Reflection On Professional Development

Upon completing the Focus 2 career assessment program, I am quite impressed at the quality of information it presents. It allowed me to not only look at careers that would fit my personality, but also those that take into consideration the fields I am already interested in. Also, as with any form of self-assessment, there were strengths and weaknesses that I did not expect based on how I feel I live my life currently.

The total hours spent on my project would be close to around 70-75 hours. To manage my time effectively, I worked everyday in class up until the bell getting my assignments done. The dates assignments were given, I would get those assignments done that day. There is no time to waste with this project.

Prior to starting this course the MA Social Work course and the PPSWP module I felt very confident in the aspects of communicating effectively and working with a diverse range of people, and after the reading the professional capabilities framework I believe that I hold the same personal values which is expected of a social worker. The PCF6 talks about the importance of critical reflection and reflective practice explaining that it helps improve accountability, professional development and helps to you understand your own tacit knowledge and gain new knowledge, which improves outcomes and experiences for social workers. (Capabilities within the PCF, 2016)

I am so pleased with you. You've worked truly difficult to get where you are, and I need you to unwind now. You have such a variety of good things coming; you don't need to act as hard as you think you do. Make the most of your life and watch things develop, all in immaculate time. It is an ideal opportunity to square your shoulders back; hold your head high and continue traveling through your life without any difficulty. Furthermore, keep in mind to grin. From my roost a long time from now, I can let you know that you won't recollect each one of those little undertakings, due dates and messages you stress over. You have the little stuff secured. You've finished each objective you've ever set about your education to say the least. I trust you are as pleased with yourself as I am. In the midst of all the outer meanings of success, kindly keep in mind to search internally. A couple of updates are underneath that you ought to need to take after.

Upon completing the Focus 2 career assessment program, I am quite impressed at the quality of information it presents. It allowed me to not only look at careers that would fit my personality, but also those that take into consideration the fields I am already interested in. Also, as with any form of self-assessment, there were strengths and weaknesses that I did not expect based on how I feel I live my life currently.

The Latin root of the word ‘Reflection’ refers to the ‘moving back’ or getting or bending back” to something. This bending back is of significant importance in any profession, any task and any practice as suggested by Horwood (1989). Put in very simple words, every time we do something and later stop to think or ponder over what we did, how we did and why we did, consequently also thinking on what were the effects of such doing and if or how it could have been done better, then we are actually engaging ourselves in the process of reflection. Making this a part of our profession so as to bring constant improvement in the quality of our own performance is what we can say is bringing reflection to our practice; hence the term ‘Reflective Practice’ is used.

An important insight from the story circle is the reflection on the phrase “waking up”. This phrase is closely related to the saying of Franklin D. Roosevelt, which says “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” While development programs can provide guiding principles for youthful development, nothing can be as effective as when the concerned youths put on the wake-up cap that drives self-determination, self-identification, assertiveness, competencies, confidence and empowerment irrespective of circumstances. This can translate into a holistic, preventative and positive personal development.

All registered health professionals in Australia are, under the National Law, required to undertake Continuing Professional Development (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, 2015). Continuing Professional Development or CPD is the way through which professionals keep, enhance, and expand their knowledge and skills required of them throughout their professional careers (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2015). These learning activities would help make sure that a professional’s competence is supported and updated and would at the same time help progress his or her career (Continuing Professional Development, 2012; Katsikitis, et al., 2013). CPD also involves development of personal qualities of professionals that are as important in their line of jobs (Continuing Professional Development, 2012).

Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution in which a neutral third party helps disputants resolve a conflict (Bishop, p. 64). The employee/supervisor mediation was my first experience role-playing as a mediator in a dispute. I enjoyed the experience and recognized how significant the role of a mediator was. There are many strategies/avenues a mediator can take when conducting a mediation and it is imperative that the mediator is able to adapt their mediation strategy in order to satisfy the party’s needs. This in-class role-play gave me the opportunity to apply all the knowledge that I learned during the course, to a real workplace scenario. I especially utilized Ewert’s five-stages of mediation, by preparing, introducing, framing the issues to the parties, determining the parties’ interests, and crafting solutions. Overall, I was extremely proud of the mediation and how passionate my disputants were.

1: a. Describe your learning from professional development activities you participated in this semester (school, district, university level).

The purpose of this paper is to provide the student an opportunity to explain the role of the advanced practice nurse and develop an APN professional development plan. Advanced practice nurse is responsible for interviewing, examining, interpreting, assessing, teaching and guiding the patient.

In this reflective essay I will reflect upon the course based on the assignments and projects I have accomplished this semester. Recent research (Kornblith, 2012:3) identifies that reflection is an active process and making sense of the experience through the understanding of one’s actions. As suggested by (Roberts, 2011:63) she states that the understanding of reflection have been used to develop an action stage, which can further help to improve my skills and knowledge towards my course. This is vital as it ensures that i get the most out of my learning experience and i could use them to their maximum benefit.

In the program, we have initiated to what I consider the “second phase” of 2nd year field placement. The process came by really quick, in which to a moment I felt unprepared. It is amazing to think how quick time is flying. It is simultaneously exciting but nerve-racking. This semester has been a really tough one. However, I have learned a lot about myself. It is important for me to recollect what I have learned and be confident going into the interviews. My goal is to recollect my strengths, my weaknesses and areas of improvements as it will allow me to prepare myself for the placement interviews and give me the confidence to stand out and demonstrate my professional experience.

A key part of continuing professional development (CPD) as recommended by The British Psychological Society (BPS) is adopting a reflective based practices approach to professional development and personal development by engaging in a reflective learning using a technique such as journals. One articulated definition of reflective learning: is it is a subjective approach to scrutinize an event that's responsible for changing somebody perspective (Boyed &, Fales, 1983).

As a student I found that as I observed or taught my philosophy changed. I looked into other theories to see if I could build upon my existing knowledge and beliefs. Something that would assist me in the classroom and increase my ability to teach.