BTEC Unit 40302111 Professional Skills Assignment Brief 2026 | HTU

BTEC Unit 40302111 Professional Skills Assignment Brief 

Submission Format

• Individual Presentation: Story of Self (3 – 4 minutes, for each group member, in class).
• Group Presentation: Professional Skills topic (15 – 20 minutes, with engagement and Q&A, in class).
• Individual Written Reflection: Case Study & questions (in class)

Unit Learning Outcomes

• LO1: Demonstrate the ability to develop self-awareness, self-esteem and confidence, as they relate to personal roles, core values, strengths & weaknesses, goal development, interests and skills.
• LO2: Demonstrate the ability to develop interpersonal and communication skills: listening, speaking, writing, interpretation and interacting.
• LO3: Develop effective time management and organisational skills, both individually and within a team context.
• LO4: Demonstrate an understanding of team dynamics and the impact of individual attitudes on effective interpersonal relationships within a collaborative environment, including the ability to give and receive constructive feedback. 

Assignment Brief and Guidance

For this first part of the assignment, you will introduce your story of the self (as one member of the group)through:

• In-class oral presentation (could be recorded by the instructor)
• You will be informed at least two weeks before your individual presentation date, and all presentations will be completed before January 18, 2026.

Your story of the self, personal presentation, should

Reflect on your level of self-awareness by exploring the following key areas: 

1. Identify and reflect on the following: 

Your Roles (minimum 3)

• Describe the key roles you play currently in life and explain briefly why one of them is important to you.

Your Core Values (minimum 3)

• Identify the values that guide your decisions and behaviour and explain briefly how one of them influences your life.

Your Strengths (minimum 3)

• Highlight what you’re good at. Choose one strength and explain how you can build on it to achieve further growth (utilise your strength)

Your Weaknesses (minimum 3)

• Acknowledge areas you need to improve. Choose one weakness and explain how you plan to overcome it.

Your Goals

• Identify one goal for each of the following time periods:

Short-term goal (something you want to achieve from now to 6 months)
Mid-term goal (something you aim to achieve within the next 6 months to 2 years)
Long-term goal (something you plan to achieve in the next 2-5 years)
Then apply the SMART goal concept to one of the goals above.

2. Apply what you’ve learned (while telling your story):

Demonstrate your understanding of the key concepts we discussed this semester —  such as self-esteem, the Johari Window, core values, personal SWOT analysis, SMART goals, and the Wheel of Life. Use examples from your real life to show how these ideas apply to you in practice. You can refer to a personal experience, a challenge you faced, or a success that helped you grow or change.

3. Tell your story:

Show how your roles, values, goals, strengths, and weaknesses are connected and how they have shaped who you are today.
You may also reflect on how these factors influence your behaviour and attitude when working with others in your group for this assignment.

Presentation Guidelines: Telling the Story of Self

As part of your Self-Awareness assignment, each student will deliver a 3 – 5-minute individual presentation (“Story of Self”) and will also participate as a member of a group presentation. Your presentation should demonstrate readiness, planning, and effective time management, while clearly communicating your personal journey and reflections.

During your presentation (both individually and as part of your group work), you are expected to:`

Demonstrate Presentation Readiness

• Show that you are well-prepared and confident.
• Keep your individual “Story of Self” presentation within the 3– 5-minute time limit, and your part as a member of the team presentation within the 2 – 3-minute time limit (as will be explained later below).

Use Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication Skills

Speak clearly, concisely, and with purpose.
Use appropriate body language, including:

• Eye contact
• Facial expressions
• Voice projection
• Hand movements
• Posture, overall presence and movements

Apply Presentation Techniques Discussed During the Semester

Use effective PowerPoint slides (simple, visual, and focused).
Stay connected to your slides without reading directly from them.
Engage your audience by:

• Sharing a personal story or experience
• Asking a question
• Showing meaningful photos or bringing a relevant object

Language and Visuals

• The (Story of Self) presentation may be delivered in English or Arabic.
• However, PowerPoint slides must be in English.

Enhance Your Presentation with Visuals or Aids.

• You are encouraged to use supporting materials such as videos, handouts, or photos to make your presentation more engaging and impactful.

Group Presentation (15 – 20 minutes)

• In-class oral group presentation (could be recorded by the instructor)

You will be informed at least two weeks before your group presentation date, and all presentations will be completed before January 18, 2026.

Group Assignment:

Plan, Design, and Lead a Class Discussion Instructions:- 

• Work in groups of 5-6 students per group.
• Select a topic of your choice(from the topics covered during our Professional Skills course). 

Examples: Self-awareness, Time management skills, Techniques, and strategies, verbal or non-verbal communication, effective listening, teamwork skills, challenges and behavioural personalities, positive attitude, constructive and destructive feedback, etc.

Deadline to decide on the topic: (will be determined later)

Presentation Requirements:

Present your topic (as part of the group) in English.
Each group will have 15-18 minutes to deliver the presentation:
Each team member must speak for2-3 minutes.
After the presentation, there will be a 5-minute Q&A session:

• Questions may come from your classmates or the instructor.
• All team members must demonstrate confidence, respect, active listening, and a positive attitude while answering questions.

Group Deliverables:

1. Meeting Agenda:

Prepare and print a Meeting Agenda to submit after the group presentation.
The agenda must include:

• Date and time of the meetings.
• Purpose of each meeting.
• Names of team members.
• Decisions taken and plans agreed on.
   (One agenda per group)

2. Presentation Content:

• Use visuals in your presentation:
• Incorporate PowerPoint slides that include photographs, images, videos, or graphs to support your content.
• Include an interactive activity to engage your audience. (Please note: Kahoot is not permitted.)

Optional Creative Component:

• Each group may include one short video or film of their own creation related to the presentation topic. This can include interviews with students or a brief, topic-relevant scene. However, the video must remain within the group’s total allocated presentation time.
• Each group member is expected to speak for no less than 2 minutes.
• The video content should not replace your minimum individual speaking time; it is meant to support, not substitute, your part of the presentation.
• Only one video/film is allowed per group.

3. Time Limit:

Each group will have a total of 25 minutes:

• 15 minutes for the presentation.
• 5 minutes for Q&A.
• 5 minutes for engaging activity.

Team and Individual Expectations:

Each group member must:

• Actively contribute to the presentation and present a specific section of the topic.
• Show the ability to give and receive constructive feedback on their teamwork experience.

Demonstrate an understanding and application of the following course topics:

• Communication skills
• Active listening and analysis
• Speaking methods
• Teamwork
• Presentation skills
• Time management
• Confidence
• Interpersonal skills

Guidelines for Planning Your Group Presentation

Present your ideas clearly, thoroughly, and in a way that is easy to understand.
Referencing and Plagiarism:

• Reference all your research appropriately.
• Apply the principles learned about plagiarism by including all references on the last slide of your PowerPoint presentation.

Formative Assessment Details

I will meet with each group during the formative period to:

• Answer any questions you may have about your topic or presentation.
• Evaluate attitude, collaboration, and teamwork among group members.
• Assess your group’s progress on the PowerPoint slides:

(You must bring your PowerPoint slides to showcase your work-in-progress and the outcomes of your assigned topic)

Individual Case Study Reflection (In-class Written)

You will be given an individual written reflection in class based on a case study about a group working together and facing various challenges in collaboration.

You are expected to:

Apply your understanding of key concepts covered during the semester, such as:

• Identifying timewasters
• Applying techniques for managing and prioritising time, improving teamwork effectiveness
• Giving and receiving constructive feedback to enhance overall team performance

Write your reflection in English, demonstrating your ability to:

• Recognise issues presented in the case
• Propose practical and realistic solutions
• Apply relevant course concepts to real-life scenarios

Remember that this reflection is part of your final assessment and contributes directly to Learning Outcomes 3 and 4(LO3 and LO4).
 

Learning Outcomes Table