A digital recorded presentation in which students systematically self-assess personal, professional and academic strengths and development needs using their choice of relevant theories and tools covered during the taught content, relating their findings to the education/early childhood sector with supporting literature, and present a clear action plan for future development.

Formative assessment
Students will engage in guided in-class reflective activities captured by a digital workbook (class OneNote). The outputs from our weekly activities produce draft work towards the summative assessment.

The key purpose of this module is to facilitate academic, personal, and professional development. Key concepts covered in this module include (but aren’t limited to) principles and approaches to reflective practice, exploring systematic methods of assessing and developing own personal, professional and academic practices, identifying professional roles, competencies and responsibilities, applying digital and traditional academic skill acquisition and accreditation and an investigation of professional identity theory and personal career aspirations.

1. Evaluate personal, professional and academic skills to plan clear study and career goals, demonstrating contemporary professional sector application.

Programme Learning Outcome: Reflection, Personal Development and Entrepreneurship

2. Demonstrate creative digital competence through the production of polished, professional reflective outputs.

Programme Learning Outcome: Digital Literacy, Reflection

The teaching, learning and assessment strategy for this module has been designed to be accessible and inclusive via multi-modal, person-centred methods according to Universal Design for Learning. The module is digitally enhanced encouraging traditional and contemporary reflective practice, recognising that you bring valuable practical experience to share. Your prior knowledge will be used as a foundation for discussion, simulation-based activities, and collaborative problem-solving, enabling you to reflect critically and engage with contemporary issues in education.

You will be an active participant in your learning through a blend of online and face-to-face sessions, group work, practical simulations, and individual tasks. These activities are structured to strengthen your academic, digital, and research skills, while supporting the development of sustainable learning practices such as independent inquiry, reflective thinking, and responsible engagement with resources. Some sessions will require prior reading and independent research to inform your contributions and deepen your theoretical understanding. Digital tools and platforms will be used to ensure flexible access to materials and to model technology-enhanced approaches relevant to the education sector. University workshops will connect your experience with current thinking in teaching, learning, assessment, literacy, and numeracy, supporting your ability to apply ideas in planning future work. You will also collaborate with peers to prepare and present work, building key employability skills such as communication, teamwork, and professional judgement.

A range of methods will be used to provide supportive and varied learning opportunities:
* Lectures: Delivered face-to-face or online to introduce and explore key theoretical concepts.
* Tutorials: Small-group or individual sessions to discuss academic and work-related issues and extend your theoretical understanding.
* Guided reading and supported self-study: Booklists and reading tasks that enable you to engage critically with relevant debates and strengthen your research and information literacy skills.

Throughout the module, you will have opportunities to:
* Work collaboratively with others
* Develop interpersonal and communication skills
* Plan, share goals, and function effectively as part of a team
* Present written and oral arguments with clarity and academic rigour

Microsoft Class OneNote OneNote Class Notebook and the full suite of O365 apps
Lego, Playmobil, Art Materials for tacit experiential reflective exercises

Bassot, B. (2023) The Reflective Practice Guide: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Critical Reflection. Second edition. Oxford: Taylor & Francis Group

Cottrell, S. (2024) The study skills handbook. Sixth edition. London, United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Academic, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

Hughes, G. (2020) Be Well, Learn Well, Macmillan: London

Richards, H. and Malomo, M. (2025) Developing your professional identity: a guide for working with children and families. Critical Publishing.

Siivonen, P. (2023) Rethinking Graduate Employability in Context : Discourse, Policy and Practice. 1st ed. 2023. Edited by Päivi. Siivonen et al. Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Collectively these texts allow students to consider their personal, professional and academic identities.

This module invites you to invest in yourself. Through creative digital reflection and hands-on activities, you will explore your strengths, values, and development needs, using professional tools and theory relevant to education and early childhood practice. You’ll learn how to communicate your skills confidently, set meaningful goals, and create clear action plans for your future. This is a practical, forward-focused module designed to support your personal growth, employability, and long-term life goals.