Tag: Communication

The focus for this week is on critical reflection and journaling.

I hesitate to be so candid here, and I have no intention to offend, but I understand that this is a space where I am required to say what I feel, so here goes…

If I’m totally honest, my initial instincts tell me that critical reflection and journaling are a bit of a waste of my time. At this point, it feels like an academic exercise that is a distracting nuisance, robbing me of a considerable amount of time. Time that could be better spent developing critical skills.

My objectives for this course primarily lie in gaining a good range of skills that will enable me to develop well received, commercially lucrative apps. I therefore want to spend the vast majority of my time focusing on achieving coding expertise and development best practice, as well as improving my business and design capabilities.

Considering the marking schemes for this module, I notice the emphasis on reflective practices and self-analysis. I’m sure that is by design, rather than by accident, or purely for the box-ticking sake of it, and so, I am prepared to suspend my judgement, and approach creative reflection and journaling with an open mind. I will trust the process, actively strive to discover the value in it, and see if I can make critical reflection and journaling beneficial for me. I’m not saying that I’m right to feel the way I currently do – I’m merely saying this is how it is at leas at this point, but I am open to having my opinion changed.

I am new to critical reflection journaling, and for the past 3 weeks, I have struggled with it. Knowing what to share, and how to share it within this arena is not something that has come naturally to me, and I think that I have found it difficult to strike the right balance.

This situation has brought to mind the Johari Window model ( Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham, 1955 ), that I was introduced to many years ago during a training course. The concept resonated with me at the time, and has stuck with me ever since. The model is used as a basis upon which to examine interpersonal and intrapersonal communication, and how relationships can be effected by the appropriateness (or otherwise) of what information is and isn’t shared between relevant parties.

The model provides a simple framework for us to think through the consequences, and decide which box is most appropriate for a piece of information, within a specific context. A lot of social media users would do well to consider the Johari Window model before posting!

I’m still not entirely convinced that much of the content of this post shouldn’t have remained in the ‘Hidden’ box (i.e. kept to myself), but, if nothing else, I can always learn from the reception it gets.