Reflective Portfolio: Translating Theory into Practice

Objectives

The aim of this task is to empower you to have ownership of your own professional development. This involves reflections on translating theory into practice and provides an opportunity for you to understand your own learning, as follows:

· Demonstrating the application of engaging theory with practice.

· Analysing individual experiences and identifying areas for improvement in practice.

· Evaluating professional competences through observation and evidence related to recognised professional skills framework.

· Recognising personal strengths and success, as well as mistakes and weaknesses. Objectives

· To appreciate the value of reflecting on practice.

· To prepare students to critique their own practice.

· To prepare students to critically engage theory with their own practice.

· To organise and produce a reflective portfolio.

Over the duration of the programme, compile a personal portfolio consisting of a series of reflective accounts of specific incidents that provide opportunities for translating theory into practice. Over the two modules, CEM13A and CEM13B, there should be FIVE incidents in total. The report for this module (i.e. CEM13A) must include TWO incidents. The FIRST incident must be your CEM13A Group Project – team performance improvement. The SECOND incident can be drawn from different types of incident given below.

· groupwork,

· site visits,

· carrying out a specific assignment,

· feedback on a specific assignment,

· extra-curricular activities (e.g. CPD events provided by the CIOB).

Prepare a report of this series of learning incidents connecting your learning to some appropriate aspect of theory.

A key element of this portfolio is your consideration of revisions to your own future practice and consideration of self-awareness. Thus, it is likely that you will be writing in the first person, in the active voice and with a careful consideration of multiple perspectives. The portfolio is intended to be used to build into a cumulative document that provides a reflective account of examples of your learning and development throughout the programme. It is also a good idea to think about different forms of refection (e.g. flowcharts, diagrams, words, etc.).

· What was interesting about the incident you have chosen? Was there anything surprising or new to you that caught your attention?

· What was it about the concept you chose that made you decide to select it?

· Are there any particular aspects of this concept that you feel you did not fully understand? Are there any aspects of the incident that seemed unusual?

· How does your observation serve as an example of the application of the concept in a realworld setting? This could relate to construction work, to academic work, or to anything else that you come across while studying, as long as it relates to a concept that has been introduced in one of your modules.

· Can you demonstrate a connection between your learning and a recognised professional skills framework? (For example, make sure that you include discussion around the requirements of the professional institution most relevant to your career plans.)

· Give examples of how you think your learning around this issue might influence the way you carry out your future professional work. These questions would enable you to deal with four aspects, for each incident (not necessarily in this sequence):

1. Event: what happened and what did it make you feel?

2. Problemitisation: explain one particular issue that this brought to your attention

3. Rationalisation: investigate the kind of research that would help with explanations

4. Action plan: conclude with what you would do differently if you were in such an event in future