solved Assignment brief: The aim of this assessment is for you
Assignment brief:
The aim of this assessment is for you to reflect on what the placement experience has taught you within the context of your chosen programme of study and your own career aspirations. If you keep a record of your responses it should help with graduate job applications next year.
You are strongly advised to draft and improve on your responses throughout the year. Do not leave it to the last minute!
Descriptive details of the assignment:
The aim of this assessment is for you to reflect on what the placement experience has taught you within the context of your chosen programme of study and your own career aspirations. You are required to answer the three core questions and then three further questions from the remaining selection. You should aim for a word count of around 300-350 words for each answer (absolute maximum of 400 words).
Write your responses as you would if you were answering questions in a graduate application form, using the framework as illustrated below (please include the sub-headings in your document). Sample responses and information on grading are given later in this document. Feel free to include any evidence that you wish to use to support your claims such as attendance certificates for training courses, exam results, tutor or manager feedback – attach this evidence as appendices and ensure you refer to each appendix in the main body of your response. The completed assignment including appendices should not exceed 15 pages (this does not override the requirement for a maximum of 400 words per question).
If there are confidentiality or security issues that may prevent you from submitting evidence, please discuss this with your placement tutor and manager as soon as possible to confirm how this situation will be managed.
Core questions – answer all questions (in the order they appear below):
1. Prior study: How have your studies within your STEM discipline enabled you to perform effectively in your work or study placement?
2. Self-awareness & development: Describe a time on your placement when you changed your behaviour based on feedback you had been given. Evaluate how effective the change was.
3. Future Career/Employment: How will you apply what you have learnt on your placement to the rest of your university studies and future career?
Additional questions – answer three questions from the following:
4. Collaborative working: Give an example of a time on your placement when you worked co-operatively as a team member to accomplish an important goal. What was the goal/objective? How did you interact with others to accomplish this goal? Be sure to identify the extent of your personal contribution to achieving the team’s goal.
5. Resilience/Challenging Situations/Overcoming Adversity: Describe and reflect upon a situation during your placement in which you were required to show resilience or overcome adversity. For example:
Describe and reflect on a time when you experienced a setback. What was the setback, and how did you react to this challenge?
Describe and reflect on a time when you overcame a significant challenge. What were your coping strategies during this time?
6. Initiative/Independent Working: Describe and reflect on something you identified that needed improving during your placement. How did you go about making that improvement/change?
7. Communication: Describe and reflect on a situation during your placement where you communicated effectively and directly influenced a course of action.
8. Broadening Horizons: Describe and reflect on an example of a moment in your placement experience that broadened your horizons.
9. Ethics/Values/Social Responsibility: Describe and reflect on a situation where your personal values were challenged, developed or reinforced during your placement. How did you respond?
10. Leadership: Describe and reflect on an example of a situation during your placement experience where you had to demonstrate leadership or take responsibility above and beyond expectations.
Recommended reading/online sources:
For some background reading on academic reflection you may find these guides helpful:
Sheffield Hallam University: https://libguides.shu.ac.uk/reflectivewriting
Edinburgh University: https://www.ed.ac.uk/reflection/reflectors-toolkit…