EXCELSIOR PSY498 All Reflections Journals Latest 2020 November

PSY498 PSYCHOLOGY CAPSTONE

Module 1 Assignment

Reflection Journal – Letter to Self

The reflection journal prompts below are intended to help you reflect on your own learning.  Your participation and learning process are the important concepts, not the “correct” answers.  Your answers can be used to help scaffold and guide your own learning, and to create a pathway through this course that meets your individual needs.

In this reflection journal assignment, you are to write a letter to yourself.  In this letter, you will be prompted to demonstrate your understanding of the depth and breadth of the field of psychology by explaining how different concepts and principles have prepared you to be successful in your future academic and career goals.

This activity addresses module outcome 1. Upon successful completion of this activity, you will be able to:

MO1: Self-assess your competency in each of the course and concentration outcomes. (CO1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

 This activity aligns with the career competencies of teamwork/collaboration, leadership, and career management.

Journal Prompts:

Write a letter to your future-self, the self you will be in 8 weeks upon successfully completion of the capstone requirements.  In this letter, you must address the following points or questions:

– Clearly identify a minimum of three different psychological concepts and/or principles you have learned about that have equipped you for successful and productive relationships within group and team structures.  Students in the I-O concentration must discuss negotiation/persuasive skills as at least one of these topics.

– Explain to yourself how the different themes that crosscut through all areas of psychology have prepared you to work effectively with others and as a leader.

– Explore how your strengths (be specific) and limitations (be specific) are related to your academic and career goals.  How can you leverage strengths and minimize limitations in order to successfully pursue opportunities and advocate for yourself in the workplace?  Students in the I-O concentration must include discussion of the construction and evaluation of customer/client analyses, revenue projections, and/or organizational policies and procedures.

 

PSY498 PSYCHOLOGY CAPSTONE

Module 2 Assignment

Reflection Journal – Are you an expert?

The reflection journal prompts below are intended to help you reflect on your own learning. Your participation and learning process are what’s important here… not the “correct” answers.  Your answers can be used to help scaffold and guide your own learning, and to create a pathway through this course that meets your individual needs.

In this reflection journal assignment, you’ll write a letter to yourself.  In this letter, you’ll demonstrate your understanding of the depth and breadth of the field of psychology, and explaining how different concepts and principles have prepared you to be successful in your future academic and career goals.

This activity addresses module outcomes 1 and 2. Upon successful completion of this activity, you will be able to:

MO1: Describe the complexity of the persistent questions that occupy psychologists’ attention. (CO1)

MO2: Examine the sociocultural and international contexts that influence individual differences. (CO1)

 This activity aligns with the career competencies of global/intercultural fluency.

Journal Prompts:

– What are the cross-cutting themes of psychology that seem to come up over and over again in conversations about psychology?  How are they related to each other? Students in the I-O concentration must discuss negotiation/persuasive skills as at least one of these topics.

– Critique your strengths, challenges, and comfort level when talking with others about psychology.  Do you feel like an expert (someone who has comprehensive knowledge and skill) in psychology?

– Examine how different aspects of diversity (socioculturally, globally, or individual characteristics) influence your own understanding and behaviors, as well as that of others.  Students in the I-O concentration must include examination of how diversity plays a role in effective negotiation/persuasive skills.

 

PSY498 PSYCHOLOGY CAPSTONE

Module 3 Assignment

Reflection Journal – Successful Literature Review

The reflection journal prompts below are intended to help you reflect on your own learning. Your participation and learning process are the important concepts, here… not the “correct” answers.  Your answers can be used to help scaffold and guide your own learning, and to create a pathway through this course that meets your individual needs.

In this reflection journal assignment, you will provide your project topic and describe anticipated challenges in completing your literature review.  You will outline individualized strategies and steps you will take to complete your literature review on time. Additionally, identify the support you might require from your instructor, other Excelsior College resources (like the library or OWL), and your peers.

This activity assesses module outcome 4. Upon successful completion of this activity, you will be able to:

MO4: Design deliberate efforts to produce desired self-management outcomes. (CO5)

 This activity aligns with the career competencies of professionalism and work ethic.

Journal Prompts:

 – Identify your topic for the literature review.  This should be based on the social justice work you did in the previous module.

– What are the search terms you plan to use (or are using) to find articles for your literature review?

– Review the remaining learning activities and assignments for this module. Identify any questions you may have.

– Share the strategies you will employ to make sure you complete your literature review on time. This should include any support you think you will need from your instructor, your peers, and other stakeholders and resources.

– How do the strategies you’ve listed demonstrate your ability to effectively manage your time and learn from past experiences?

 

PSY498 PSYCHOLOGY CAPSTONE

Module 4 Assignment

Reflection Journal – Goals of Psychology

The reflection journal prompts below are intended to help you reflect on your own learning. Your participation and learning process are what’s important here… not the “correct” answers.  Your answers can be used to help scaffold and guide your own learning, and to create a pathway through this course that meets your individual needs.

In this reflection journal assignment, you will describe how you engage (or not) every day in the goals of psychology.  Remember, the goals of psychology are about describing, explaining, predicting, and ultimately controlling – and they also happen to be the foundation of the scientific method.  How is scientific reasoning used in your own world?

This activity addresses module outcome 1.  Upon successful completion of this activity, you will be able to:

MO1: Describe problems operationally to study them empirically. (CO2)

This activity aligns with the career competency of critical thinking.

Journal Prompts:

– When do you use each of the four goals of psychology in your everyday life?

– Give an example of EACH of the four goals at work in your own life.  In your examples, describe the variables operationally so they could potentially be studied empirically.

 

PSY498 PSYCHOLOGY CAPSTONE

Module 5 Assignment

Reflection Journal – Strengths and Limitations

The reflection journal prompts below are intended to help you reflect on your own learning. Your participation and learning process are the important concepts, here… not the “correct” answers.  Your answers can be used to help scaffold and guide your own learning, and to create a pathway through this course that meets your individual needs.

In this reflection journal assignment, you need to explore your strengths, knowledge, and experience as they relate to your speaking skills and professional presence.  You will connect this to your desired academic and career goals and pathways, and identify areas in which you should focus on improvement in order to experience maximum success.

This activity addresses module outcomes 1 & 5.  Upon successful completion of this activity, you will be able to:

MO1: Construct clear and concise arguments, using evidence-based psychological concepts and theories. (CO4)

MO5: Implement effective delivery standards in professional oral performance. (CO4)

This activity aligns with the career competency of career management.

Journal Prompts:

– Identify your strengths and limitations when creating persuasive arguments.

– What about professional presence and speaking? What are your strengths and areas in need of improvement?  Think about speaking in meetings or other forums: can you immediately present your ideas and thoughts, or do you need to develop confidence in this area?

– Provide some rationale for your thoughts, including whether this is due to personality, expertise, or other factors.

– How can you maximize your strengths and minimize areas of weakness?

 

PSY498 PSYCHOLOGY CAPSTONE

Module 6 Assignment

Reflection Journal – Critical Feedback

The reflection journal prompts below are intended to help you reflect on your own learning. Your participation and learning process are the important concepts, here… not the “correct” answers.  Your answers can be used to help scaffold and guide your own learning, and to create a pathway through this course that meets your individual needs.

In this reflection journal assignment, it is important to assess your ability to give and receive feedback.  Especially critical feedback.  We all love positive feedback, but giving and taking the critical comments can sometimes be difficult.

This activity addresses module outcomes 2, 3, & 4.  Upon successful completion of this activity, you will be able to:

MO2: Provide critical and positive feedback to peers to improve project quality. (CO4)

MO3: Interact effectively with people of diverse abilities, backgrounds, and cultural perspectives. (CO4)

MO4: Pursue and respond appropriately to feedback from educators, supervisors, and peers to improve performance. (CO5)

This activity aligns with the career competency of leadership.

Journal Prompts:

– What kinds of experiences have you had with giving and receiving feedback? How have you used critical feedback to improve academically or in your job?

– Have you ever responded negatively, or emotionally, to feedback?  If not, explain why you think you have not had this experience and why others may have negative reactions?

– Identify the steps you have taken or should take when giving feedback to others who are different from you (in any way), to help them see your perspective.

PSY498 PSYCHOLOGY CAPSTONE

Module 7 Assignment

Reflection Journal – Focusing on Feedback

The reflection journal prompts below are intended to help you reflect on your own learning. Your participation and learning process are the important concepts, here… not the “correct” answers.  Your answers can be used to help scaffold and guide your own learning, and to create a pathway through this course that meets your individual needs.

In this reflection journal assignment, you will think about the role of feedback in your own academic and career journeys, and reflect on where you are in using it to get better in all of your endeavors (including your project for this class).

This activity addresses module outcomes 2 & 3.  Upon successful completion of this activity, you will be able to:

MO2: Accurately self-assess performance quality by melding external standards and expectations with personal criteria. (CO4, CO5)

MO3: Incorporate feedback as appropriate to strengthen presentation quality. (CO4, CO5)

This activity aligns with the career competencies of leadership and professionalism.

Journal Prompts:

– After watching the Focusing on Feedback (Links to an external site.) (LeanIn.org, 2014) video, write about the experiences or comments that you connected with and the messages that personally resonated with you.

– What is your current mindset (growth or fixed) when receiving feedback? How is your current mindset portrayed by your behaviors, and how do you think others perceive your actions?

– After reviewing the feedback from your peers regarding your project draft, share your thoughts about whether you agree with the feedback or not.  Is it in alignment with your own self-assessment of your work?  Explain.

– Share some feedback you received from peers that was helpful and how you’ll use it to grow and improve.

 

PSY498 PSYCHOLOGY CAPSTONE

Module 8 Assignment

Reflection Journal – Psychology Degree Equals Success!

The reflection journal prompts below are intended to help you reflect on your own learning. Your participation and learning process are the important concepts, here… not the “correct” answers.  Your answers can be used to help scaffold and guide your own learning, and to create a pathway through this course that meets your individual needs.

In this reflection journal assignment, you are going to think carefully about the ways in which your degree in psychology has prepared you to be successful in your career.

This activity addresses module outcome 2.  Upon successful completion of this activity, you will be able to:

MO2: Formulate career plan contingencies based on accurate self-assessment of abilities, achievement, motivation, and work habits. (CO5)

This activity aligns with the career competencies of global/intercultural fluency and career management.

Journal Prompts:

Write about how your experiences and what you have learned throughout the pursuit of your psychology degree has prepared you for continued growth in your career, perhaps more than would be possible without this experience.  As you write, consider and share your thoughts about the following:

–  How have your communication skills and/or the way you think about communication changed?

–  How will your knowledge of psychology help you in your everyday life and interactions with people who are different from you?

– How do your skills in critical thinking impact your perspective on various issues?

– What effect will your knowledge of psychology have on how you manage conflict, work on teams, and complete projects?

– Overall, how has what you have learned about your strengths and limitations influenced your career plans?  Be sure to mention work ethic, motivation, and your skills and abilities.