SKILS AND LEARNING STATEMENT

Skills and Learning Statement

Skills and Learning Statement

1. What I learned from the meetings with my Project Mentor, including the presentation that I gave to my Project Mentor.

Through the preparation of the Research and Analysis Project, the main skills acquired were intellectual skills. At the beginning, I found it very difficult to make a choice of a topic. I tried to focus my mind towards an area of study by gathering some pieces of information until I was convinced that, that was the best topic. Once the decision about the topic was made, I realized that I did not know where and how to start and end the survey. This was where I made a choice of a mentor. (Mager 1975)

From the very first meeting with my mentor, I maintained a diary and kept on updating our discussions regularly. The mentor defined principles and then I understood the requirements. I learned how to collect and analyze data. I was frustrated on numerous occasions as this was the first time I had conducted academic research. I have realized that brainstorming is important for independent learning and helped me to generate new ideas. This shows that I had taken the time to evaluate how effectively the brainstorming strategy had helped me to my objective for the RAP. Thereby, I learned how to self reflect.

My mentor kept stressing the importance of developing the skills of critical analysis. Initially I found it very difficult to evaluate and analyze the information I was obtaining and also found it hard to make judgments and arriving at conclusions about the information collected. As a result of feedback from my mentor, the project had to be redrafted many times and this proved quite frustrating. My mentor was critical on many occasions as I had provided inadequate references and citations and quoted excessively. This is when I learned to paraphrase and acknowledge sources appropriately. (Lohr 2003)

I initially struggled with time management which was extremely important for the RAP and to establish a time frame in which I would deliver the RAP. I structured the dissertation based on the available time. However, I found it extremely difficult to adhere to the specified schedule as I was also studying for ACCA exams. I was often tired after classes and deferred working on my RAP. However, my mentor was very particular about me adhering to my meetings schedules. (Dick 2005)

I encountered stress as I had to complete a lot of work in a short period of time and I felt that I was not in control of the time available. However, later on I began to realize that the time stressor actually motivated me and I got more work done. I also recognized the fact that effective time management reduced stress.

In preparing my PowerPoint presentation, besides communication skills, I realized that communication is a two way process and I need to listen as well as speak. I have always more focused on what I am saying and I ...