Critical Reflection

This ‘Critical Reflection Portfolio’ will evidently direct the reader through my personal challenging learning journey, problem-solving the things that have aided me to establish my professional inquiry questions, ethical considerations evaluations.

As a candidate because I had to work to gain this experience I felt it was compulsory to consider my title within my chosen profession.  After a few experience with in the hospitality industry and working as a previous event supervisor manager I felt uncertain as to my exact role and job description.  

Within my Professional Practice Blog are my thoughts and findings along with my concluding job title which will also be my awards Award Title title ‘ BA Hons  Professional Practice Graphic design”

After I had personally recognized my awards title and the area into which I was to inquire I immediately joined a like minded ex co workers hidden ‘Special Interest Group’ (SIG) S'I'G special interest group- St Pancras Renaissance I started to set quesitons trying to gain their interest and thoughts as well as proposing my own ideas to the group on the Hotel and Kings Cross St pancras.

I found my SIG group challenging  because they simply had no interest and I think because it was a hotel people were literally busy so by the time they want to reply they cannot be asked  that’s so that’s definaltey challenging.

I started writing down my lines of inquiry. Due to the fact that I used to work in a hotel I started my inquiry there thinking a lot of people will know about it I became passionate about the building itself as it was historical and unique and there was just that emphasis on luxury style to it. 

I began to a set some questions Professional Inquiry 4a which were to become the starting point of discovering what my inquiries question would be and the area it would cover 4c developing inquired questions within my professional community and bloggers.  

As well as using techniques and tools to develop my line of inquiry, I began to look at other areas surrounding my professional practice, such as professional ethics and codes of professional practice within my chosen work place. This Codes and Regulations of hotel clearly states and explains the importance of each point of the code of conduct and reglations and I found it extremely helpful when writing my own version of code of conduct

This too seemed just as important for me to consider as an employer of a number of freelance  work and ex worker in a professional environment.  I was compelled to write my own code of practice for my employees as I felt it would clearly state what is expected from them and as well from me  and clarify their role and mine within the company 5B Going back to the points given at 5A (code of practice/ regulations).

Eventually I went unto having  an 5c.Ethical professional enquiry learnt  this stated that as a candidate you came across all different types of professional ethics in all sort of working field and most of the time they turn out to be a code of conduct whereby the rules given are to be complied with and majority of the time failure to do so would lead to a disciplinary action or dismissal.

Then I went unto changing my thoughts of inquiry by looking directly at st pancras station which lead me in developing a survey for the station Survey Survey Survey (Improved) Fill it in please with a short clip

Including having a clip to support my survey in other for people to answer the survey.

There were a few and other task and changes including critical thoughts I had and took place in which was to help my professional field  alsothough some were linked and some weren’t to directly  and help me in my practice line of inquiry, which I though still made very interesting. At the end I noted out sites which helped me communicate, helped me and work to deliver what I needed which was filled in my 6D- Delicious account.

On the whole this module has  been and is challenging for me as an individual. The module itself I think has been crucial in my personal development as a professional practitioner and is still giving me the tools, knowledge and understanding to move forward on to my Achievement.

6D- Delicious

Creating a Delicious account was quick and easy to do prior to watching the quick video given to have a broad knowledge on how ot publish, use and create it.
I also noticed that its a  good tool for discovering sites  not just site but other site that may be at times wouldn't really shoot up via Google chrome and your able to share them with others.
I personally manipulate my delicious site and kept on going over and over it.


I was able to see others link not necessarily Bapp students but i managed to tag a fellow student  (Natalie) in whom i saw her stack and site.


Below is my ten delicious

https://www.delicious.com/akinwunmi23

6B. Reflections on the four piloting tools- evaluating both merit and their limits

After completing all four types of pilot tools, am able to evaluate the merits and limitations of each one of them and break them down.  

After conducting the pilots I came across to know which of the tools may be right for my inquiry. Now am able to evaluate how effective each tool has helped me answered my questions.

I created my pilot survey using SurveyMonkey and I tried to make the questions focus on participants who travel and used visual information to get to where they need to get to.

It focused on how they were to use colour, signs and designs to make their destinations from point A to point F. And tried to find out their thoughts on Kings cross since its having a drastic change.

Merits:

·      I basically found out how to use an online Survey known as SurveyMonkey. It was simple to use and design, very legible and easy to create.

·      Because it was created online it was an easy access to others to take part and they are able to fill in the survey. I posted the link on my blog and to my facebook page for my S’I’G GROUP in whom I thought my ex fellow workers would participate.

·      The survey was good as it showed a variety questions such as; multiple choice, comment boxes and many more. This meant that my outcome would be quantative and as well as qualitative if I kept it on for longer.

Limitations:

·      People skipped some questions which means that results may not be fair.

·      People didn’t understand some of my questions given

·      Despite the option box to comment, people do not tend to leave long answers. A limitation for me if I was to look into a qualitative data.

INTERVIEW:

For my pilot interview I interviewed a close friend of mine who is into graphic design and currently runs his own freelance company doing all sorts of design such as vinyl, sign boards and many more. And because where he lives is quite a distance to meet his clients he faces somewhat difficulties getting to his destination but still ends up there regardless.

Merits:

·      It was different talking to someone who you know and whose closer to you because your both open to each other and your able to enjoy yourself rather than the survey.

·      The approach I had meant that I was natural with my questions I could bring up something out of interest and we could both have fun which was relevant to explore but it still gave construction which meant I could reflect and go back to my questions at any given time.

·      I recorded the interview using an iphone, which decreased the time in me writing. This allowed me to focus on him face to face and listen to the responses given.

·      I found the tool good as I interviewee did not feel intimidated as there was no one else in the park as there was fresh air and we were able to express freely as the environment played a part in it. I was also able to give him my full attention without

·      It was also easy to organise the interview we meet on terms and made sure we were both comfortable.

Limitations:

·      I personally found it challenging to be professional. Due to the fact that I was interviewing a close friend of mine and it was easy to have a catch up chat.

·      I found it a bit challenging to maintain neutrality when talking in person as often he may see my opinions through my saying and react or may not react.

·      My mate and I had to arrange the meeting time and place days before hand due to out private schedules. The process took a bit more time than the survey despite the short questions as I had to analyse his answers and I only had one person’s answers at the end compared to a large number of responses after the survey. The answers were much more intuitive.

OBSERVATION:

As for my pilot observation I observed fellow customers and public during a travel via kings cross station. I focused on their behaviors which affected their decisions making their journey or travels.

Merits:

·      The pilot observation tool was effective as you can see things from a different perspective.

·      This tool didn’t rely on people’s opinions neither their thoughts, but on the other hand it allows you to watch, analyze, observe and indicate peoples behavior. I found this very interesting because as humans we tend to do the things in which we ain’t aware of.

·      I have to use a clear observation in the station which meant that I informed the participants such as the police, stewards and securities beforehand that I would be observing them and the customers for my academic purposes and let them know what am doing but shouldn’t take any notice of me at all. I got the consent to carry on and this didn’t seem to affect their behavior but their thoughts on terrorism filming as I was filming or recording incidents taking place. I felt to take in ethical considerations on this occasion.

Limitations:

·      I noticed that there could be a big risk when using a clear observation that it will affect the behavior of the publics

·      I as a candidate participating in this pilot I found it hard to do my observations as I was trying to focus on not making sure it affected my tasked, which I had to complete.

·      I had to record my observations during times I passed the station or when I had a friend of mine visiting, as that’s the station I tend to pick him from.

FOCUS GROUP:

This pilot tool was intense as I had to personally think which of my friends or family members travel to kings cross.

 I personally had to arrange my family friends on this group. Majority of them tend to go via kings cross station to get to their variety of desitination. Some of them were happy with the information given such as labels and signs but some of them weren’t happy that due to colour blindness they were unable to see some information which was designed so they would have to reach out for support.

Merits:

·      Due to the amount of the people I had I was able to gather a variety of thoughts and opinions.

·      folks were then able to share their views to a enthusiastic debate.

Limitations:

·      Firstly Time was consumed getting everyone together.

·      The conversation went in circles none stop rather than having conclusions and decision-makings

·      

Despite it was recorded you couldn’t tell whose speaking and it sounded like everyone was pretty much speaking all at once. 

Survey Survey Survey (Improved) Fill it in please with a short clip

Please kindly have a look at the link below and answer the Survey given

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRCN6iBXbJQ



http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SS28GJQ

*Your Station Inquiry* please share your thoughts

·      What's your thought on your designated Station?

·      At the station are you able to navigate from point A to point F in minutes?

·      Are the signs legible for your platform destination?

·      Does the layout of the station meet your requirements?

·      Does the station use a wide range design including signs to pass information?

Constructive critism and reflection

After a struggle over my pilot survey regaridng the hotel i realised that i didn't have enough potential to deliver what am truelly looking for from the audience.

Few of the students struggled some people found the survey challenging due to the fact that they didnt know the hotels history and where it came from. some poeple found it irrelevant and were unsure what i was trying to put across.

I thought to myself am i deliverying what was necessary and yet again i was not narrowing down what i wanted i was pretty much every where.

Having a look at peoples survey, getting advise from Alan  and then going back to the root of the hotel i decided to narrow down my survey which will be based on the station known as Kings Cross rather than the hotel whereby know one knows a clue about it or do not have enough knowlegde.

So in a few days am going to re-recreate a survey based on Kings cross station and narrow it down simply for people to share and have accurate thoughts and opinions towards the station as it's known.

I realised that am likely to get a straight forward genuine answer as pupils and customers know a lot about the station rather than the hotel. this also saves time for them researching the hotel then aswering the questions unlike Kings cross station they are able to answer it straight away as they once passed by it.

Pilot Survey Please kindly follow the link

Below is a link to my pilot survey. on the other half its a sample and work in progress of initial thoughts.
Please kindly fill it in.


http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LMLNFNP