea of creating goals for me was the motivation factor that added to my learning. Since, I had some friends who were doing same course I asked them about their planning and learning. Those conversations helped me to understand the learning clearer.

Stage 1: Description

Stage 2: Feelings

In the entire term of any kind of program or activity getting frustrated or irritated and it’s just normal at times. Most of individuals are not very comfortable at the beginning due some events or situations throughout the period (Oham, Pestano and Allen, 2016). Thus, the second phase of reflective cycle explains the emotions, feelings and attitude of an individual during and after the event or activity that is described in stage one. Moreover, the actual emotions of learner are evaluated here but the outcome due to feelings and they lead are identified in this stage. Since, the emotions of a person are the main factor that either motivates or impels them. Throughout my training period I had mixed emotions at different moments, sometimes I was happy and unhappy at times according to my assignments. Since, we had test after every chapter completion and that were motivating factor but they were impelling also due to the rankings. However, when I look back to the term period it was essential for enhancements of employability and academic research skills.

Before I felt these programs are just for a requirement but now when I see the upgrade in my skills set and felt its importance in present and future. Since, I can easily create an online review through Google forms also I can organise my work easily due to the expanded knowledge of Office 365. Alternatively, I can conduct research with the help of SPSS and perform quantitative research and perform statistical tests. Also, the EndNote training is a time saving factor during my research. It trained me to create my own referencing library and creation or editing of citation. Therefore, now I feel content with my training and its outcomes. As well, I the genuine engagement I had during term made me more optimistic and curious to perform such trainings in future also.

Stage 3: Evaluation

This is the third stage of reflective cycle of Gibbs model that evaluates the experiences of learner and also the approaches used all through the term. It can be said that the approach that motivated and assisted the learner to reach those objectives articulated at beginning phase are evaluated in this step (Johns, 2017). The learner can identify the contribution in program by themselves and identify the lacking from them and the mistakes in choosing the approaches. While looking at my training from LinkedIn I have got good remarks on my certificates that defines that I had a great learning period and proved myself. I got remarks that say I have sharpened my skills, expanded my perspective and made myself in demand. Though, I could have done other courses that are more demanding in this period but these courses were actually matching my current strengths and weaknesses.

Stage 2: Feelings

While learning Google forms I came to know about its assistance for data analysis and conducting research through it. I can now create quick survey before planning an event for my business. Moreover, I learnt how to collect diverse information without making much effort in an efficient manner. I could make real connections with people while doing a test survey and came to know that a simple platform can be so much useful for development. Similarly, when I did 365 training I learnt the ways to organise my work form workplace and even after that. I do not have to wait for next working day to finish the task. The application is user-friendly and I could be able to manage my own form home and schedule future things with the fatuities it has. For instance: the To-do-list feature in Ms Office is so good that I could create a time table for my work according to priorities. Similarly, another program of Endnote training made me realise the benefits of own reference library. Likewise, SPSS taught me actual academic research patterns and approaches through a single platform. I could be able to create my own statistical tests without going in public to perform an experiment. Now I can say that the objectives made by me in beginning are fulfilled. But, some of them are completely realised due to my own mistakes at initial stage. I could have paid more attention to my training. Since, I had some other tasks in hand while I took this training. However, the loss is not so big that I couldn’t recover. Also, I have reached the expected outcome but my own objectives are not fully realised.

Stage 4: Analysis

It is the fourth phase of reflective cycle that performs analysis of the happening during the term. In previous four stages the four programs and their details are been focused upon. But, this step extracts meaning out of all findings in previous stages and their gain for the learner (Sharp, 2018). Also, the learner can reflect the positive or negative experience from programs. I had attended four certification programs that taught me dynamic skills to upgrade my employability skills and academic research skills. I could have created module before my training program so that the initial phase was not wasted. But, I realised the same during the training period. Thus, some of the basic things were not systematically grabbed by me. But, the advanced features and application installed on phone from LinkedIn assisted to analyse my progress and learning. Also, I could identify my mistakes during learning process and rectify them. Additionally, the instructor organised quizzes that boosts my confidence and motivation. Also, I applied Belbin team roles to analyse my own strengths and weaknesses. So, I had managed to minimise my weaknesses and win over them from my strengths. I added the skills I have learned to my LinkedIn profile and share them with my network to ensure that my abilities match with my goals and professional development.

Stage 3: Evaluation

Stage 5: Conclusion

By this reflective cycle I can notice that the reflective portfolio assisted me to evaluate the addition to me skills set. The certification program organised by LinkedIn are very beneficial for my future and my professional development. The courses are certified but their certificates are not accredited but enhanced my personal abilities and skills. I noticed that as a learner these certification programs are source of upgrading personal skills through simple exercise. Also, I learnt that identification of personal strengths and weaknesses is very essential to prepare a framework for learning. Also, I will be continually performing personal swot to ensure that my weaknesses are minimised by strengths. The information gathered in pervious stages is very helpful for creating future action plan for me.

It can also be concluded in the end that the tests and quizzes organised by instructor at regular intervals were positive for my upgrade. But, the distraction were social media that wasted my time after the training immediately and I lost some points. However, now I’m prepared for anything this in future. I would be practising my newly acquired skills to gain expertise in them. Also, I learnt that it is apparently required to create an action plan for future.

Stage 6: Action Plan

It is final phase of Gibbs Reflective cycle that is created for future activities, events or similar situations.  The action plan is based on conclusion from past experiences and learning. Also, it is the guide to avoid the past mistakes and repeat the positive actions in future (Fathelrahman, 2019). It helps to improve the approach of learning and create a correct schedule to avoid hustle and unnatural promises.

In this regards, I have created an action plan for myself so that I would be doing things differently and better. Since, I noticed that the certificates I acquired need some additional certificates to complete the expert knowledge.  Resultantly, I have chosen additional courses for myself from same source in my plan. The Action Plan is as follows:

• I will create a schedule for my learning period including before and after things to avoid the distractions that could lose my learning.
• Also, I will be aligning my current skills with future professional requirements.
• Perform SWOT continually to analyse my personality.
• Genuinely engaged in learning process from initial to end stage.
• I will be practicing my newly acquired knowledge and skills to make sure that my skills are not forgotten.

After the action plan selecting additional courses to enhance my academic research skills an extensive analysis of current skills and future requisite strengths are required. Moreover, genuine engagement is essential to properly grab the available knowledge and enhance the expected skills. Thus, I will attend two additional courses i.e. Office 365 New Features and Survey Monkey Essential Training (2017) to improve my academic research skills. New features will improve my expertise in MS office to organise my work and use latest features to speed up my work. Likewise, survey monkey would be adding business intelligence skills to my portfolio. This is the software which allows the user to generate business surveys and perform online review. The program provides templates for designing and configuring questionnaires

Conclusion

With this reflection report it is inferred that the certification programs have enhanced my knowledge to a certain level. Also, I have noticed that these programs helped me to improve my projection and organising skills. It is clearly evident that the skills sets are improved from the programs attended and relevant research skills are learnt. It is also noticeable that creating action plan for future will reduce chances of past mistakes that acted as backlog in previous trainings.

References

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Oham, C.A., Pestano, C. and Allen, J., (2016). Social enterprise and the wider community: one possible model. International Journal of Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 4(2), pp.172-181.

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