QUESTION
You may make amendments to this proposal in the light of ongoing learning, however, you are advised not to make too many changes along the way as this will compromise the time you have to develop your thoughts.
- Focus for Development
1.
2.
3.
4.
- Approach to construction of report:
ANSWER
Focus for Development
In this paper I have chosen following four areas that can be taken as focus for development in my Master’s journey so far. As opined by Farrell and Ives (2015), knowledge and experience acts as a tool of inspiration for becoming a better person. I have gained lot of knowledge and experiences in this time period which inspired me to be an eligible student of Masters Level. Moreover this ongoing learning process has influenced me to become a successful teacher in near future. Therefore, chosen area for development in my reflection paper are as follows:
- Critical Writing
- Critical Reading
- Critical Analysing
- Critical Communication
Approach to construction of report:
It was not easy for me to choose this path of study as I was fighting my inner self to whether chose this specific field of study. Before coming to pursue MA in Education I was thinking whether I am doing right or wrong. Huge conflict was going on between me and my inner self. I was busy finding what I want to become in life. As expressed in the views of Agarwal and Rao (2017), learning among post graduate students instils a sense of responsibility and fear at the same time. However, I found myself at a confusing period searching my true passion. Some of the people at my age might think that it is very childish and act of fool for not knowing the aim of my life at this mature stage of life. However, my conflict with myself came to an end when I found my passion in teaching. I was quite good in writing in my childhood.
Moreover reading books was my favourite hobby. Therefore, when I got my passion in teaching I thought it would be best for me to go for further study and pursue MA in education. I knew pursuing Masters in Education is reflective of teaching, but learning the subject can assist me in incorporating teachings skills at its best. At that time I was thinking that it would provide scope for me to teach others and not only that I can also share my knowledge with other people. As commented by Majid (2016), sharing knowledge gives a window to enlighten life. Therefore, this positive energy of mine led me towards the journey of pursuing MA in Education. In this paper I would like to present all of my experience through the journey of my Masters degree so far. Thus, at the very first I would emphasis on areas of development such as; reading, writing, analysing and implementation skill. As mentioned by Fuad, Zubaidah, Mahanal and Suarsini (2017), the aforementioned areas are critical part of learning. Hence, all of these areas need focus for further development in Masters Level.
Critical Writing
At the time of starting out the journey of MA in Education I had to come across various projects and report writing throughout the semester. I thought that my writing skill would be my strong point in the field of my future possibilities in teaching. As per the views of Al-Rawahi and Al-Balushi (2015), writing with expertise needs use of appropriate knowledge in grammar. I feel that I have come to certain point where I have this capability. However, through this ongoing learning process I am still acquiring new techniques and knowledge to further enhance my possibility in writing skill.
While preparing our speech for presentation in class, our group has learnt the process of formulating three major points. I along with my classmates might have learnt that for our speech writing. However, I personally feel that it has increased my organisational skill to write numerous kinds of critical reviews. As per the view of Van Manen (2016) myriad forms of reviews such as business reviews as well as article critiques or any application letter come in this category. As opined by Lam (2018), more specifically clear cut points regarding the specific topic would make it certain that writing piece or the letter is not only combination of general information but also focuses on specific analytical approach I believe that this particular technique has enhanced my writing skill. In my childhood I was passionate about writing however due to lack of analytical knowledge to how to write crisp and specific writing piece so that it would become more eye-catching and attractive to the opposite person who is reading my writing (Ullmann, 2019).
Moreover if I continue analyse my writing skill then as per the view of Fitzpatrick, Kroll and Levonian (2016, p.3), it can be stated that learning about main difference in between business writing and other writing approaches has developed my learning ability to be more concise and moreover I have learnt to avoid unwanted general information that are not related to the topic at all. At the time of writing my first direct review after joining the course of MA in Education, I have noted information regarding the things that is already known to the receiver (Wald, Anthony, White, Reis and Esquibel, 2019). For example, if I were a nascent commissioner writing specific review for a newspaper focussing student in order to encourage them for applying in their desired college, it would mainly focus on advantages which the student would get by joining their desired course well as after getting admission to the college. Therefore, unnecessary bragging about the college would not be appreciable in this case (Based on the view of So, Bennett-Levy, Perry, Wood and Wong 2018).
Moreover, I have also learnt regarding specific approaches and patterns that are different for different writing methods (Influenced by the view of Anderson, Anson, Gonyea and Paine 2015). Furthermore, I believe that at the present time I write more precisely and in organised manner from the early stage of joining the course of Masters Degree. With reference to the view of Spry (2016), I can say that I have learnt to control unnecessary writing and directly get to the point. Along with that I have also learnt that specific attitudes to be used in writing depending on the benefits of the recipients. I eagerly hope that these areas of development in writing skill would help me in my future desirable job of teaching and also in future career in educational world (As per the idea given by Majid, 2016).
Critical Reading
I think that reading could be an integral part of the life of everybody. However, it could be necessary for students also. I therefore could be able to get the opportunities to read different kind of books from my childhood. I was able to know different kind of factors as well as numerous things throughout my reading process (As opined by Koopman and Hakemulder, 2015). I love to read from my earlier stage of life. However, the pieces I read today are quite different from the ones of childhood. I have learnt to analyse different perspectives and thinking through different writing forms. Apart from this, readings of wide variety of authors have also helped me in developing my critical reading skills. I have been able to continue this reading process throughout my MA in education also.
This process gives me strength as well as helped me to build my inner power. I have been able to criticise several matter in a positive as well as negative way through my reading power (Inspired by the idea of Charon, Hermann and Devlin 2016). I have come through different factors like, scarcity of proper resources during my education. I have faced different kind situation where, I was not able to collect supporting resources for my MA course. On the other side, I have been able to complete my huge assignment throughout my graduation as well as masters because I just love reading. The concept of reading could help each and every person to become most valuable person in this world (As stated by Sage and Sele, 2015).
I have much good experience throughout my student life, which could attract me towards reading. I wasn’t that good in the subject of English from my childhood, but my teachers were continuously encouraging me to read more about this subject (As per the comment of Vicary , Young and Hicks .2017, p.550). In order to learn about different circumstances across the world, I have developed an urge for reading. I could say that this process has been helped me to develop my self-esteem as well as I became more confident. I personally think that, through the process of reading any person could teach their next generation about different things in several ways (Farrell, 2015).
The teaching process could be improved by using the concept of reading. I had always wanted to become a teacher as well as a person with the ability to judge any kind of situation or condition (According to the statement given by Beech, McGill and Brockbank 2017, p.30). Reading fictions as well as critical pieces reflecting societal disparities are some of them. Along with this, inclusion of various philosophical views and ideologies also form the baseline of my critical reading list. My judgemental power has also been developed with my reading power (Koopman, 2018).
I have been told by my teachers every time that only concept of reading could change the attitudes as well as different kind of beliefs of the societies. I have come through also many people who have been able to change their vision towards their lifestyle only after conducting some reading season (Based on the opinion of Hochman, 2016). I have always been wanted to become a teacher. Pursuing the course could give me a lot of opportunities to read. This is also a prime reason I have take the course of MA in education. I could be able to use my library at my university to spend more time on reading (As opined by Liang, 2016). In order to create a unique life, each and every student has to use different kind of resources like books, journals as well as any types of online news paper also.
It could help them to learn different aspect of their life. I was also able to learn by reading different kind of resources such as critical pieces of news papers, writings reflecting various society cultures and science fiction as well. I also want to advice my future students to read more resources. There could be many people who only want to write or see. On the other side, I think the process of reading could be essential in order to write any article also (Influenced by the view of Koopman and Hakemulder 2015, p.79). I have clearly seen that most of the people prefer only visual aspect over the process of reading, but I think that reading could be an integral part of learning sector also, as without reading we can’t get enough knowledge through our vision. The concept of reading has been played as an eye-opener for me. I was able to see different aspects of modern world through only reading (As per the view of Beech et al. 2017). If any person could read numerous critical views and understand them, then it could be possible for them to win over this world.
I have also faced some problem with my skill of writing also, but I was able to handle my writing skills, only through reading. I have read several writers during my entire student life. I have also read biographies of some eminent personalities like Helen Keller and Nelson Mandela, to say a few and also participate in numerous debate show as well as quiz show. Debate shows often encourage you to question your own perception of any issues. Hence, improves your level of understanding. I could easily declare in this matter that only concept of reading help me to overcome this barrier. (Liang, 2016).
Therefore, I can say that reading has improved my judgemental thinking process because reading different books or journals or news article broadens the human perspective (Influenced by the vision of Charon et al. 2016). Along with that it also enlarges the vision statement of a human being. Thus, in my career reading different books it may be story books or novels or in terms of educational books as well as motivational books, news articles and journals has motivated me to learn more, to become more (Sage and Sele, 2015). Moreover I would like to state that it enhance my ethical value and enlightens my inner morality. Throughout my journey in the MA course I have read different types of books as well as news articles and journals that increased my knowledge regarding specific subject matter. I have always focussed on reading ideological perspectives of eminent personalities and books written on them. This helps in gaining an in-depth knowledge of popular controversies that engage people in debates. History and politics engage my attention the most. Along with that, reading those educational books also enhanced my credibility to get motivated in life as well as to motivate others in my future career profession (Based on the view of Farrell, 2015, p.45).
(Refer to appendix)
Thus, I can state that till now up to the MA course in Education I have improved my learning capacity as well as judgemental power and perception towards the betterment of my inner quality and overall human mind (As opined by Hochman, 2016). It is my belief and I am very much hopeful that in my near future as well as teaching profession I would be able to get sustainability and credibility.
Critical Analysing
Today we live in the era of post-information. This is better known in the term of creative society (As per the view of Travers, Morisano and Locke, 2015). As opined by Taylor (2017) currently, everybody talks about continuous innovation. Even I also think that it is necessary to survive in this competitive world innovation or uniqueness is must need requirement. Along with that it is also very necessary to have vision for future (Based on the view of Helyer, 2015, p.15). Moreover, I also think that mind-blowing ideas and unique aesthetic mind can be developed by improving the analysing skill of human being. Therefore, joining MA Education course and interacting with different people and groups has enhanced my mind to develop brainstorming idea. Furthermore, it aspire me to become a unique person both in my professional career and personal life (As opined by Charma, 2015). Moreover, my journey of MA has influenced me to analyse who I am and what I want to become.
Beside this philosophical analysis perspective I have also developed my educational quality through critical analysing skill. As we all know that analysing skill covers logical thinking ability for solving complicated and tougher problems (Influenced by the opinion of Atmatzidou and Demetriadis, 2016, p.661). There is a common belief that some individuals are creative and have effective right brain hemisphere whereas some are logical and analytical types with effective capability of left brain hemisphere (Prieur et al. 2019). However, I think that this is not true in today’s time period. I think that as time is changing people are also becoming advanced and more capable in all perspective (Based on the idea given by Taylor, 2017, p.17). So it is not a matter of effectiveness, analysing skill increases with the efficiency and efforts of people. For example; Leonardo De Vinci was a person whose areas of working include science, invention, art, drawing as well as philosophy. Thus, if at that time period he can show his efforts by increasing his analysing skill in these areas then we can also enhance our areas of interest by increasing analysing skill (Influenced by the view of Hack, 2015). Hence, I also started working towards improving this dimension of my learning. I started reading more critical analysis of recent happenings, mainly editorials to enhance this perspective.
I think that it completely depends on the will power of a person whether to adopt analysing skill or not. By reading myriad of article regarding context of analysis, I have formed this view. It is not a factor that can be built by one day. In order to increase analysing skill it is required to have continuous practices in every section of life (Jackson, 2015). Moreover, I believe that analysing skill of a person changes based on different capabilities and talents of individuals.
During my journey in MA course and up until now analysing skill has helped me to under myself as well as my surroundings. At the time of getting admission in the MA in Education course I was very confused because I was continuously thinking that whether I am doing right or wrong. Therefore, my vision as well as thinking perspective have also changed and became more specific and analytical as I started to think logically (As per the view of Panadero, Jonsson and Botella, 2017). Thus, I have been able to manage my finance and make smarter decisions. Since money management also deals with deep analytical skills, I improved in the same a lot.
Now, if I say how I have improved my analysing skill from the perspective of my student life. Then at the very first what I would like to mention is that I have increased my analysing skill thorough ethnographic research. If I say more specifically ethnographic research is specific qualitative research method through which researcher perceives or communicates with participants of the research study in the real world (Based on the idea given by Cabrera, Cabrera and Powers 2015). Analysing skill in case of ethnographic research has increased effectively as it is the part of my social science studies in MA Education course. The study of above mentioned works improved my critical thinking approaches.
Therefore, if I make staircase of practical approaches where analysing skill can be implemented then I have found that recognising specific patterns and observing the reasons behind repeating tendencies of some components. Along with that, analysing skill has been developed by evaluating present situation as well as forecasting current trends (Influenced by the opinion of Permana, Hindun, Rofi’ah and Azizah 2019). Moreover analysing skill has been developed by formulating strategic time management and planning schedules for my MA course.
Apart from that, I believe that I still have some lacking in adopting and implementing analysing skill in my career. Therefore, it can be developed furthermore by acquiring new knowledge through proper learning in my ongoing learning process of MA course and generating knowledge on my own capability through real life examples of analysing skill and approaches (As per the opinion of Asyari, Muhdhar, Susilo and Ibrohim 2016). Thus, I hope that in future if I go with the teachings profession then I can easily implement analysing skill through effective reading, writing as well as communicating and building unique framework inoculating personal development lessons which would inspire me as well as my future students to become a successful person in both professional and personal life (Based on the view of Jackson, 2015, p.350).
Critical Communication
Communication has been considered as an integral part of my entire education. I have studied that any concept of learning process couldn’t be possible without any effective communication. I have learned that most of study could be completed through an efficient communication (Siddiq, Scherer and Tondeur 2016, p.1). I have seen that most of the project has been failed due to lack of power of communication. I have chosen the course of MA education in order to develop my inner confident as I want to be a good teacher (As per the statement of Delamain and Spring, 2017).
I therefore have been realised that an effective communication is needed to develop the confident as well as to establish a cordial relationship among different people (Humphreys Crino and Wilson 2018, p.290). I have tried to learn about different aspect of my life through several situation as well as different factors. However, for this situation, an effective communication could help to develop cordial relationship among each and every person within the society (Brown, Back, Ford, Kross, Downey, Shannon, Curtis and Engelberg, 2018, p.45). I have also seen during my entire education that no acts as well as conversation could be complete without communication. I have therefore seen that an effective communication could create an impact in a positive manner. On the other side, effective communication could make any individual more self-confident as well as more educated (Moore and Morton, 2017, p.591). I have noticed that, there could be two type of communication process.
These two types of communication therefore help me to learn different matter throughout my course of MA education. I have also given suggestion to my fellow classmates to communicate in an effective manner with each and everybody they could meet (Hargie, 2016). This process could help them to learn new area of their life. I have also seen throughout my education, the body language as well as attitudes could be considered as effective communication medium (Cabrera et al. 2015). I have taken some coursework, such as, teaching as a part of my study of MA education. I have taught different kind of children during my period of coursework.
This process helps me to learn a lot of thing as I have tried to always communicate with them. It could be easily seen that some of people were not able to talk; therefore they only tried to communicate with their sign language as well as body language (Asyari et al. 2016). An expert teacher should know how to implement learning in all kinds of students with disability; hence, learning sign as well as body language is pivotal. This process could help them to develop as a successful person. On the other side, I have seen, in modern days, most of the people only communicate through internet and social media, i.e. they have tried to establish a virtual relationship with others (Humphrey et al. 2018). This process couldn’t be always successful as face-to-face communication could give more power.
However, in order to complete my different coursework during my course of MA education, I have been tried to communicate with all of my colleagues who are regulating students in this coursework (As per the view of Hargie, 2016). I would also like to continue this process to complete my course and would be able to develop new relationship through communication. This process could help me to understand my self-esteem more clearly (Based on the view of Siddiq et al. 2016). I have learned this from my teacher in a conversation.
There couldn’t be any personal touch as well as personal interaction. However, I have felt that in order to be a successful person, an individual need to give some effort towards their process of communication. Children at their early stage also could adopt the process of communication as this would help them to become more efficient (As opined by Delamain and Spring, 2017). However, I have learnt many things during my study of MA education through communication process. I tried to continue this process throughout my entire life also.
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