Learning Portfolio: Critical Reflection

Having enrolled into an engineering course, it is natural that the main essence of the modules will be math, physics and anything that deals with numbers and equations. So having found out that we will be having Effective Communication as a module was exciting to me. From the get go, my aim was to realize what my strengths and weaknesses in communication are in this module. I have always felt that I am not very eloquent in the English language and my writing has been rather mediocre, be it creative or academic. Through Effective Communication, I have learnt how to improve my writing skills through the various assignments. The main highlight for me was the Technical Report Assignment. It was the first time that I had a task that required me to write academically. Apart from the writing, I had to present my ideas for the report in the form of a proposal. There, I avouched my confidence in speaking and presenting my ideas. Furthermore, I discovered that I am able to present my ideas in an efficient and concise manner without missing any details out.

As I have mentioned, I felt that the Technical Report Assignment was the highlight of this module. This assignment was like a “Final Boss” in a video game that you had to defeat, where you acquire many different skills and improve your dexterity leading up to the fight. In this module, we were taught various techniques to improve our writing and finally use those acquired skills to complete the report. In the course of completing this assignment, I came across some difficulties. As it was being done in a group of three people, I realized that we had different writing styles which made the report seem lacklustre. I have always felt that the majority of engineering students believe that they are better than everyone else and this reflected in the run of this assignment. However, with proper teamwork and communication, we came to a consensus that one of us would be finalizing the entire report once we have contributed to our individual parts. In addition, we knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses which allowed us to split the work accordingly. Teamwork and communication were definitely essential components in completing the assignment.

This module emphasizes on the importance of reflection as well as self and peer reviews. It has taught me to be critical in not only my work, but my peers as well. Throughout the trimester, this has been primary element that allowed me to work and refine my communication skills Along with the techniques acquired for an exceptional presentation, it will definitely be beneficial to my work, especially as I become an engineer in the future.