Unit 2 - Assignment - Access to HE - Medicine and Healthcare Professions PDF

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Access to Higher Education Diploma – (Medicine and Health Care Professions)

Unit 2 Assignment – Preparing to Study Q1) Write an analysis of the different factors that can affect the planning and organisation of study for yourself and students in general. 500 words. A1) There are a variety of factors that can affect the planning and organisation of an individual’s study. A number of these include: time-management, environmental factors, schedules, task priority, workload, sleeping habits, social life, procrastination, motivation, lifestyle, curriculum structure and more. These factors are indicators regarding the reason a student may not be able to conduct their studies efficiently or lack the motivation to do so. Environmental factors play a big hand in the organisation of studies, as a noisy, well-populated study area lacks the necessary traits allowing students to complete their academic needs. It will serve as a distraction as opposed to allowing them to set their focus upon their work. For studying, a library, small café or a private space in one’s home would allow for a calm and efficient manner for one to complete any assignments necessary as it provides them with the tranquillity and a suitable working space. Another factor which can affect the planning of study for myself and other students includes the factor of task prioritisation. Essentially, this would cause issues if an individual is unable to efficiently organise their schedule as their academic studies could be left as the last task. This could then either be forgotten or rushed, meaning the work itself is not up to a high standard as one could achieve. This factor also links into the task of Time Management. If a student is able to schedule their activities it’ll allow them to plan their days to provide a suitable balance, reducing their levels of stress, completing their studies effectively whilst also providing time for themselves. In addition to these factors, a student’s personal habits can also have a huge impact on their curriculum. For example, their sleeping habits may have an adverse effect on their work if they aren’t getting the rest they require. This can also influence one’s mood as a lack of sleep could soon lead to a lack of motivation. This negative effect will deduct their sense of achievement as they’ll begin to feel overwhelmed by their workload. Similarly, the factor of lifestyle can have a major effect on a student’s studies. If the individual is balancing employment with studying it can be difficult to find time to complete assignments to the best of their ability. Furthermore, priorities such as caring for members of one’s family, extracurricular activities and social lives can impact the planning/ organisation of studies as it’ll become difficult to work around those commitments. Overall, there are numerous factors that I’ve listed that can affect the planning and organisation of study for myself, & other students in general, but these can all be avoided with simple planning methods such as: keeping to-do lists, prioritising necessary tasks, receiving regular breaks and maintaining an effective schedule to systematically plan out their workload. This will help to combat the negative effects on a students work and allows for them to organise themselves to a higher standard and build their motivation to complete their course in time.

Access to Higher Education Diploma – (Medicine and Health Care Professions) Q2) Write an evaluation of your learning strengths and weaknesses in relation to a learning theory. 500 words.

A2) A learning method in which I strongly believe in is that of Experiential Learning. It’s the thought that one’s growing knowledge is achieved through personal experience after which they reflect their process and act upon it. A theory I resonate with is Kolb’s Learning Theory. Published in 1984, David Kolb shared his style on experiential learning, (McLeod, S, 2017) which he introduced as a recurrent cycle based upon one stage becoming mutually supportive of the next. Kolb’s belief was that a multitude of factors becomes the influence of an individual’s learning style. Those factors include: ones social environment, experiences and genetics. Although these factors are all influential, he truly believed that one’s learning style is a product of their thoughts and their emotional response, meaning they both stimulate our learning process allowing us to enable this onto our work, yet we’re unable to perform both simultaneously. From my understanding of his cycle, I would assume Kolb’s learning theory fulfils its potential best with visual learners. By this, I mean that students and learners who are stimulated when working on a ‘hands-on’ basis will benefit from this theory as it relates to that experience they receive and how they reflect upon the work they’ve carried out allowing them to clearly improve and continue to act upon it. The four stages are as follows, “Concrete Experience” being step 1. Second comes an individual’s Reflective Observation. Next stage is known as Abstract Conceptualisation. Finally, the last stage is Active Experimentation. (McLeod, S, 2017) My learning strengths most definitely compare with this as I believe myself to be a visual learner. Kolb’s theory has had a positive impact on my personal strengths and weaknesses because as I gain new knowledge I consider the first stage “Act” and contemplate what I have just completed. This helps to develop an idea on how I feel I carried out my work, so that I could benefit from my knowledge upon the second “Reflect” stage, allowing me to implement it further for improvement or discovering a new method of work, which is the “Conclude” stage of his theory. Finally, the last stage of Kolb’s theory which is to ‘Apply’, meaning that I am able to put the new ideas to work with the task I’m completing. Kolb’s thought was that effective learning can be carried out having followed all stages of this cycle. Personally, I have demonstrated this theory in assisting with achieving my strength of continuous personal development. Studying this course whilst working will be difficult but understanding my best learning method motivates me to further my studies and to fulfil it to the best of my ability along the way. It’s also continuing to help me overcome my lack of confidence in situations that I am unfamiliar with as I can breakdown the task at hand and complete it in the stages listed above, reducing my stress and providing some self-belief. “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” This quote by Confucius allows for the understanding that individuals ‘learns through action’. (Confucius, Explorance – 2015) Reference Sources:

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Explorance (2015). ‘I Do and I Understand’ – Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory Explained. [online] Explorance. Available at: https://explorance.com/blog/i-do-and-i-understand-kolbs-experiential-learning-theory-explained/ [Accessed 1 Oct. 2020].

Access to Higher Education Diploma – (Medicine and Health Care Professions)

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McLeod, S. (2017). Kolb’s Learning Styles and Experiential Learning Cycle. [online] Simplypsychology.org. Available at: https://www.simplypsychology.org/learning-kolb.html [Accessed 30 Sep. 2020].

SWOT Analysis Strengths – Ambitious and Hard-working when completing any tasks Receive praise for carrying out tasks well Working in a Healthcare Setting Proud of becoming a qualified dental nurse Experience in Medical Emergencies Skills in multitasking, treating patients, empathising and communicating with others Weaknesses – Lack of Self-Belief Low confidence Struggle to always remain focused when completing tasks Accepting extra work loads/shifts Nerves sometimes get the better of me Opportunities – Maximise strengths by working to improve them more regularly Open to further my studies and training Minimise weaknesses by trusting and believing in myself Potential Growth - my level of confidence My previous mentor (turned employer) providing me with assistance Threats – Setbacks from being overworked, the current pandemic affecting aspects of life in general, or due to family emergencies Address my occasional lack of motivation before moving on and being able to complete my studies Overcome my weaknesses that may impact my learning so I can prosper

Q3) Write a short statement indicating practical and realistic strategies for addressing your learning weaknesses. 250 words.

Access to Higher Education Diploma – (Medicine and Health Care Professions) A3) There are multiple strategies, both practical and realistic, which allow for an individual to address and ultimately overcome their learning weaknesses. The first step in this process would be to Acknowledge one’s personal weakness. An admission of weakness shows character strength in itself as realistically no individual is perfect. Yet it allows for me to move forward and reflect upon how to improve on it. Being able to reflect on my weaknesses allows me to strategically plan my steps to begin working on that which holds me back. Setting goals is also a practical method allowing me to steadily turn my personal weaknesses into strengths. It allows for one to ‘apply’ the process to ensure a positive impact in overcoming it. Another strategy that’d allow me to surpass a weakness is in seeking guidance, perhaps in the form of a mentor. It’ll allow for someone else to address any weaknesses they may perceive, or I find in myself meaning they can assist me in working on those to improve my studies. The final method that would allow for a student to practically address their weaknesses is in allowing room for improvement. This can only happen if it’s understood that everyone is different and bettering oneself will take time & patience. Acting on a weakness is not simple, so you must stay reasonable and take the practical approach in working on yourself and not pushing yourself too hard. These steps should allow you to develop strengths from learning weaknesses.

Q4) Write an evaluation of two recognised learning theories. 500 words. A4) Behaviourist learning, a theory adapted in 1913 by John Watson, is recognised as the idea that Behaviourism emphasizes the role that environmental factors play into the influence of an individual’s behaviour. It consists of 2 primary principles - ‘classical conditioning’ & ‘operant conditioning’. Both principles are focused on having the effect of being able to reinforce certain behaviours, through repetition and practice. Pavlov, a psychological theorist, (published in 1897), carried out his idea through experimentation with animals. He conducted research having followed the process of observation and experimentation. The ‘classical’ conditioning experiment was conducted observing a dog’s responses after Pavlov rang a bell at every meal opportunity. He learnt that we’re born with certain unconditioned responses, and found that after setting a ‘routine’ of having its meal after ringing a bell, with the absence of food the dog still salivated at the thought of its next meal being presented. (David. L, 2007) Principally, it allowed for the better understanding of reactions to certain unconditioned responses as opposed to controlled responses to one’s surroundings. Arguably, both humans and animals share similar responses, allowing for further research to be conducted through the influence our environmental factors hold over one’s behaviour. Contrastingly, the downside of the experiment would be the limitations in differences between both human and animal responses. -Another well-known learning theory is Kolb’s Learning Cycle. Based upon the idea of experiential learning (the theory that learning is achieved through one’s experiences and environment), Kolb developed a concept for individuals who’ll likely progress their studies in order to attain the best method to prevail with their academia.

Access to Higher Education Diploma – (Medicine and Health Care Professions) The steps to the cycle are as follows: An individual undergoing an experience. Next is them having reflected upon their observations. Following that they draw a conclusion based on their experience. Lastly is the planning of a method to carry out their next steps. (McLeod. S.A, 2017) Kolb’s theory that an individual’s ‘learning style’ can only be successfully achieved after one’s experience is one understood by both students and teachers. It can be understood from that the way an individual processes an experience they encounter, has an impact on future observations and understanding, identifying the importance of how environments play a role in our lives. This provides for a better learning perception to be created/ followed. On the contrary, it could be argued that one’s learning style could be adversely affected, as Kolb’s theory can be dependent on positive or negative impacts to environmental factors. Essentially, it meant that learning styles cannot be compared on any basis as they’re independent from one another. Overall, the theories differ in the methods of understanding as Behaviourism focuses an individual’s external behaviour, whereas experiential learning examines one’s internal reflections and experiences. Another difference includes whether the behaviour is an intentional or unintentional response which can affect the results. In contrast, both learning theories share the fundamental principle that an individual’s learning can be largely affected by the environment they are exposed to, allowing for a variation of methods relating to one’s environmental factors. References: McLeod, S. (2020). Behaviourism | Simply Psychology. [online] www.simplypsychology.org. Available at: https://www.simplypsychology.org/behaviorism.html#:~:text=Behaviorism%2C%20also %20known%20as%20behavioral.  , D. (2016). Behaviourism - Learning Theories. [online] Learning Theories. Available at: L https://www.learning-theories.com/behaviorism.html. Lomas, W. (n.d.). Log In - PEARL. [online] ldatom.epearl.co.uk. Available at: https://ldatom.epearl.co.uk/study-material/5037/59817 [Accessed 2 Oct. 2020]. ...