Reference List for blog

University of Cumbria. (). Gibbs’ (1988) reflective cycle. Available: http://www.cumbria.ac.uk/Public/LISS/Documents/skillsatcumbria/ReflectiveCycleGibbs.pdf. Last accessed 01/05/2014.

McLeod, S. (2010). Kolb - Learning Styles. Available: http://www.simplypsychology.org/learning-kolb.html. Last accessed 01/05/2014.

Southampton Solent University. (2014). How to think reflectively, Schön's model. Available: http://mycourse.solent.ac.uk/mod/book/view.php?id=2732&chapterid=1113. Last accessed 20/04/2014.

Dictionary.com. (2014). Define Appendix. Available: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/appendix. Last accessed 06/05/2014.

Jasper, M. (2003). Bortons’ (1970) framework. Available: http://reflectiononthetin.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/bortonsmodelofreflection.pdf. Last accessed 01/05/2014.

Dictionary.com. (2014). Define Bibliography. Available: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bibliography. Last accessed 01/05/2014.

Action plan for the future

My action plan for the future is:

Improve on referencing - next year get people to check it before submitting it, and do some wider reading into how to professionally reference. Also don't leave referencing to the last thing to do.

Improve on my wider reading - use different sources and ways to find information.

Finally plan a lot more. It is something I haven't really touched on in this blog however I need to start planning my reports to make them flow better .

Myers Briggs

ENTJ

Forming around 3% of the population, ENTJ personalities are very charismatic, rational, and quick-minded. They are meant to lead and inspire other people, and there is no other type that can do this with such ease. According to ENTJs, nothing is impossible if you try hard enough. Naturally, they rarely have difficulties convincing other people that the ENTJ’s goal should also become one of their personal goals.

These leadership traits form the core of the ENTJ personality type. ENTJs can be unbelievably confident and charismatic. These qualities draw most other types like a magnet, making it quite easy for an ENTJ to achieve what they want to achieve. People belonging to this type love challenges, big and small, and firmly believe that they can accomplish everything given enough time and resources. More often than not, this confidence results in a self-fulfilling prophecy—where other types give up and move on to the next project, the ENTJ plows ahead and usually achieves spectacular results simply because of that sheer willpower.

ENTJ strengths

• High self-confidence. ENTJ personalities trust in their abilities and do not hesitate to express their opinions. They are confident being the center of attention.
• Strategic thinkers. ENTJs have no difficulties making long-term plans and approaching problems from several different angles.
• Energetic. People with this personality enjoy leading people and putting plans into action. This energizes and motivates them.
• Charismatic and inspiring. ENTJs find it easy to convince and inspire other people, mostly because of their high self-esteem and strong opinions.
• Very efficient. ENTJ personalities loathe inefficiency, irrationality, and laziness; they seek to root out such behavior wherever they go.
• Strong-willed. ENTJs tend to be very determined individuals who rarely give up and abandon their vision, regardless of the opposition.

ENTJ weaknesses

• Stubborn and dominant. ENTJs can be quite inflexible and seek to win all debates and arguments, doing their best to promote their visions and ideas.
• Arrogant. People with this personality type are usually able to accumulate a lot of knowledge and make well-informed decisions. However, they may also look down on people who are less competent or unwilling to argue their points.
• May be cold and ruthless. ENTJs are obsessed with efficiency and rationality when it comes to work and professional goals. They will often ignore personal circumstances and dismiss sensitivities and emotions as irrelevant.
• Poor handling of emotions. ENTJs are very rational. Not surprisingly, they are likely to have difficulties understanding and expressing their feelings. They may also inadvertently hurt their partners and friends in emotionally charged situations.
• Impatient. ENTJ personalities are quick thinkers and may lose patience very quickly when dealing with people who need more time to make a decision.
• Intolerant. People with this personality type see little value in ideas based on emotional arguments or that address issues they do not consider important—and an ENTJ will not hesitate to make that clear to those around them.

http://www.16personalities.com/entj-personality

The 5 Minute Personality Test

Please see sheet in folder for answers.

I came out to be the lion which means:

Lions are leaders. They are usually the bosses at work…or at least they think they are! They are decisive, bottom line
folks who are observers, not watchers or listeners. They love to solve problems. They are usually individualists who
love to seek new adventures and opportunities.

Lions are very confident and self-reliant. In a group setting, if no one else instantly takes charge, the Lion will.
Unfortunately, if they don’t learn how to tone down their aggressiveness, their natural dominating traits can cause
problems with others. Most entrepreneurs are strong lions, or at least have a lot of lion in them.

Natural Strengths 
 • Decisive
 • Goal-oriented
 • Achievement driven
 • Gets results
 • Independent
 • Risk-taker
 • Takes charge
 • Takes initiative
 • Self-starter
 • Persistent
 • Efficient
 • Competitive
 • Enjoys challenges, variety and change
 • Driven to complete projects quickly and effectively.

 Natural Weaknesses
• Quickly bored by routine or mechanics
• Fears inactivity, relaxation
• May “run over” others who are slower to act or speak
• Can be insensitive to the feelings of others
• May view projects more important than people
• Demanding
 • Impulsive
 • Poor listener
• Blunt

Basic Disposition: Fast-paced, task oriented

Motivated by: Results; challenge, action, power, and credit for achievement

Time Management: Lions focus on NOW instead of distant future. They get a lot more done in a lot
 less time than their peers. Hate wasting time; and like to get right to the point.

Communication Style: Great at initiating communication; not good at listening (one way communicator)

Decision Making: Impulsive; makes quick decisions with goal or end result in mind. Results-focused.
 Needs very few facts to make a decision.

In Pressure or Tense Situations: The lion takes command and becomes autocratic.

Greatest Needs: The lion needs to see results, experience variety, and face new challenges. He
 needs to solve problems and wants direct answers.

What the Lion Desires: Freedom, authority, variety, difficult assignments, opportunity for advancement.

http://www.heartbridgeusa.com/devo/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/2008_personality_test1.pdf

Management skills audit

Please see sheet in folder, only first two pages.

I did this near the beginning of the year, however not that much has changed as I haven't worked that much this year. The main one that has changed is 'Business writing eg letters, reports, plans, project plans.' This has developed through the uni course because I can now write reports and have done some plans, such as HACCP plans.

Employment skills audit

See yellow sheet in folder.

Here is where I self evaluated how well I work and how 'employable' I would be to a company. There aren't many things in which I feel I need to improve on, obviously ever company is different, however I have worked for this one company for three years and I feel I know how to do most things within it. I feel I am good at using a computer and spread sheets, if I don't know anything then I am happy to try and learn how to do it, so I know for next time.

Skills Audit

Please see Skills Audit sheet in folder.

This skills audit sheet is going through all the different skills needed for university and how I feel I am at doing them, also whether I need to develop or not and the importance to develop.

As you can see I feel competent in most areas. The main two which I need to improve on according to this sheet is 'information seeking skills' and 'revision and exam technique'. I already know this about myself but its a reassurance when it comes out on paper.

Attendance

I have always had high attendance going through school and I do believe being there helps me because I won't look back on powerpoints I have to take notes to make me understand.This year is exactly the same with having high attendance, and I do belive this has helped me study. It's easy where it is only two days a week however this has also helped motivate me to do more home study and get the work done.

Research methods

There are many different researching methods available. Before I came to university, I only really used the internet to find things out, however because I wanted the higher grades I have now completely changed my research methods and use books, ebook, magazines and I didn't realise however even a conversation can be used as a research method. I try my best to do different things, however on some topics this is difficult. I have greatly developed in this aspect and I will continue to grow because I find it does help a lot when coming to write the report.

Borton's Framework Guiding Reflective Activities

Borton's Framework Guiding Reflective Activities

This reflective model is very simple and often used as the first step on the ladder of the reflective
practitioner. This model encompasses three simple questions to be asked of the experience or
activity to be reflected on, what? So what? Now what? Jasper (2003) Endorses the use of this
model by novice practitioners and students as this model allows novices to reflect in the “real
world of practice”, therefore allowing novices to be analytical of their
developing practice.


What?
Examples
This is the description
What was the problem?
What was my role?
What happened?
What did I do?


So What?
Examples
This is the analysis
What was so important about this experience?
What did I learn?


Now What?

This is the Synthesis
Now what do I need to do?
Now what might be the consequences of my actions?
Now what do i do to resolve the situation/make it better/improve my patients care?

(Jasper, M. (2003). Bortons’ (1970) framework.)

Reference List

The bibliography and reference list are similar things. As described before that is a bibliography, whereas a reference list is a list with all the references used throughout the report (full references, not just the parts used in the reports) and they are placed in order used. Because like I have said before I struggle with referencing, I struggle with the reference list. I understand what it is and how to do it however because my referencing is wrong so is my reference list. What I need to do in future is to get someone to check my referencing and reference list to make sure they are all correct.

Bibliography

Bibliography I thought was just a list of things you had looked up relating to the chosen topic. That primarily is what it is about. The definition of a bibliography is "a complete or selective list of works complied upon some common principle, as authorship, subject, place of publication, or printer." (Dictionary.com. (2014). Define Bibliography. paragraph 1)

However there is a specific way to set it out, it has got to be in alphabetical order to do with the writers last name. I learnt this on my second report and ever since then I have been doing them correct, so when it comes to reports these don't worry me. The main thing I forget is to do it while I'm going along so I miss out a lot of research I do, and only really use the things I can remember. If I did it as I went along I would have more of a variety to get me the higher grades. This is what I will do for my next report. 

Appendices

The definition of an appendix is:

“supplementary material at the end of a book, article, document, or other text, usually of an explanatory, statistical, or bibliographic nature.” (Dictionary.com. (2014). Define Appendix. Pargraph1)

Like mentioned before towards the end of the year I got the hang of appendices. I have found them very helpful as throughout the time I have struggles with word count as I have always managed to write over the limit. Being able to put them into an appendices makes it a lot easier because you know it is still in your report rather than having to delete vital information.

Linking this with Borton's Framework Guiding Reflective Activities.

What?

This is all the information above about my use of appendices.

So what?

I have learnt to use these effectively, and know the importance of them.

Now what?

I just need to keep doing these, adding in more information and making them correct. If I can do these, then hopefully it will help me later on in the course going into my second and maybe third year.


(See post above for information on Borton's Framework Guiding Reflective Activities)