Being reflective
Get used to reviewing and reflecting on your experience. In this way, each experience - whether positive or negative - will contribute to your personal growth and development. An experience that is repeated without reflection is just a repetition.
Here is one way to reflect on your experiences of doing assignments and learn from them. You can apply this process to other things that you plan - for example, interviews, presentations and projects.
Before you send your assignment
- Try to stand in your tutor's shoes.
- Keep a note of your thoughts and compare them with your tutor's comments and assessment of your work.
When you get your assignment back
- look at the notes you made earlier
- write down what you planned, what you intended to happen
- write down what actually happened
- record the difference, the gap between what you intended and what happened
- what are your observations on that gap?
- what can you learn from it?
Other ways to reflect
- Some people find it easier to talk things through with another person to try talking to another student or a trusted friend.
- Set yourself some goals when you starting studying and use your tutor's feedback to monitor your progress. Work out what you've achieved and what you still need to work on.
- Keep a learning journal to record your thoughts at significant points in your study.