Q3. Reflecting critically on using an e Portfolio for my learning, i.e. discussing the role of reflection on my learning.
This is my second experience using an e-portfolio software. My first experience was with a SCIF course in my first year, which had me reflecting on what it meant to be a scientist. I understand that PATH2201 aimed to used the marked e-portfolio in order to make students acknowledge the importance of and utilize self reflection in their learning.
I feel that e-portfolios are a great way to initiate and introduce the process of self reflection. Students are at the starting points of their careers. To effectively plan and direct their career paths, one must do a lot of self reflection.
“Do I like this? Can I do this for the rest of my life? What am I learning from this?”
Taking myself as an example, I was introduced to the concept of self reflection via this assessment. I was able to self reflect and decide my third year courses for specializations in my Bachelor of Medical Science degree.
After much deliberation, I was able to single out genetics and microbiology as specializations I am not leaning towards. I am undertaking an on-going use of self-reflection to further narrow down my one true specialization.
On a lesser note, I had used self-reflection for synthesizing study notes for pathology. I used to think that notes for pathology could be done by hand. But after using too much time to do the initial lecture notes, I was able to go back, reflect and decide that electronic notes was the way forward.
Regarding the e-portfolio allowing me to self reflect; it was the main reason for my updated stance on the media assignment. Answering the questions for reflection on the portfolio allowed me to be efficient in my synthesis of my chosen article, my chosen peer-reviewed texts and hence enabled me to do my best on the media assignment. I was faced with a road-block on my synthesis of the many treatments for Creutzfeldt Jakob disease(CJD). I wasn’t prepared for the extensive new research being done on the topic- potential drugs, genetic engineering and even RNA interference are being harnessed for obtaining a cure for CJD. The question “Why and how did you choose your Media Assignment research topic?” was instrumental in making a firm decision to delve into anti-prion drugs and direct my mental energies towards this topic.
Although at the same time, I must say that this method of using a marked e-portfolio might not help everyone from the cohort.
Some people have the innate ability to synthesize and self-reflect in their own time and might find the e-portfolio process a waste and almost akin to blogging. This phenomenon is seen in people who are not used to keeping personal diaries (which helps prepare the diary-writing public by allowing them to hone writing their thoughts in cohesive sentences)
I am one of these non-diary-writing people. I often felt that I could not fully express my thoughts on paper, particularly my excitement and motivation towards choosing my research question for pathology. I had expressed that it was regarding the use of anti-prion drugs to cure CJD.
Only after much theory work on the media assignment, was I able to fully synthesize the research question. It regarded the proposal of a novel therapy involving two upcoming anti-prion drugs; chosen such that each overcame the limitation of the other.
Coming back to the reflection, I often felt that there were times where I was writing down the obvious, and that my idea of reflection was to answer the questions on Moodle.
Although the difficulty face while writing these notes, I am grateful for the fact that I am given a chance to hone my literary self-reflection skills. In today;s world of careers and employment, self-promotion is key. It is absolutely necessary to project yourself positively towards an employer, be in via CVs, e-portfolios or personally. For honing this ability, this marked e-portfolio is cruicial.
Therefore, despite knowing that I am not the sort of person gifted at projecting their reflections on paper, I am positive that if I keep at the processes required by this assignment, I will be able to overcome this aspect and grow as a person.
REFLECTIONS ON PATHOLOGY 