Reflection:
EES Outcome and Artifact: The Essential Employability Skills demonstrated in this artifact are Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving. I have selected an assignment from my Practical Skills of Employment course on writing a professional agenda. With this assignment, there were several parts that required you to demonstrate Critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The first part involved identifying problems with the agenda the summer student drafted for the meeting. Secondly, providing feedback on the agenda via a professional email, highlighting key points to work on and offering encouragement based on the draft provided. Lastly, I was tasked with creating the professional agenda given the limited details in the provided draft. I had to analyze the draft while applying my knowledge of how to create a professional agenda. This required critical thinking and problem-solving, as the drafted agenda lacked a logical order or timeline. During the second step, I demonstrated this skill by creating a well-thought-out email that explained how to improve while remaining positive and encouraging, even though the original draft was significantly below standard. And finally, I demonstrated Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving skills by creating a professional agenda that included all the important and relevant information, rearranged the time blocks and items logically to ensure the meeting flowed well, and ensured that everything important would be addressed and discussed. I had to consider all the challenges and develop practical solutions to create a professional agenda that included all the key points missing from the draft, and to provide concise, professional feedback to the student on the draft.
Self-Assessment: I would assess myself as Competent in this essential employability skill. I can successfully identify what is required in a professional agenda, what is missing and what needs further improvement. I was also successful at crafting an email that communicated expectations on what a professional agenda looks like to a student while remaining professional and encouraging. Lastly, I was able to create a professional agenda using limited resources and the information given, rearranging it logically so that important subjects and discussions occurred and the meeting flowed smoothly, while ensuring accurate timing for each item listed.
The Artifact- Successes and Challenges: One success was clearly identifying and explaining what was missing in the summer students' draft. Part of critical thinking and problem-solving skills is not only being able to identify what is wrong but also being able to understand why and have the knowledge to correct it. This artifact demonstrates how I can apply all of that in a simulated environment that mimics a real-world workplace. A challenge I faced while completing this assignment was clearly and professionally communicating my criticisms of the summer student's draft agenda. I was able to overcome this challenge by being honest and direct while maintaining balance in my criticism, as the draft contained some good components that deserved praise and acknowledgment. Providing balanced feedback encourages the student rather than putting them down or discouraging them. Another Challenge I experienced was creating a professional agenda based on the limited information provided in the instructions and the draft. I was able to overcome this obstacle by reviewing the resources provided to us in class on creating a professional agenda, especially on allocating time to each item. With the resources available, I determined that the draft did not make logical sense. I was then able to come up with my final agenda, which arranged the items and times more logically, allowing for a better-organized, smoother meeting that prioritized the goals stated on the agenda.
New Learning: This experience taught me that, when it comes to critical thinking and effective problem-solving, there is more involved than simply identifying the problem. It required you to look at the bigger picture, consider the consequences of your choices, and use the information provided to find realistic solutions to specific situations. Another thing I learned is that in some situations, the best solutions can come from existing resources rather than creating something new.
Future Impact: Problem-solving and critical thinking were applied while completing this artifact. These skills are important in academic and professional settings, as unexpected problems will arise in any workplace, and I may have to work with limited time and resources. I will use what I have learned from this assignment to approach future problems by assessing the limited information available, identifying what needs to be changed, providing clear, honest, and balanced feedback, and using the resources provided to develop logical, practical solutions to problems as they arise. This assignment has greatly increased my confidence in providing good feedback to others and creating practical solutions.