As an online learner, aiming to be a professional in the field of Procurement Contracts Manager, I have learned the following:
That the skills and attributes I need in order to be successful, is to be able to facilitate the delivery of technical projects by sourcing, managing and coordinating project resources and also to carry the necessary skills to negotiate and advise clients on the most appropriate contract to use when engaging new services. To achieve this, I need to be a strong communicator by providing regular feedback on progress and encouraging a team to engage actively in the discussion so as to form new ideas and work through challenges. I will also need to collaborate closely with my peers and fellow colleagues. By working together, I can form closer bonds and stand to gain important insight and views from a collective group of people who may share a similar view, or provide me with an alternative solution to a problem I may have encountered. I will also need to think critically this is particularly important in developing strong negotiation skills. The 21st-century skills of (Teknolojileri, 2013), will assist me on my path to success as a Procurement Contracts Manager. Learning online is different to when I was at school and taught under the transmissionist model of education (Murphy 2000). I can recall the teacher standing at the front of the class projecting his or her knowledge down to us. Seldom were we asked for our opinions or experience, it was a “black and white” means of teaching and the students that performed well in class were those who could recall scripted information from the study text (Murphy 2000). Not having the power of a voice projecting their thoughts and opinions in real time upon you, is taking some getting use too. Learning in the digital age is teaching me to draw on my past experiences and analyse the information presented to me instead of simply accepting as it is presented Jean Piaget (Atherton, 2013); and to share my knowledge on a subject with my fellow students in a more social and constructive environment (Berkeley University of California, 2015). The level of support tools and access to information that is now available to me through learning online, was never available during my time at school over 30 years ago. YouTube videos such as “How to get the most out of studying (Chew, 2011)” has provided me with a structured understanding of how to apply myself to study, something that was not explained to me during the transmission model of education (Murphy 2000).
To consume, produce and share credible information in areas of interest and study, I will need to pay particular attention of where the information has come from. Studying in the 21st century means that research information is obtainable by many media sources (the internet, social media, audio and video formats) meaning, “we can share with and learn from anybody else”, “in a world that has been transformed by the internet and by digital tools” (Edutopia, 2013). With this incredibly vast level of information comes a high degree of uncertainty that the information we are receiving is at all credible. Sites such a Wikipedia have become the “go to place” when in search of information. Now ordinary people can post their views and knowledge on a particular subject in a place where your knowledge and information can be shared, critiqued and continually evolve over time. If we’re connected to the internet anyone can publish content, design it, promote it and distribute it (Elyse Eidman-Aadahl on Writing in the Digital Age (Big Thinkers Series) (2013). As an individual providing such information I will need to take responsibility to ensure that what I share or receive is credible. By using Metzger’s (2007, p.2079) points of evaluating the credibility of an online resource, I can check the information I have received is accurate and free from errors (accuracy); check the author’s credentials, qualifications and if it’s been recommended by a credible source (accurate); if the information on the site is fact or opinion or if its intent may be of commercial benefit (objectivity); whether the information is current (currency); and if the sites information carries depth and is comprehensive (coverage).
To conclude, as an on learner aiming to achieve my professional field will require adopting the 21st century skills (Teknolojileri, 2013), learning to work in a social and constructive manner with the people around me, consuming, producing and sharing information during my learning experience and the information I obtain and produce is of a credible nature and has come from credible sources, Miriam J. Metzger’s (2007) criteria.

References
• Atherton, JS 2013, Learning and Teaching; Piaget's developmental theory, viewed 19 November 2015, <http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/piaget.htm>.
• Berkeley University of California 2015, Social Constructivism, viewed 19 November 2015, <http://gsi.berkeley.edu/gsi-guide-contents/learning-theory-research/social-constructivism/>.
• Chew, SL 2011, How to get the most out of studying, viewed 19 November 2015, <http://www.samford.edu/departments/academic-success-center/how-to-study>.
• Edutopia 2013, Elyse Eidman-Aadahl on Writing in the Digital Age (Big Thinkers Series), 24 September, viewed 19 November 2015, <https://youtu.be/sUlrzkpIgq8>.Miriam J. Metzger's (2007)
• Transmission model of education (Murphy 2000) as cited on Swinburne Online COM10003 Learning and Communicating Online Week 2 learning materials “How we learn - we're all in this together”
• Teknolojileri, B 2013, 21st century skills, 22 March, viewed 19 November 2015, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwJIhZcAd0II>.