Critical Reflection

 Before coming to this Critical Thinking & Communication skills module, I thought that this module is as useless as the module that I had in my Polytechnic. During my poly days, I did not have a very good experience as I did not learn much and was not able to take away the key learning points as it was quite boring. However, after going through 13 weeks of this module, I was able to learn more about the different type of communication skills such as the PEEL framework, Paul Elder framework, and ways that I can improve in my language and my presentation skills.

Through this trimester, I was exposed to many new things such as the PEEL framework, Paul Elder framework. For the PEEL framework, I have learnt the importance of writing it as it helps me to lay out my argument clearly and logically. This helps to ensure the argument are strong by keeping my paragraph focused and ensuring that I have linking points to the relevant examples and explanations to be able to get my point across to the reader. As for the Paul Elder framework, I learnt that there are three different method that helps to develop my critical thinking skills. By learning elements of reasoning, I learnt how to analyze the paragraph and giving my own point of view about it. As for intellectual standard, it helped me to evaluate the quality of the paragraph that I encounter and listening comments that I heard from others. Lastly, for intellectual traits, I cultivated me to be a critical thinker and result from the consistent and disciplined application of the intellectual standards.

In this module, we were tasked to propose a change or an improvement to the current products that are in the market. During this project, I learnt how to improve my presentation skills and working on my slides on how it can be improved by giving images and writing lesser text on the slides as it can bore the audience when giving the presentation. I also learned how to write a technical report which I have not learn before during my Poly. Through the technical report, I learnt that we should write it in a third person view instead of first-person view which was pointed out by my teammates, I then therefore needed to change and learn the correct way of writing a report. While working with my group mates, I was able to learn their unique abilities, their strengths, weaknesses and how we can help one another by supporting each other during the project and the presentation.

In conclusion, at the start of the module, I mentioned that I wanted to improve on my presentation skills, and the way I write and speak English such as the sentence structure, the grammar. Because since young my language was not my strongest suit. Through this module, I am glad that I can improve on what I wanted as the prof was very engaging and encouraging when it comes to teaching and helping me.