Lo1.1: Reflective learning journal
Before I talk about this part, I want to give a definition of what self-managed learning is. According to lecture FBT lecture notes; Self-managed learning is the ability to recognise one own weaknesses and strengths against professional requirement. Since I want to open my own business I need to gain a High National Diploma which will give me the knowledge and skills to do this. Since I started the college we have been learning different modules such as personal and professional development and tourism destinations which are giving me extra insight knowledge of the industry I want to belong to.
Strengths
To talk about my strengths I have to look at my work experience first because this will help me in future when my business will be established. Being at FBT College is helping me gain industry knowledge and perhaps potential customers and partners as I want to work with people with good knowledge in the field. Team work through presentations both individuals and groups. Participation in class, I am a good listener, I always listen people therefore I can learn from others. I am reliable, hard working individual, I am a motivated person never give up when I start something, I am flexible, team player , these kinds of skills I have could be useful for meeting organisations expectations.I worked as an administrator officer in an organisation called Inspire Futures Ltd which I greatly enjoyed. This allowed me to build a stronger knowledge of the administrative role.I learnt a lot in my workplace and that help me to become more confident and meet different people and how to behave in a professional manner and how to wear properly at work as an administrator. Through my job I did the Employability Skills course and Customer service. I have developed team work skills throughout my education plus employment. To undertake day to day administrative tasks to support the officer manager and to ensure that the administration runs effectively and efficiently.
Weaknesses
Driving is my weaknesses but as a manager I need to have a full driving licence therefore I can move all around my businesses and partners and save my time.First language is French so as a result since my business will be based in England this can be a huge barrier. Connecting with other business partners, bankers and so on might take longer than expected as a result but I'm working on it.My weaknesses are in presentation skills which I am working to improve to speak in front of an audience, I am a bit quiet and shy but I am working on it.I am not good at going to the library reading books and searching information.
Opportunities
Working towards qualifications, classmates and tutors, contacts in the industry.In my studies; I want to be able to acquire all the skills and competences necessary to become a good hotel manager. I have all the resources necessary to improve my skills. Among the approaches to self-managed leaning in class we learnt that listening to mentors, going for interviews, attending conferences and attending seminards and internet access are the opportunities I have to improve my weakensses, and develop professionally.
Threats:
Too much completion, more people are wiser and knowledgeable for owning businesses. Many entrepreneurs are being born every single day so there is a high and stronger competition out there I have to be wiser to overcome this by listening to advise from tutors and mentors. I have taken students finance in order to support my studies and as a result this worries me as I will have to pay back this money before I make any profit for my businesses but I am determined to finish what I have started as hard work always pays off.
Lo1.2: Two ways in which life-long learning in personal and professional development could be encouraged
Life-long development is the progress search of developing yourself as an individual. Life-long is about to obtain, a process of acquiring new skills and knowledge that will benefit me in the future. Self managedis when a person takes responsibility for his/her own development. Therefore the individual decides howto learn, when,what and where. It is just by self managing my learning that I can improve my future. I appreciate how self managed learning can enhance life-long development and I have the inspiration to do it. I would like to develop myself to become a hotel manager as I want to offer a better life for myself and my entire family.It is significant now that I know what to learn and how I am going to achieve my goals. So I have done an evaluation of my skills that I need to achieve to success in my career. There many ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts could be encouraged this is via Continuous personal development programmes, Work programme or even Study skills programmes from college and universities
I am currently studying Hospitality and Management 1st year (HND) Higher National Diploma at London School of Business and Finance and this is my first opportunity for lifelong learning as this will give me many skills to be applied in my life. My target is completing all the assignment on deadline time and by the end of June. Larning is becoming concerned with an increase in knowledge or a higher degree of existing skill. (Pedler et al 1989). So I hope to continue studying it to achieve a higher level of understanding of Hospitality and Management systems and practices and top up the last one year at the University.
Hence I really enjoy my course and benefit a lot, it helps me improve my academic writing way, how to reference and gain knowledge to the hospitality industry sector. Through the group presentation in class, I gained my confidence back in speaking in public and it helps me develop my presentation skills which are required in the organisation. I am good at Numeracy skills, writing skills, listening skills, friendly, from my personal skills I can apply myself to most tasks and situations; these kinds of skills I have could be useful for meeting organisations expectations.These skills I have I can transfer them to others so we can work as a team in bringing new ideas to the organisation. In my studies, I want to be able to acquire all the skills and competences necessary to become a good hotel manager.I learn quickly and I am more than willing to undertake any training that will improve my performance in a role.
Lo1.3: Evaluation of benefits of self-managed learning to my-self and the organisation I want to work for.
Evaluate own current skills and competencies against professional standards and organisation objective.The current skills and competencies against professional standard and organisation objectives is the process which a person take the initiative, without help of others their learning needs, formulating learning goals, identify individual and substance resources for learning, choosing and set off proper learning strategies, and evaluating learning knowledge it also managed themselves to improve their skills. As a person you have to control your situation and build the relationship with others making time available to support others and provide feedback to improve other performance keep others informed. We need to listening actively and ask question modify in response to feedback.Individuals can learn by the use of varied experiences reflections and experimentations, acquire the knowledge, skills and behaviours relevant to their job through varied learning experiences. Challenge the status and continually seek opportunities to improve themselves and the job they do, thus contributing to the overall growth of the organisation I have communication skills and team work which I achieved from my previous employment in administration and through classroom activities like presentations and other tasks. I also have language skills I speak both english and French and these skills are very important for many employers. I have to develop more skills like management skills, time management and other skills that I will acquire throughout this course.
Through evaluating personal this determination help me with my professional learning by other equipment which are self-reflective learning and progressing professional judgement, self-reflective learning is about trying to review some opinions, judgements, personal understanding and actions that you are ready to take in a proper way and be honest about it. This will help me to relationship with my professional development.
AC 2.1 Evaluate own current skills and competencies against Professional standards and organisational objectives
I can take my own initiative and take responsibilities of the task I undertake. Set the deadline and meet these deadlines so therefore I can say that I am good in managing my own time. I am good in being part of a team and this is reflected by different activities set in class by tutors and myself. I can bring something different to the classroom tasks in terms of ideas, creativity and so on and so forth. I have management skills because at church I am responsible of organising women activities and meetings and these are necessary into the work place. I want to open my business and having organisational and time management skills are crucial to the success of any organisation. I prioritise activities and feel that I can be a good leader as I like to set good examples in my church and in college. Managers are after people who take own initiatives and feel I do in this manner.
AC 2.2 Identify own development needs and the activities
Required to meet them
I need to improve communication skills as sometimes feel shy to speak to a wide audience so I need to improve on my oral and written skills to fit more into a workplace, I would like to be a people's person but I feel that I need confidence to do so, so working on these two issues would allow me to develop the skills necessary and needed by many competitive job market.
AC 2.3 Identify development opportunities to meet current and
Future defined needs
I need to participate in workshops available at the college and make use of the library these are my current opportunities which I need to use on regular basis. I have opportunities of going to all kind of seminars such as work conferences, focus groups meeting which can be arranged by students and students unions to improve my employment potentials.
AC 2.4 Devise a personal and professional development plan
Based on identified needs
Please refer to table 1, question number AC 3.2
AC 3.1 Discuss the processes and activities required to implement the development plan.
In order to do this one has to carry out a self evaluation in terms of past and present performance to come out with future present. This will then lead me to discover what are the main points I need to work on in order to improve my current study skills which are necessary to finish the course. I have to write down what I think are my present weakenesses based on different feedback I get from both tutors and colleagues and examine what I feel I am good at this will then help me in writing the plan.
AC 3.2 Undertake and document development activities as planned
Personal Development Plan Template
Objectives
What do I want to be able to do or do better?
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Success criteria
How will I recognise success?
How will I review and measure my improvement?
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Actions
What methods will I use to achieve my learning objectives?
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Implementation
How will I practise and apply what I learn?
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Improve communication skills: oral, be able to provide high quality of tourism services to customers
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Feeling more confident in my speaking
Have a good job and being able to help people
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Reading books, buy CD or DVD and listening attentively
Attend lessons
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Socializing with friends, participate through seminars and conference
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Improve presentation skills and be more enthusiastic.
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Feeling confident, comfortable in front of an audience
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More practice even in front of my friends or family and get their feedback, research presentation technique
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Participate in a group discussion in class
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Prioritise my study first, assignments.
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Get feedback from the teacher
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Organise my time, plan the important things first
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Do not let someone to disturb my time. Respect the deadline time.
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Ability to reference my assignments
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Be able to search references
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More practice with the teacher, research in the internet
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Practice academic references skills
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AC 3.3 Reflect critically on own learning against original aims and objectives set in the development plan
Since I started the course I have learnt a variety of skills including speaking in public, confidence trough group and individual presentation. I have been learning different theories and how to develop ideas necessary for the work place. I want to own my business and this course allows me to acquire financial, customer service and management skills since I will be having my own employees and dealing with different people and customers on daily basis. I have developed writing skills which are important to have, as they will be used to communicate with suppliers, shareholders and other business partners and investors all these are helpful for the success for my career as a business woman.
AC 3.4 Update the development plan based on feedback and evaluation
Personal Development Plan Template
Objectives
What do I want to be able to do or do better?
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Success criteria
How will I recognise success?
How will I review and measure my improvement?
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Actions
What methods will I use to achieve my learning objectives?
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Implementation
How will I practise and apply what I learn?
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Improve communication skills: oral, be able to provide high quality of tourism services to customers
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Feeling more confident in my speaking
Have a good job and being able to help people
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Reading books, buy CD or DVD and listening attentively
Attend lessons
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Socializing with friends, participate through seminars and conference
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Improve presentation skills and be more enthusiastic.
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Feeling confident, comfortable in front of an audience
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More practice even in front of my friends or family and get their feedback, research presentation technique
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Participate in a group discussion in class
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Prioritise my study first, assignments.
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Get feedback from the teacher
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Organise my time, plan the important things first
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Do not let someone to disturb my time. Respect the deadline time.
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Ability to reference my assignments
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Be able to search references
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More practice with the teacher, research in the internet
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Practice academic references skills
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Hand in my work on time
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Have a diary
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Asking for feedback from fellow students and tutors.
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make sure I complete the tasks I have within the schedule
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Learn how to use Harvard referencing appropriately without falling in Turning trap.
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Visit online Harvard referencing
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While I write my assignment I have to make sure I write down the sources I use
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Asking for proof reading from other people and Some feedback.
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AC 4.1 Selects solutions to work-based problems
After I have achieved my qualification I must have a good and relevant CV which will allow me to attract employers and as a result this will in addition allow me to be competitive in the job market. I also have to learn how to drive as this can enhance my potentials for getting a job. In present job environment it is important to have both qualification and job experience so I have to make sure that I look for some placement opportunities within the hospitality sectors all these are the problems that one is facing but with a bit of effort these can be solved.
AC 4.2 communicates in a variety of styles and appropriate
Manner at various levels
The purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed, theoretical underpinning for the training and performance improvement method: performance template (P-T). The efficacy of P-T, with limitations, has been demonstrated in this journal and in others. However, the theoretical bases of the P-T approach had not been well-developed. The other purposes of this paper are to: explain the features and functions of the P-T and offers trainers some information regarding the regulation of feedback and learning. This paper adds to the procedures and practices of human resource development
AC 4.3 Evaluate and use effective time management strategies.
To have a diary so I can see all tasks I have and make sure all the appointments are in the diary. The jobs I search must also be in the diary if want to make progress