Self Evaluation Matthew Cremona 2HND4N

Assignment

2
PSD

PSD Assignment 2 - Self Evaluation

Question 1 [P2.2] - Technical Learner! Question 2 [P4.1] - Action Plan! Question 2 [P4.1] - GANTT Chart! Question 3 [P4.2] - Learning Experience !
Limitations/Difculties! Positive Aspects! Extrinsic Factors! Intrinsic Factors!

3 4 5 6
6 6 7 7

Question 4 [P4.3] - Skill Assessment!

Matthew Cremona - 2HND4N!

PSD Assignment 2 - Self Evaluation

Question 1 [P2.2] - Technical Learner

As a result of referring to the Johnston & Dainton Learning Connections Inventory, it resulted that I classify as a technical learner. The characteristics of such a learning style include a dislike for writing things down, the need to see the purpose of carrying out the task at hand, independence, guring out how things work, keeping it short and to the point as well as a search for relevance and practicality. I can clearly relate to such a learning method due to several factors. When I was working in a group for the previous assignment, I only took mental notes and never wrote things down. This happened mostly during discussions on how we were going to tackle a question. Another situation was when we were splitting up jobs. Apart from wanting to know what I was going to be assigned, I also wanted to know why I was being assigned such a job. For example, I was assigned the question related to marketing programme. I discussed why they wanted me to do this. The reason was the fact that I had taken marketing subject at intermediate level when I was in 6th form and therefore had a rm grasp over the topic. Apart from this, when all the tasks were assigned, I preferred to work on my own initiative and did not seek the input or opinions of my team mates but rather, I presented the nal completed task to be printed. This clearly shows that I was independent, something of a characteristic of a technical learning pattern.

Matthew Cremona - 2HND4N!

PSD Assignment 2 - Self Evaluation

Question 2 [P4.1] - Action Plan

Action Plan Long Term Goal Short/Medium Term Goal to Achieving Long Term Goal Get Cisco CCNA Certication Actions Required 1a. Successfully nish the CCNA course taken at MCAST Constraints Who or What can help me Time management Target date for action 30 Jun 2012

Sign Up and start 1. working as a Police inspector within Cyber squad or related position

Since this is a part time course I have to t in studying between the assignments and studying for the HND As above, I have to make more time to try and study without failing my full time course.

1b. Complete all of the 55 exams that the course offers

Time management

30 Jun 2012

1c. Complete nal There are 2 nal Work more at Exam at computer exams and my part time job domain to be these cost 160 as a waiter to eligible for each making a get the money certication total of 320. and save it for This means that these exams I have to nd a way to get the money and pay for the exams 2. Complete Higher National Diploma 2. Get a pass or Time - I need to higher in all t in studying the with my part assignments at time course as HND level well as still be able to work my part time job whenever I can 3a. Apply for I might not be Scholarship with eligible for the government to scholarship thus pay for the degree I need to nd a way to make the money 3b. Apply for I may not be degree at fully qualied for Computer Domain the course 3c. Pass all the modules in the degree Need to make time to study well and complete the thesis offered at this stage Time management

30 Jun 2012

30 Jun 2012

3. Apply and complete Degree at Computer domain

Speak to a guidance counsellor and discuss

April Latest

Speak with guidance at Computer Domain Time management

April Latest

30 Jun 2013

Matthew Cremona - 2HND4N!

PSD Assignment 2 - Self Evaluation

Question 2 [P4.1] - GANTT Chart

Matthew Cremona - 2HND4N!

PSD Assignment 2 - Self Evaluation

Question 3 [P4.2] - Learning Experience

Throughout the course several subjects were taught although in my opinion PSD focused more on building social skills rather than academic ones. During this course I learned how to most importantly of all think positively. However I was also taught how to tackle problems and come up with different ideas laterally by using methods such as the thinking hats introduced by Edward De Bono and other tools such as CoRT. Another skill learned was communicating effectively to deliver ideas both within the team as well as presenting our work in a presentation. Something which I rarely have the opportunity to do. Limitations/Difculties Throughout the course my biggest difculty was integrating with my assigned team. As an individual, I tend to work on my own intuition without referring or asking for anyones opinion. Apart from this I also like to coordinate projects or whatever we have at hand. This is something that I do without even knowing. The problem was that I had to overcome my lack of communication and disregard for others opinion and try to listen more to what the others had to say, as well as cooperate and try to work with them as opposed to working on my own without any outside input. As regards to the coursework, I found it hard to keep interest as during my post secondary education period, I had already been thought most of the syllabus. This was because during 6th Form I had taken Marketing at Intermediate level and got a C in the MATSEC exams. All of the items covered during PSD were just small junks of what I had learned at 6th form. Apart from this I was also a participant at the Malta Young Enterprise where I was a managing director for a small company. During this period I had to manage a team of 11 people, Creating business plans, presentations as well as utilizing Edward De Bono tools such as the thinking hats. Thus I found it hard to pay attention during the lessons since I pretty much knew the topics at hand. Positive Aspects Although there were the difculties mentioned, I still learned how to work within a team and further improved my communication skills, since Im not the most social person on earth. Apart from this I was also given the opportunity to do a presentation something which throughout my time at MCAST I havent done thus far. This uncovered weaknesses that I feel have to be tackled most importantly stringing ideas and owing from one point to another since I felt that I struggled when trying to convey our work to the classmates. Something else that has been positive is the fact that due to the group work assigned and the fact that we were assigned randomly in teams, got me closer to classmates who otherwise I wouldnt really have bothered to socialize more with.

Matthew Cremona - 2HND4N!

PSD Assignment 2 - Self Evaluation

Extrinsic Factors - Material: As Explained already the fact that I already had done the material at hand, gave me a bit of a negative view of the subject and also tended to contribute to my lack of interest - Assignment: Although the group work was a great idea I found it very hard to try and organize the team to be as productive as I wanted it to be in the beginning. This was because 3 out of 4 had part time jobs and courses therefore it was very difcult to organize meetings between one another and get each others input. - Lecturer: Given the material I feel that the lecturer helped as much as possible especially when it came to getting input for our assignments. This help increase our motivation towards trying and achieving and giving our utmost to the project. Intrinsic Factors - Interest in Subject: Because I had already covered the material of the module, I felt that sometimes I really didnt need to attend since I already had a rm grasp of the topic at hand, thus contributing to my general lack of motivation towards staying positive and keeping an open mind during the assignments handed out. - Communication: I am quite an introvert and tend to work independently without any need of outside help, something that has stuck with me throughout the years. I therefore found it hard to adjust to working within a team since I had to work with other people and sometimes my methods of working were not effective within working with other people. Also the general lack of communication hindered our ability to generate original ideas. - Ideas: Thankfully my previous experiences within the young enterprise team helped with the previous assignment since most of it were exactly the same as what I had done when I was competing. This therefore helped me lead the team towards providing an effective marketing proposal that was assigned in the group assignment.

Question 4 [P4.3] - Skill Assessment

Overall I registered a higher mark when it came to the nal transferable skill set with the points handed out as such: Transferable Skills Communication Research and Planning Human Relations Organization, Management And Leadership Work Survival Previous Score 27 34 26 30 22 New Score 31 38 37 31 29

Matthew Cremona - 2HND4N!

PSD Assignment 2 - Self Evaluation

Taking a Deeper look however I feel I improved in several skills being: 1. Perceiving nonverbal Messages - Previous Score: 1. New Score: 3 ! - Although 3 is middle of the road I feel that I have improved my body language ! reading skills and have a better idea of reading body language. 2. Setting Goals ! - I think that the group work has helped me set goals both for myself as well as the ! team as a whole. The fact that other people were relying on my work helped me ! motivate myself towards reaching this said goal 3. Developing Rapport - I think that the group work has given me the ability to get to know my team mates better. This is because I had to work as a team in order to complete the group work. This being said, there were parts where I did not improve and scored myself the same as before or less: 1. Perceive feelings, situations ! - During the group work I think I did not solve my problem of perceiving how other ! team mates felt towards the problems encountered or ideas being put forward. 2. Initiating new ideas ! - I felt that generally letting the team mates put their ideas forward rst was ! benecial, therefore I scored myself the same here since nothing has changed and I ! did not feel I actually learnt how to put new ideas forward in an effective manner. 3. Being punctual - Due to a tight schedule, this also got the same score since I was nding it hard to keep up with the deadlines set due to the fact that I also have a part time course as ! well as a part time course. As a result I was sometimes missing deadlines by a day or two. Although this did not reect in the nal deadline of submitting the assignment.

Matthew Cremona - 2HND4N!