Reflective Journaling - Essay Example

Reflective Journaling of the of the Concerned September 9, Reflective Journaling Assigned 8, Due 9 Realistically speaking I am given to an adaptive learning style that tends to accumulate and process information received through the media of sight, touch and hearing. I do make it a point to focus on the information being read and explained in any learning experience, while at the same time culling information through sensory inputs like illustrations, graphs and models, thereby using both auditory and visual approaches to grasp the information being conveyed. Over the years I have found that though auditory and visual learning approaches do convey to me a sense and meaning of the information being presented, yet, engaging in activities based on that information does further strengthen my grasp and insight into what is being taught. It is the practical application of the grasped information and facts that brings in an element of conviction in the overall learning outcome. Hence, I do happen to adhere to an adaptive learning style. I have realized through experience that the greater the extent of senses and learning faculties involved in a learning situation, the better rends to be the learning outcome (Wills, 2005, p. 14). Thereby, I did make an effort to gain a measure of proficiency in all types of learning styles. Assigned Class 9, Due Class 10 To be able to adapt to varied teaching and management styles, it is important for an individual to develop a measure of competency in different types of learning styles and approaches. Sticking to a single learning or management styles does hamper learning. This is because in the practical life one is bound to come across superiors, colleagues and subordinates who are comfortable with one or other different types of communication and management styles. It is a fact that every person happens to be more at home with certain specific teaching and management styles. However, a proactive approach towards gaining proficiency in various types of learning styles enhances the learning experiences one comes across. This allows a learner to coordinate with a teacher or a superior disseminating information and instructions using a specific style and approach and to adapt the insights so gained into a compatible form and format For instance if a teacher lectures a visual learner, such a learner can grasp and preserve the information being conveyed in a verbal format by translating it into visual formats like mind maps (Bulkeley, 2004, p. 80). The same can be done by a visual learner in a professional environment where the boss is used to verbal communication. Assigned Class 10, Due Class 11 Going by the fact that I am an individual with a high self esteem, I mostly resort to an assertive method of communications. Most of my communications with my friends, acquaintances and class fellows do happen to have certain common aspects. For instance I prefer to behave confident and direct in my manner of communication. I seldom resort to ambiguous comments or verbal games. I make it a point to make the other people know and understand my limits and expect them to acknowledge and respect them. The good thing about this is that people find it easy to trust me. However, sometimes I do find that I also need to know as to how to communicate in a diplomatic and subtle manner. Assigned Class 11, Due Class 12 Being too assertive in my communication approach may sometimes make people take me as being arrogant. This is bad because it may hamper me from striking bonds and friendships. Besides, this may also turn such people away from me, who happen to be more subtle in their communication approach. Sometimes too assertive a communication style unnecessarily gives way to unwanted power politics in team scenarios. However the advantage of my assertive communication style is that employers may mostly find me confident and competent. My assertive communication style is bound to project me as being dependable and reliable in a professional scenario. My assertiveness projects me as a natural leader. Assigned Class 12, Due Class 13 I have sometimes come across interpersonal conflicts with my friends and siblings. These conflicts primarily originate from the fact that my siblings and me happen to differ from each other in terms of our ways of perceiving things and the things we like and dislike. I try to deal with such conflicts by coming to accept, respect and acknowledge the uniqueness and individuality of my siblings and friends. I have also many a times faced intragroup conflicts while working with my colleagues and classmates. These conflicts mostly originate from the differences and incompatibilities amongst the people working in a group or a team. I have found that it gets easier to deal with such conflicts if I usher in some guidance by evincing a positive leadership in a group or a team. Assigned Class 14, Due Class 15 I have realized that the current society is a digital society and the computers have revolutionized every aspect of human life is it social or academic (Lally, 2008, p. 111). Computers do indeed play an important role in making things quiet fast and efficient. I am confident that building on my computer literacy will certainly help me save on much time and repetitive effort in the future. In that context, refining my search engine or online research skills will indeed allow me to speedily access the academic sources and information I will need to accomplish varied academic projects and assignments in the future. Besides, honing my social networking skills will readily open up a range of academic and professional opportunities for me in the times to come. Improving on my digital communication skills like emails and messaging will save me much time spent on correspondence. No doubt, computers will also help me in saving much time spent in the storage and retrieval of data and information. Assigned Class 15, Due Class 16 I would make the following suggestions to Anita: 1. I would strongly recommend Anita to purchase a computer and avail an internet connection at home. I will try to explain to her that the amazing thing about computers is that most of the operating systems like Windows are easy to learn and do come with inbuilt instructions, suggestions and recommendations. I will encourage her to use her new computer as much as she can and explore the various possibilities, options and choices it offers to her as a user. She could also use any easily available manual that could provide her with the basic information as to how to use a regular operating system like Windows. I would also ask her to request to her friends to teach to her the most basic things like how to save and retrieve data in a computer and storage devices, how to use search engines and basic programs like Microsoft Office and Outlook. 2. I would strongly recommend Anita to get involved with the fun and entertainment aspects of computers like gaming, social networking and accessing music and video content of her choice. This will not only stimulate Anita’s interest in computers, but will also teach her the basic and fundamental computer skills in a play way and engaging format. It is important for Anita to understand that computers do have a fun and entertainment aspect associated with them. This will encourage her to enhance her computer literacy and to build on her computer skills. Assigned Class 16, Due Class 17 Critical thinking is really hard because it requires one to set aside one’s biases and preconceived notions so as to approach things in a logical and systematic manner. Exercise 1) I want to grasp the importance of diversity in a team scenario. 2) a. With the influx of globalization the future organizations are bound to have a diverse workforce. Some people believe that diversity enhances organizational competency. Still, there are other people who believe that diversity gives way to organizational conflicts. b. Central Idea: One needs to be culturally literate in the current times because contemporary organizations are bound to have diversity rich work environments (Cross, 2006, p. 28). c. Key facts: The world is shrinking with the influx of technology. Modern organizations have operations scattered across the world. Today’s organizations are more open to a diverse workforce. People having diversity literacy will get more employment opportunities. d. Assumptions: Diversity brings in new ideas within organizations. It encourages teams in which the members have complementary competencies. It enhances the overall quality of work experience. Issues like language and cultural differences may make diversity an impediment. Diversity may give wave to power politics and conflicts in groups. e. Options: Organizations can benefit from diversity if the employees make efforts to gain cultural and language literacy. Accepting diversity may help organizations benefit from the global business opportunities. Discouraging diversity may isolate and harm organizations. e. Diversity is good because in the current time the markets and business opportunities are spread across the globe. Diversity is bad because it is difficult to manage diversity. f. Diversity is good. g. Organizations and people who are not open to diversity may eventually find themselves confined to specific markets and employment opportunities. Organizations and people who are not open to diversity may not be able to benefit from the emerging global opportunities. Hence, diversity is good. I can indeed use the approach I resorted to in this exercise to make decisions in my personal, academic and professional life. This approach will enable me to weigh the various pros and cons associated with any issue in a rational and detached manner and to come to the most favorable decision. Assigned Class 17, Due Class 18 My short term goal is to graduate the Medical Assistant Program. This is because not only I find this discipline in accordance with my aptitude and interests, but also because it will open up a range of career opportunities for me. A job in the healthcare industry will indeed present me with varied opportunities to learn new skills, refine the already learned skills, helping others and pursuing a happy and satisfied life. Thereby the graduation will arm me with the basic knowledge and competencies that I will need to fulfill my long term goal of eventually becoming a health care administrator for private practice. This will also allow me the opportunity to interact and work with varied experts and professionals in this field and will broaden my professional and personal world view. References Bulkeley, K. (2004). The Wondering Brain. New York: Routledge. Cross, E.Y. (2006). Managing Diversity. Westport, CT: Quorum Books. Lally, E. (2008). At Home with Computers. New York: Berg. Wills, A.J. (2005). New Directions in Human Associative Learning. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. Read More