1. Leadership and professional development
Revised march 2018
Professor Robin Matthews

2. A Personal Development Portfolio (PDP) circa 4,000 words based on the following:
a critical reflection on prior learning,
an individual CPD programme setting out the student’s’ learning journey across the doctoral programme, and beyond
a critical discussion on how the doctoral programme of study will inform future professional development and practice.
The PDP will incorporate a plan with a comprehensive reflective narrative which:
Summarises personal development to date (a Personal Development Position Statement) including personal strengths and weaknesses;
States current and future career aspirations and personal development requirements to progress towards these aspirations;
Considers personal development modes and methods to address requirements;
Formulates a detailed 5-year personal development planning to include development providers and associated costs; and
Identifies ways in which the PDP can be evaluated.

3. Personal development portfolio; scheme
Past
Future
Alternative paths
Upside risks
intention
Chosen
Downside risks
alternative paths
Impact analysis
Probability x utility
now

4. Leadership: critical literature review
A critical reflective evaluation (circa 4,000 words) of one of the main leadership theories/frameworks. In so doing, students are expected to demonstrate understanding of a substantial body of academic and professional knowledge. In particular, critical engagement with the key areas of research philosophy and methods which underpin the leadership theory selected is required.

5. Personality, learning, skills and leadership tests
Learning Styles test: Kolb
Leadership potential test 16 pf: my skills profile
Myers Briggs
Empathy Quotient
The Enneagram:  A Typology of Personality
similarminds.com/test.htm

6. 11/13/2018
robindcmatthews.com

7. NEUROPLASTICITY
Neuroplasticity describes genetic adaptation to life experience; many aspects of the brain can be altered (plastic) even through adulthood; forming new neural connections throughout life.
Neuroplasticity allows the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain to compensate for injury and disease and to adjust their activities in response to new situations or to changes in their environment.
Dilemma
If neural system is plastic,
is neuro subjection and cognitive mutation: the Google strategy.
is it possible to develop a project of neuro emancipation from our surrounding reality.
Focus on 2 (for now)
"………….alterations in gene expression within subjects associated with mindfulness meditation practice," Richard J. Davidson, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Comparison of the effects of a day of intensive mindfulness practice between
a group of experienced meditators and
a group of untrained control subjects who engaged in quiet non-meditative activities. After an intensive day of mindfulness practice, the meditators showed a dramatic range of genetic and molecular differences.
the researchers were surprised to find that there was no difference in the tested genes between the two groups of people at the beginning of the study.
11/13/2018
robindcmatthews.com

8. Meta cognition: definitions
“The knowledge and control children have over their own thinking and learning activities” (Cross & Paris, 1988, p. 131)
“Awareness of one’s own thinking, awareness of the content of one’s conceptions, an active monitoring of one’s cognitive processes, an attempt to regulate one’s cognitive processes in relationship to further learning, and an application of a set of heuristics as an effective device for helping people organize their methods of attack on problems in general” (Hennessey, 1999, p. 3)
“Awareness and management of one’s own thought” (Kuhn & Dean, 2004, p. 270)
“The monitoring and control of thought” (Martinez, 2006, p. 696)
11/13/2018
robindcmatthews.com

9. Critical thinking and metacognition (1)
analyzing arguments
making inferences using inductive or deductive reasoning
judging or evaluating
making decisions or solving problems
attitudes or habits of mind:
open- and fair-mindedness,
flexibility, willingness to entertain diverse viewpoints
propensity to seek reason,
Inquisitiveness, desire to be well-informed,
11/13/2018
robindcmatthews.com

10. Critical thinking and metacognition (2)
considering the basis of beliefs
partitioning conceptions to assess competing conceptions;
considering the relationship between conceptions and evidence
considering explicitly the status of one’s own conceptions;
evaluating the consistency and generalizability inherent in conceptions
11/13/2018
robindcmatthews.com

11. Developing metacognition
Before a Task - Is this similar to a previous task? What do I want to achieve? What should I do first?
During The Task - Am I on the right track? What can I do differently? Who can I ask for help?
After a Task - What worked well? What could I have done better? Can I apply this to other situations?
11/13/2018
robindcmatthews.com

12. Mindfulness: related concepts
REFLECTION, MEDITATION, CONTEMPLATION, IMAGINATION, INTUITION, MYSTICISM, SPIRITUALITY, DECONSTRUCTION, MARTIAL ARTS, ALTERNATIVE GRAMMARS, CREATIVITY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, INNOVATION, LATERAL THINKING, OUT OF THE BOX THINKING, RISK TAKING, DARE TO THINK IN A DIFFERENT WAY, AUTHENTICITY.
11/13/2018
robindcmatthews.com

13. MINDFULNESS Two main constructs
1. AWARENESS; acknowledging thoughts and feelings
2. ACCEPTANCE; accepting thoughts an feelings non judgementally
Actively noticing new things
Focus on the present
Avoiding negative evaluations
Avoiding turbulent inner narratives
11/13/2018
robindcmatthews.com

14. Mindfulness and business performance (correlates)
11/13/2018
robindcmatthews.com
Emma Dolman and Dave Bond The Ashridge Journal Mindful leadership: Exploring the value of a meditation practice Spring 2011

15. Neuronal network and plasticity change as a function of experience.
Altered neural connectivity leads to distinct transcriptional programs of neuronal plasticity-related genes. The environmental challenges throughout life may promote long-lasting reprogramming of gene expression and the development of brain disorders.
The modifications in neuronal epigenome mediate gene-environmental interactions and are required for activity-dependent regulation of neuronal differentiation, maturation and plasticity. Here, we highlight the latest advances in understanding the role of the main players of epigenetic machinery (DNA methylation and demethylation, histone modifications, chromatin-remodeling enzymes, transposons, and non-coding RNAs) in activity-dependent and long- term neural and synaptic plasticity. The review focuses on both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression levels, including the processes of promoter activation, alternative splicing, regulation of stability of gene transcripts by natural antisense RNAs, and alternative polyadenylation. Further, we discuss the epigenetic aspects of impaired neuronal plasticity and the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental (Rett syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome, genomic imprinting disorders, schizophrenia, and others), stressrelated (mood disorders) and neurodegenerative Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's disorders. The review also highlights the pharmacological compounds that modulate epigenetic programming of gene expression, the potential treatment strategies of discussed brain disorders, and the questions that should be addressed during the development of effective and safe approaches for the treatment of brain disorders.
11/13/2018
robindcmatthews.com

16. 11/13/2018
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17. 11/13/2018
robindcmatthews.com

19. The main proposition of Kolb’s experiential learning theory is that learning consists of 4 independent constructs;
Concrete experience; concrete experience means responding to the world essentially through experiencing feelings and emotions
Reflective observation; reflective observation refers to learning through the recollection of detailed experiences in the past and reflecting on new experiences.
Abstract conceptualisation; abstract conceptualisation refers to making sense and creating meaning out of our experiences and as a result making plans to guide actions in the future.
Active experimentation; active experimentation refers to testing our plans for the future through putting them into action.
Learning style refers to preferences that individuals have for some ways of learning rather than others.

21. Using the 4 learning constructs, Kolb identifies 4 unique learning styles that describe the way individuals learn;
Diverging style describes a preference for learning by creating new ideas and imagining new possibilities.
Assimilating style describes a preference for using multiple sources of information and logical analysis and systematic organisation of information.
Converging style describes learning through solving practical problems in making decision about problems and focusing on the problems rather than upon the people involved with the problems.
Accommodating style is one in which individuals prefer to learn by acting taking risks and taking on leadership roles.

24. The E LT model uses 2 binary/dialectical relationships in a learning cycle
concrete experience and abstract conceptualisation
reflective observation and active experimentation.
E LT proposes a relationship between centres of the brain and the learning process;
neural correlates in the learning circle
concrete experiences and the sensory cortex
reflective observation and the integrative cortex
new abstract concepts in the frontal integrative cortex
active testing in the motor brain.

26. 1. Validity; a test is valid if it measures what it claims to measure
1. Validity; a test is valid if it measures what it claims to measure. For example, in the Kolb learning inventory, is the test measuring learning styles, or is it measuring something else such as the ability to memorise, or the impact of a very influential teacher on the person being tested.
Internal validity refers to whether the observations are due to the explanatory variable and not to some other variable.
External validity refers to the extent to which the results of a study can be generalised.
Reliability refers to the consistency of the test. For example, when we way ourselves, we expect that the weighing machines will be reliable in the sense that one machine gives the same weight as another