Reflective Portfolio on LinkedIn Learning Courses
Table of Contents
Introduction
Reflective Portfolio is a procedure which demonstrates insights and experiences after going through a practical assignment. Learning is an active part of this portfolio, which provides self-assessment for engagement and ability in applied settings effectively. Hence, the purpose of this portfolio is to share my experiences and insights while seeking professional course certificate from platform LinkedIn Learning. LinkedIn Learning is an ambitious learning portal customized for training individuals and businesses through e-learning courses (Lunden, 2016). As per my assignment requirements, four certifications were mandatory to seek pieces of training. However, it is important to analyze how much I have gained from this platform. Therefore, the purpose of this portfolio will be sharing my journey for learning certifications successfully. Furthermore, I will also share my challenges for understanding weaknesses and strengths.
To develop a reflective portfolio, this report will implement Gibbs’s 1988 Reflective cycle with six elements, such as description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, and conclusion. I am using a reflective cycle to share personal experiences throughout taking LinkedIn courses. The Gibbs’ reflective cycle state event and feelings both are important to analyze reflection and effective approach for deep learning and practical applications (Hazel Thokozani, Govender & Maureen Nokuthula, 2015). Hence, I will be using this cycle to share my practical knowledge for seeking four certificates.
Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle Source (Paterson and Chapman, 2013)
Description
The description demonstrates what happened while seeking the certificate and training while engaging in the learning process. There are four certificates that I gained from the LinkedIn Learning platform, like Endnote Essential, Google Forms Essential, NVivo 2018, and SSPS for academic research. I have provided evidence for each LinkedIn Learning course certificate below as well as individual skillset, I learned from them (Appendices). Collectively, I learned to work in a professional set-up with this certification process.
EndNote Essential Training
The first certificate was on EndNote Essential, which is a software useful in summative assignments in the academic research field. It is defined as a referencing software that archives research citations into a systematic Endnote Libraries (Kali and Srirangaraj, 2016). The purpose of this certificate was to learn the management of document and data resources required as per research on particular academic subject topics. Furthermore, it also provides different functions such as library creation, adding manual citation, organization, store, edit, and share.
In the learning process for essential endnote certification, I have learned two important aspects. Firstly, I can manage different references as per the group category effectively. Secondly, online software saves time for conducting research and maintain resources. Hence, one skillset from this course I have achieved is the management of resources for research in the quickest manner. Now, I am good at managing references into one single unit and become more organized for approaching an assignment.
Google Forms Essential Training
The second certificate which I earned is for the course of Google Forms. It is defined as a platform that provides an effective way to conduct online surveys and another set of people based on questions. Therefore, I learned the concept of making forms by giving a predefined set of questions. In context with the academic field, Google Forms is described as, a platform which is used for conducting online quiz, survey for teaching effectiveness and collection for answers (Mansor, 2012). Further, this course also taught me the integration of forms with google spreadsheet to record answers directly into tabular form.
In the learning process for this certification, I have understood the importance of analyzing oneself. By creating forms, I have come to the conclusion that knowledge for understanding a topic is important. Further, my obtained skill set from this certification is survey analysis in primary and secondary research. Therefore, this process was very helpful to analyze a set of people and share as well as collaborate with them online (Gavin, 2019).
NVivo 2018 Essential Training
The next certification which I took was for performing qualitative research as well as mix method research to analyze data which is unstructured text, audio, image, as well as qualitative methods like interviews, focus groups, observations, social media platforms, and journals (Hamed Hilal and Alabri, 2013). I learned how to do qualitative research in this learning process. Now, I am able to understand the human side of the issue for a certain topis through their behavior, opinion, emotions, beliefs, and behaviors (). Moreover, the specific skill set which I earned was being a qualitative researcher who can gather a person’s thoughts on an issue.
SPSS for Academic Research
The next and last certification which I gained was for SPSS software. SPSS has full form Statistical Package for Social Science, and it is used for the management of complex statistical data analysis by researchers (Foley, 2018). This learning process has taught me how to understand statistical information that is complex and tough in academic research. Now, I can use SPSS for conducting social science research effectively.
Feelings
LinkedIn Learning was a very interesting experience for me as it was an effective way to collaborate on a platform. Before this certification process, I have hardly used online platforms for learning new things. Although I was aware of how such Moodle platforms provide an extracurricular course for students. My own learning process was very simple as I followed instructions provided by the instructor for each exercise. I have felt several emotions and moods as per the circumstances for each certificate gain.
The usual feelings at the start were anxiety, apprehensiveness, confusion, frustration, anger, and enthusiasm. At the begging of starting SPSS software learning, I was anxious. I was not good at working on new things before acknowledging the subject. Statistics was my weak point, and thus apprehensiveness appeared while seeking course. However, now I feel the transition from that feeling towards excitement for new assessments. Next, at some point, I was confused and frustrated about not getting things right. For example, even though Google Forms is a unique concept, I was confused about using it in starting. The two mixed feelings transited into anger in the interruption of the learning process. However, after the middle of seeking courses for NVivo, I was enthusiastic about gathering qualitative data. After the whole course seeking processes now, I feel calmer and could learn any new professional course online effectively.
Even though online platforms provide a way to learn new things, I personally feel they are not 100 percent accurate. Also, sometimes the internet is unavailable, and so does face to face interaction (Paragina et al., 2011). Being a professional and supportive academic student, I believe communication for issues should be on the spot with staff members. The queries are not resolved; however, on forums, we need to post our comments only. I was genuinely engaged on LinkedIn Learning but felt opposed by it due to personal opinion. Overall, my experience for working with learning experience was not happy; however, progressive and joyful only.
Evaluation
LinkedIn Learning is an effective source to learn, understand, and acquire knowledge and research skills as well. Besides, it also gets attached to the academic module of advance business research. The research is an important aspect of the academic field. And if it is a business domain, then the research process becomes more challenging. I have taken four different and variety-oriented courses and learned from each one something different only. Firstly, Google Forms taught me how to conduct a survey for different groups of people. Hence, I consider it a form of qualitative research process only. It will be helpful to conduct qualitative research for module assignments.
Next, I took another challenging course, which was the use of Endnote referencing software. The module requires an arrangement for different types of referencing styles. In an academic writing process, proper referencing is a key concern and should be managed appropriately. Therefore, I learned for quick referencing for different assignments can be imported into a business research module. Another important quality research software NVivo will be able to help in qualitative and mix research. I think I am able to perform some methods for future processes. Lastly, SPSS is able to perform statistical analysis for information, which will be helpful in gathering different business data effectively.
Analysis
I will implement the knowledge and skills gained through LinkedIn Learning in the final research project. Firstly, NVivo will be helpful in implementing a qualitative and mixed-method approach effectively. Secondly, Endnote will be used for analyzing the topic and storing references as per the group of information. Thirdly, I used statistical information and produced graphs through SPSS software for the final project. Fourthly, if my theme will be conducting surveys and gather perception of the people, Google Forms seems apt. Henceforth, all certifications and their individual knowledge could be acquired to develop a research project and dissertation successfully.
Conclusion
The learning would contribute to my professional development and future workplace in several ways. For instance, I will be selected more frequently due to higher certification and requirement for new knowledge. It will improve my ability to seek a higher aimed job in professional settings. Furthermore, I can implement new things effectively in the workplace and build a rapport with senior colleagues. Additionally, I can also rebuild the ladder for success with unique skills. Therefore, the certification learning process is quite an effective way to implement skills in professional settings. I also aim to work in professional settings with a better salary and acknowledgment for gaining new things.
Action Plan
The action plan will identify my future action plans for continuing professional developments that are provided in tabular form.
| Activities for Improvements | Actions to be taken | Period |
| Self-control | Knowing the weakness and strength to control negative emotions. I will start writing a personal journal to analyze situations in which emotional triggers happen. I will try to improve my self-control whenever my emotions are higher, and I feel sad, angry, anxious, or any other feelings. | Four weeks. |
| How to channelize short- temper and anger | By joining some short-term anger management program, I want to make myself calm and cool towards a certain situation. The short-tempered behavior brings nothing positive in me. Hence, I want to improve my anger issues immediately. | Three months of cognitive therapy crash course. |
| Lack of communication skills | Due to a lack of communication skills and English speaking. I am afraid to speak and pronounce words properly in front of people and lack of communication with them. | Join a four weeks short term English learning course to upgrade my spoken English skills. |
| Development of critical thinking | I have poor academic writing and lack to achieve good grades. As there are no critical thinking developments in me from the past few months, therefore, want to upgrade my approach towards writing assignments. | Two weeks of library study to learn critical thinking skills |
| Collaboration with other people | The lack of collaboration with other people is another issue I am facing. | Two weeks of group management workshops will help improve issues. |
| Quantitative research methods are difficult to learn and use in the research methods subject for me | I know how to perform a qualitative method for data collection but lacks in the quantitative methods. I want to improve this issue by going to a library. | 1-week library research to gather quantitative methods through peer-reviewed articles, books, and other academic resources. |
| Seeking new professional courses | I want to learn new courses that will be an aid in future development effectively. | I will again use LinkedIn Learning for new, seeking a new set of courses. |
References
Foley, B. (2018). What is SPSS, and How Does it Benefit Survey Data Analysis?. [online] SurveyGizmo. Available at: https://www.surveygizmo.com/resources/blog/what-is-spss/ [Accessed 20 Jan. 2020].
Appendices
Appendix 1: EndNote Essential Training
Appendix 2: Google Forms Essential Training
Appendix 3: NVivo 2018 Essential Training
Appendix 4: SPSS for Academic Research