Reflection Log

My Reflection Log
This Reflection Log is a personal resource that you will build up during your
engagement with the reflection toolkit. You will use it to record your progress through
the unit as you undertake activities and tasks. You can add to the Log at any time
with further notes and observations. Once you have completed the toolkit, we hope
that this Log will provide a reference source and basis for your planned next steps in
life, study or career.
This Log is designed to be downloaded and saved to your computer or memory stick.
It can be opened and added to as required – but don't forget to save it every time
you use it.
Alternatively, if you prefer, you could print out the Log and use it to write down your
thoughts by hand.
Some of the activities in the reflection toolkit may be completed by using free online
tools, for example at bubbl.us. You also have the option of completing these activities
using any other IT tools that you have, or a pen and paper if you prefer. The
important thing is the learning you gain from completing the tasks, rather than the
tools you use.
My name Write your comments here.
My organisation (if applicable) Write your comments here.
Date Write your comments here.
Remember to save your document – on your laptop, computer or memory stick
© The Open University 2012 1

Contents
To go straight to a specific task, hold down the ‘Ctrl’ key, point to the task title and
left-click.
To return to the front page, hold down ‘Ctrl’ and press the ‘Home’ key.
Session 1: Defining myself and how I feel about my present situation
Activity 1.1 My banner

Activity 1.2 Defining myself
Session 2: Learning by looking at my life over time
Activity 2.1 Taking stock of my experiences over time

Activity 2.2 My timeline
Activity 2.3 What I’ve learned from my past experience
Activity 2.4 Influences and choices: spider diagram
Session 3: Identifying my skills, qualities and abilities
Activity 3.1 A change of career

Activity 3.2 Thinking about my skills and qualities
Activity 3.3 Identifying my key skills
Session 4: Clarifying my goals and planning for the future
Activity 4.1 Using the computer to explore ideas

Activity 4.2 Clarifying my goals through visualisation
Activity 4.3 Thinking about my goals: factors that can help or hinder me
Session 5: Identifying my next steps and where I can find information and
support
Activity 5.1 My support networks

Activity 5.2 My long term goal and first ‘next step’
Activity 5.3 Review my banner
Activity 5.4 So what have I learned?
My Reflection Log
Further notes and resources

Activity 1.1 My banner
You should spend around 20 minutes on this activity.
You are asked to answer four questions about yourself, following the examples you
have seen from Natalia and Ying.
Fill in the boxes for yourself. We will return to this activity in Session 5 so you will
need to save your banner.
How do I see myself now? What makes me happy?

Write your comments here. Write your comments here.
What am I most proud of? How would I like to see myself?

Use this space for any additional notes that you want to make.

Activity 1.2 Defining myself
You looked and listened to Natalia’s example of the different roles she has in her life.
We all have many roles in which we use a variety of skills and abilities.
Now define yourself at the present time and the roles you fulfill.
My main roles in life What I do


Activity 2.1 Taking stock of my
experiences over time
Now you have listened to the audio clips and looked at Mo and Ying’s examples,
make some notes in the space below on the following questions:
 Have you had any experiences similar to Mo’s or Ying’s?

 Do you have anything in common?
 What is different about your life experience?
My notes
Write your comments here.

Activity 2.2 My timeline
Many people find it helpful to look back on their experiences in order to think about
what their priorities are and what they want from life. Producing a timeline helps to
give shape to the past rather than see it as a confusing jumble of events and
experiences. This can be the first step towards considering the future and moving
forward.
Now try drawing a timeline that shows your high and low points. Include key events in
your life (or any section of your life you want to focus on), following the examples of
the timelines drawn by Mo and Ying. An additional notes page is provided overleaf.
You can do this by using the free online tool at bubbl.us. (If you have never used the
website before, it includes a help section.) When you finish it, save it on bubbl.us.
You then have the opportunity to export it (as a .JPG file) and save it to your desktop.
Copy and paste your timeline picture into the space below.

If you prefer to do this on paper, use the toolkit link PDF document. Print out the
timeline template and draw your timeline by hand. Remember that you will need to
refer to it for Activity 2.3.
Use this space for any additional notes that you want to make on your timeline
activities.
My notes

Activity 2.3 What I’ve learned from
my past experience
Look again at your own timeline from Activity 2.2 and think about what you have
learned from your experience, looking over the ups and downs
Draw another timeline (or adapt the one you saved at bubbl.us), using a different
colour to add your thoughts on what you feel you have learned. As in Activity 2.2,
when you finish it, save it on bubbl.us. You then have the opportunity to export it (as
a .JPG file) and save it to your desktop. Copy and paste your timeline picture into the
space below.
If you prefer to do this on paper, use the hand-drawn timeline that you saved from
Activity 2.2 What I’ve learned from past experiences

Activity 2.4 Influences and choices:
spider diagram
To help you explore the factors that influence the choices you make about your
future, you have looked at Mo’s spider diagram – a graphic way of illustrating
connections.
Try drawing your own spider diagram at bubbl.us. When you finish it, save it on
bubbl.us. You then have the opportunity to export it (as a .JPG file) and save it to
your desktop. Copy and paste your timeline picture into the space below.
If you prefer to do this on paper, draw a spider diagram in your notebook. Remember
to save it for future activities.

Activity 3.1 A change of career
You have listened to Natalia and Eric talking about taking steps and making changes
in their lives. Answer the following questions:
 Have you had to deal with a similar situation to either Natalia or Eric?
 Were there problems that you had to overcome?
 Did you manage to find any solutions?
My notes

Activity 3.2 Thinking about my skills
and qualities
Having listened to Natalia and Eric talking about their skills and qualities, now think
about your own. Pick an event or a point in your timeline when you had to take action
to resolve something. It could be something to do with family or work, or practical
issues such as housing and money.
Make a list of what you did and then think about what skills you used, and the
qualities that you have, that may have helped you. Use the table provided for your
answers.
The event in my life

What I did
What skills I used What qualities I demonstrated

The skills and qualities that you have listed may or may not be the same as Natalia’s
or Eric’s. Now think about the questions listed overleaf and make some notes.

Your skills and qualities:
 Did you find that you used some of the same skills as Natalia or Eric?
 Did you discover that you have other skills, maybe some you were not aware
of?
 Are you now aware of qualities that you have but hadn’t considered before?
You can add some notes in the space below.
My notes

Activity 3.3 Identifying my key skills
Have a look at the list of key skills in the table below, thinking about each one in turn.
As you go down the list, put a tick or cross in the appropriate box: for example, if you
feel that that this skill is one of your particular strengths, put a tick in the first column;
if you feel quite comfortable about this skill, put a tick in the second column; or if you
feel you need to develop this more, put a tick in the third column.
Key skills I am very I am quite I need to

good at good at improve
this this at this
Improving own learning and performance
Personal skills development
Communication
Oral communication
Written communication
Reading
Application of numbers
Interpreting information
Carrying out calculations
Interpreting results and presenting findings
Information technology
Finding and selecting information
Developing information
Presenting information
Problem solving
Identify problems
Considering solutions
Reviewing and evaluating outcomes
Working with others

Planning the work
Working to identified objectives
Reviewing progress
When you have finished, look back at the timeline you made in Session 2 and how
you responded to the different events in your life. Can you add any more skills?

Now choose two or three skills you have ticked and write a few sentences about
them, giving examples of how you have used them. Use the space below for your
notes.
My notes

Activity 4.1 Using the computer to
explore ideas
You have explored career or subject areas from Table 4.1. Use the space below to
record the answers that you have found from your online research.
What are the entry requirements for your chosen job profile?
Name two skills that are required for your chosen job profile(s)
Make a note of any point that particularly interests or surprises you

The notes you have made here will be useful in the next activity.

Activity 4.2 Clarifying my goals
through visualisation
As you listened to Mo and Natalia, did you notice if they were always sure about what
they wanted to do? Look at your notes from Activity 4.1.
Now take some time to visualise yourself in the future. Where are you? What are you
doing? Allow yourself to consider that there are possibilities for you.
Write a sentence saying what your hopes are for your future, saving your notes here
for Activity 4.3.
My hopes for the future


Activity 4.3 Thinking about my goals:
factors that can help or hinder me
Look at the notes you made for Activity 4.1 about your goals and write these in the
first box.
Then, list the factors that will help you and those that might give you difficulties as
you try to achieve your goals.
Your goal may be a new career, a course of study, learning a new skill or improving
your situation – whatever feels right for you at this stage of your life.
My goals
Factors that will help me to achieve Factors that might give me difficulties
them
If you think you will need help, find out who can help you. Discuss your ideas and
plans with important people in your life. Check the list of websites given at the end of
this toolkit, noting the details of any organisation you will ask for help from.

Activity 5.1 My support networks
Think about the people that have helped you or who might help you in the future with
any plans you have. Then draw a spider diagram like Mo’s using bubbl.us. When you
finish it, save it on bubbl.us. You then have the opportunity to export it (as a .JPG file)
and save it to your desktop. Copy and paste your timeline picture into the space
below.
If you prefer to do this on paper, draw a spider diagram in your notebook. Remember
to save it for future activities.

Activity 5.2 My long term goal and
first ‘next step’
Fill in this table, thinking about where you are trying to get to. Think very carefully
about what you need to do to get there, starting from now and where you are at the
moment. It may help to think back to some of the previous activities that you
completed on your past experiences, skills and qualities, difficulties and people who
could help you.
My long-term goal
What I am going to do Where I will go for help When I will do this

or advice
Write your comments Write your comments Write your comments
here. here. here.
The first step I am going to take will be to …

When you have completed the table, you will use this information in a sentence
overleaf.

Look back at the ‘My long-term goal’ section of the table and use the space here to
write a sentence starting,
The first step I am going to take

If you would like to make a ‘word cloud’ out of your sentence, similar to the example
shown in Activity 5.2, go to TagCrowd. (If you haven’t used TagCrowd before, click on
the ‘Help’ page included on the site.) When you have ‘visualised’ your sentence on
Tagcrowd, you should choose the option to save it as a .PDF file. You can then copy
and paste the word cloud into the space provided below.

Activity 5.3 Review my banner
For this activity you will need to look at the ‘banner’ that you created in Session 1. As
you did before in Session 1, answer these four questions about yourself.
How do I see myself now? What makes me happy?

What am I most proud of? How would I like to see myself?

When you have completed your banner, compare it with the one that you completed
in Session 1. Is it the same? Are there any changes? It may be very similar or it could
be quite different. Use this space for any additional notes that you want to make.

Activity 5.4 So what have I learned?
Make a note of the learning outcomes that you think you’ve achieved, either fully or
partially. Also write down anything else you feel you have achieved that was not in
them, such as making some new friends, learning that everybody has difficulties of
some kind, etc.
What I have learnt

Learning outcomes Have I achieved this?

An understanding of your strengths, Write your comments here.
qualities and skills
A clearer understanding of the Write your comments here.
experiences that you have reflected on,
including your role, actions and decisions
An idea of what direction you would like Write your comments here.
to go in now
An idea of how to find out what is Write your comments here.
possible for you in the immediate future
The ability to use IT to carry out simple Write your comments here.
activities in writing and communicating
The ability to use the internet to find Write your comments here.
information useful to you
The ability to use new ways of Write your comments here.
expressing ideas
Anything else I have achieved?
Further notes and resources

You have reached the end of the reflection toolkit. Use this space to record any other
points or information, such as websites, that you want to research further.

Reflection Log

Încărcat de

Informații document

Drepturi de autor

Formate disponibile

Partajați acest document

Partajați sau inserați document

Opțiuni de partajare

Vi se pare util acest document?

Este necorespunzător acest conținut?

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

Reflection Log

Încărcat de

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

My Reflection Log

My name Write your comments here.

My organisation (if applicable) Write your comments here.

Date Write your comments here.

Remember to save your document – on your laptop, computer or memory stick

© The Open University 2012 1

Session 1: Defining myself and how I feel about my present situation

Activity 1.1 My banner

Session 2: Learning by looking at my life over time

Activity 2.1 Taking stock of my experiences over time

Session 3: Identifying my skills, qualities and abilities

Activity 3.1 A change of career

Session 4: Clarifying my goals and planning for the future

Activity 4.1 Using the computer to explore ideas

Activity 5.1 My support networks

Further notes and resources

Remember to save your document – on your laptop, computer or memory stick

© The Open University 2012 2

How do I see myself now? What makes me happy?

What am I most proud of? How would I like to see myself?

Remember to save your document – on your laptop, computer or memory stick

© The Open University 2012 3

My main roles in life What I do

Remember to save your document – on your laptop, computer or memory stick

© The Open University 2012 4

 Have you had any experiences similar to Mo’s or Ying’s?

Remember to save your document – on your laptop, computer or memory stick

© The Open University 2012 5

Remember to save your document – on your laptop, computer or memory stick

© The Open University 2012 6

Remember to save your document – on your laptop, computer or memory stick

© The Open University 2012 7

Remember to save your document – on your laptop, computer or memory stick

© The Open University 2012 8

Remember to save your document – on your laptop, computer or memory stick

© The Open University 2012 9

Remember to save your document – on your laptop, computer or memory stick

© The Open University 2012 10

The event in my life

What skills I used What qualities I demonstrated

Remember to save your document – on your laptop, computer or memory stick

© The Open University 2012 11

You can add some notes in the space below.

Remember to save your document – on your laptop, computer or memory stick

© The Open University 2012 12

Key skills I am very I am quite I need to

Working with others

Remember to save your document – on your laptop, computer or memory stick

© The Open University 2012 13

Remember to save your document – on your laptop, computer or memory stick

© The Open University 2012 14

Make a note of any point that particularly interests or surprises you

Remember to save your document – on your laptop, computer or memory stick

© The Open University 2012 15

My hopes for the future

Remember to save your document – on your laptop, computer or memory stick

© The Open University 2012 16

Remember to save your document – on your laptop, computer or memory stick

© The Open University 2012 17

Remember to save your document – on your laptop, computer or memory stick

© The Open University 2012 18

What I am going to do Where I will go for help When I will do this

The first step I am going to take will be to …

Remember to save your document – on your laptop, computer or memory stick