Activity 1

1. Below are a list of skills and abilities. Complete an audit of where you are now. Record this in your learning journal/portfolio.

Rate yourself (1=Not very well developed; 3=very well developed)

Skills and Abilities	1	2	3
Personal skills		✓
Interpersonal skills	✓
Communication skills		✓
Technical skills			✓
Intellectual skills		✓

Explanatory notes:

Personal Skills (Flexibility, Self confidence, Self discipline, Work under pressure, Set personal goals, Take risks, Share opinions confidently)D

Interpersonal Skills (Team work, Take responsibility, Build social networks, Manage Time, Act as a leader, Negotiation)

Communication Skills (Make presentations, Listen to others, Debate formally and informally, Contribute to discussions, Converse confidently, Take notes, Write for academic purposes)

Technical Skills (Computing Skills, Be creative, Use technology)

Intellectual Skills (Problem solve, Generate new ideas, Work on own initiative, Organise and plan, Think critically, Evaluate information)

Although it is important to identify where we are now, it is not enough to stop there. We need to reflect upon how we can develop the skills where we are less confident and how we can transfer the skills in which we are confident and competent.

Activity 2

Complete the audit below, using the information from the table above.

Recognition	Reflection	Action
Skills already developed	How will I use these	How do I know (evidence)**
Self discipline	To keep educating myself even in areas that may not be required for my degree directly	I set study plans which I strictly follow, just as if it was a core requirement for my studies
Computing Skills	Currently for more efficient research and studying, in the future for interactive lessons	I received the equivalent of ‘A’ in IT graduation exam and further I have obtained a Web Graphics Certificate
Team work	For Collaborative working, for group practice and presentations, for further education outwith the lectures and university	I have been part of various teams in my life (in sports, school, music and work) and thus I believe I have developed team work skills which I will continue improving
Set personal goals	To improve myself to the fullest extent possible on various levels	I use self discipline to complete goals which I consider relevant and important
Organise and plan	To keep track of how efficiently I can be using my time and to balance studies and personal life and work	I believe I mostly do not waste the time I have on hands and try to find experience as relevant to my profession as possible (work)
Listen to others	To gain as much knowledge from other people’s opinions and experience	I underwent my past work experience under supervision of a psychologist and therefore this area was worked on a lot

Although I state the above skills as developed, I am fully aware at my stage of ‘professionalism’, there is more than enough room for improvement. Therefore, I will make sure to keep working on each and every skill that is available to me with as much attention as required.

** This section should be completed as you identify when/where/how you have used/developed these skills.

Recognition	Reflection	Action
Skills to be developed	How will I develop these	How do I know (evidence)**
Self confidence	I believe, in my case, this also comes with improving how confident I feel about my (English) language skills and general cultural knowledge. I will further keep engaging in various communication opportunities	I have already noticed a difference as I feel more comfortable expressing myself in what is not my first language by now
Flexibility	By overcoming possible anxieties when situations turn out differently than expected	Although I adapt to different people extremely easily, I tend to get stressed out when I cannot plan in advance, thus I will continue working on this
Write for academic purposes	By practising online and visiting the university centre	I do not consider myself to have crucial issues, however, I am aware there is certain level of improvement required
Think critically	By engaging with academic reading and reflective materials	I have noticed the way writers of specially social work books tend to display critical views and I believe even by just observing I learn the skill
Share opinions confidently	Similar as point 1	–
Debate formally	By taking part in discussions both within and outside university	For instance Working Together workshops