ELEC ENG 7057 Assessment 3: Reflection (10%) Due: 5pm Friday 24 August
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Topic: What it means to be an engineer, and the role of communication in professional
engineering and research practice.
Task description: This assessment requires you to reflect on five set sources (in MyUni) and your own
experience in order to respond to the tasks below. No other sources may be used.
Related Course Learning Outcomes:
1. Explain the role of high level communication skills in professional engineering and research practice.
2. Explain the effects of cultural background on communication idioms.
Assessment criteria:

Criterion	Mark
Relevance: The discussion is relevant to the topic and the course learning outcomes.	1
Analysis: The discussion provides analysis, rather than simple description, of how the sources have contributed to the student’s understanding of self and the topic.	2
Interconnections: The discussion shows connections between the sources and the student’s experiences, personal goals and future practice.	2
Insight: The discussion shows the student has insight into their own preconceptions or assumptions and the ability to consider new ideas.	2
Use of sources: All use of sources is adequately acknowledged. Sources are used as a starting point for reflection, rather than forming the reflection.	1
Language use: The writing indicates careful attention to reflective practice by using formal, concise and precise language; organising ideas; and proofreading for grammar, punctuation, and spelling.	2
Marks may be deducted for: • lack of understanding of the sources • not following task requirements • inappropriate formatting.
Total	10

Reflection:
Reflective practice is a habit of master learners. Those who do not critique their own performances
regularly, evaluating and re-evaluating how their daily actions are shaped by their values, preferences,
and perspectives will never be aware of their own strengths (so as to capitalize on these), weaknesses
(so as to improve), or passions (so as to sustain themselves). Reflection gives meaning to experience; it
turns experience into practice, links past and present experiences, and prepares the individual for future
practice. […] Reflective practice is an essential feature of the formation of professional identity.
Glesner Fines, B 2014, Assessing Reflection, viewed 23 January 2017,
<http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/profiles/glesnerfines/REFLECTION.pdf>
ELEC ENG 7057 Assessment 3: Reflection Tasks Due: 5pm Friday 24 August
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1. Refer to Source 1.
1.1. What do you do well?
1.1.1. Read Elements of Competency 3.2, 3.4 and 3.6.
1.1.2. Select one of these Elements and describe the skills you have that would enable you to
perform this Element of Competency well.
1.1.3. Give at least one example to support your discussion.
1.1.4. Explain why this Element of Competency is important for a professional engineer.
(No more than half a page.)
1.2. What do you need to improve?
1.2.1. Select Element 3.2 or 3.4 or 3.6.
1.2.2. Discuss what aspects of your skills in relation to this competency could be improved.
1.2.3. Provide at least one suggestion for how you might improve the skills you discuss.
1.2.4. Explain why this Element of Competency is important for a professional engineer.
(No more than half a page.)
2. Refer to Source 2. Ircha (1999) gives an example (from Hall 1966) of a cultural misunderstanding that
affected engineering practice. Considering when the article was written and when the events in the
example happened, discuss whether the issues raised by Ircha are still valid today. Give at least one
example to support your discussion.
(No more than half a page.)

3.	Refer to Source 3.
3.1 Butterfield (2011) refers to the role of trust in a team. Discuss how easy (or difficult) it may be to
develop trust in a team. Discuss the characteristics you will need to contribute to the development of trust in your future	3.2

engineering teams.
3.3 As a team leader, discuss how you could contribute to the development of one or more of the aspects
of a team described by Butterfield (2011).
(No more than half a page for all of Task 3.)
4. Refer to Source 4.
4.1 Sageev and Romanowski were surprised that the engineers they surveyed spent an average of 64% of
their work time communicating (2001, p. 687). Discuss whether you are surprised by the results of
their study.
4.2 Source 4, Table 3 refers to ‘writing’; discuss what types of writing you envisage doing in your future
work.
4.3 Source 4, Table 3 refers to ‘other oral discussions’; discuss what types of communication could be
included under this heading.
(No more than half a page for all of Task 4.)
5. Refer to Source 5. Reflect on your expectations of your Masters program of study in relation to the
‘soft-skills’ discussed by Lee (2003).
(No more than half a page.)
6. Refer to Sources 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Considering the type of engineering in which you expect to work, and
the diversity of people with whom you expect to work, describe the characteristics you will need as a
professional engineer.
(No more than one page.)