Critical Thinking: Reflection Journal

 Module Learning

Throughout this module, I had a few specific objectives going into this module: to improve my critical thinking skills, hone my effective oral skills as well as presentation skills, perfect my articulation of words and cultivate a critical reflection habit. There is always room for improvement and self-growth but in these past few months I strongly believe that I have made a great effort towards reaching these goals when I look back at the achievements and milestones accomplished so far.

 I came into this class with little to none information about what this module or the Professor has to offer. From writing a quote and interpreting what it defines, to my very own formal introductory letter, to my initial research pathway of an engineering design, to the drafts we wrote and edited, to the video pitch where I had multiple retakes as I wasn't satisfied with the quality of the work produced, to my contributions to the research project as the Team Lead and the grand finale, which is the final presentation and completion of the technical report. 

All in all, I've learned to approach situations more analytically in terms of critical thinking. I've improved my ability to analyse complicated problems such as understanding the scope of our research project, digging up articles after articles to extract more content on the research, not to mention why my team and I are even doing this topic of research in the first place. Yet, I was able to engage with diverse perspectives presented in the course materials and discussions that broadened my understanding and helped me appreciate the importance of considering multiple viewpoints before drawing conclusions.

To further enhance my skills, I intend to engage in more collaborative learning experiences and seek feedback from peers and instructors. Additionally, I plan to explore additional resources outside of the course materials to deepen my understanding of critical thinking principles and refine my communication techniques. By remaining open to feedback and actively seeking opportunities for growth, I am confident that I will continue to evolve as a remarkable speaker. Fun fact, I do have this wild dream of doing a “Ted Talk” presentation. Now, wouldn't that be exciting?

Project Learning

Choosing a focus for my group’s research project was a crucial choice that not only affected the direction of my work but also imparted invaluable knowledge on cooperation and self-awareness. My team and I had different ideas as to how we want to go about writing the technical report and expanding our research. Main issue is we had lots of great ideas and thus we focused on too many possibilities and that took time.  Nonetheless, I have learned a lot about writing, teamwork, and presentation techniques during this process.

First and foremost, developing my presenting abilities was crucial to clearly communicating my chosen area of research project. I discovered that effectively communicating complicated ideas to an audience requires an interesting delivery style which I was lacking in. I was then given the opportunity to exhibit my presentation skills. Despite not delivering an excellent presentation as to what I had in mind, I was still quite content with myself as I had little practice and no script in hand. 

Secondly, developing my writing abilities was crucial to creating a well-thought-out study proposal. I gained knowledge on how to use clear language, logical argument structure, and reputable source citations to support my statements. Through this approach, I was able to enhance not just my communication skills but also my understanding of the subtleties of academic writing.

Finally, working with others brought to light how important collaboration abilities are to accomplishing common goals. I came to see how critical constructive criticism, compromise, and attentive listening are to creating a cooperative atmosphere. Our team overcame obstacles and produced a well-coordinated research proposal by using excellent communication and respect for one another. I am thankful that we didn't have any conflicts or anyone who didn't contribute to the research project. 

All things considered, I'm determined to keep improving my abilities, cultivating worthwhile partnerships, and making a significant contribution to upcoming research going forward.