Reflective Learning Portfolio:
The focus of this reflective learning portfolio is to demonstrate your learning and development of project management skills on this module in semester 1. Each week on the module (either in class time or as independent learning), you will undertake research, evaluate information, problem-solve, make judgements and decisions on scenarios or business case studies, communicate your views/ideas, work with others in pairs/groups, develop interpersonal skills, manage your time and organisational skills. You will be required to keep a reflective learning log with entries for each week on the module in semester 1 which you can draw on when creating your reflective learning portfolio.
You will include a discussion on your own reflections of your development of project management skills during semester 1. You will draw on worksheets and activities included in sessions each week as evidence, as well as your learning log and other independent learning you’ve undertaken. As part of these reflective discussions, you will undertake relevant skills audits, personal SWOT analyses and create a personal development plan for how you can improve in the future. This will involve making reference to relevant literature and theory in this area and citing this work in your assessment.
Marking Scheme
| 10% | Academic writing, correct structure/format and adopting Harvard Referencing Style |
| 40% | Inclusion of relevant PDP/Skills theory and literature (such as personal SWOT/ Skills audits frameworks and Personal development plans) |
| 50% | Mature and honest reflections which draw on relevant theory and are evidenced appropriately (such as drawing on class worksheets / activities and your own personal weekly learning log). |
What is Reflective Writing?
Reflective writing is evidence of reflective thinking. In an academic context, reflective thinking usually involves:
- Looking back at something (often an event, i.e. something that happened, but it could also be an idea or object).
- Analysing the event or idea (thinking in depth and from different perspectives, and trying to explain, with reference to a model or theory from your subject).
- Thinking carefully about what the event or idea means for you and your on-going progress as a learner and/or practising professional. What would you do differently in the future?
Reflective writing is thus more personal than other kinds of academic writing. We all think reflectively in everyday life, but perhaps not to the same depth as that expected in good reflective writing at university level.
In this case, your reflection should be an exploration and an explanation of your learning on this module and how this will influence future actions (such as change of behaviours/practices or considerations for future employers/employment). You should not just write a description of these, but instead be more critical and connect to relevant literature. You therefore have to be detailed and analytical in your writing. There are three parts to writing reflectively:
| 1. Description – keep this bit short!
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What is being examined?
What is the situation? What is reflection and what is being reflected upon? |
| 2. Interpretation – applying the theory
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What is most important / interesting / useful / relevant about the knowledge and skills you have learnt with regards to project management?
How can it be explained e.g. with theory / frameworks / case studies etc. |
| 3. Outcome – how do you need to develop?
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What have you learned from this? – apply relevant PDP theory, such as Kolbs learning cycle
What are your limitations in your current skills, knowledge and experience? What does this mean for developing yourself in the future? This could link in to a personal development plan (again drawing on the PDP theory). |
