Reflective practice A tool to support my learning & development
This presentation aims to address the following questions: What is reflection/reflective practice? What does reflection do? What skills do I need? How do I record my reflective practice? If you want to read the notes that go with each slide, please click ‘view’ in the powerpoint menu bar and select ‘notes page’.
What is reflection? ‘An active persistent & careful consideration of any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the grounds that support it & the further conclusion to which it tends’ Dewey (1910. p6)
Reflection as a process ‘The process of reviewing an episode of practice to describe, analyse, evaluate and inform professional learning: in such a way, new learning modifies previous perceptions, assumptions and understanding, and the application of this learning to practice influences treatment approaches and outcomes’ CSP (2002)
When does reflection happen? Reflection on action Reflection in action (Schön, 1991) Reflection for action (Cowan, 1998)
WHAT DOES REFLECTION DO?
The reflective process.... ‘is the core difference between whether a person repeats that same experience several times becoming highly proficient at one behaviour or learns from experience in such a way that he or she is cognitively or affectively changed’ (Boyd & Fales, 1983)
Reflection and learning (Kolb, 1984) Actual experience Observe & reflect on the experience Draw out general principles & ideas Plan action using general principles Asking how Analysing why Making a judgement Doing
Reflective practice can also... bridge theory and practice; facilitate questioning of practice and a critical analysis of experiences; facilitate change (personal or organisational); increase accountability and improve the quality of services delivered. (Ghaye & Lillyman, 1997; Hull & Redfern, 1996)
WHAT SKILLS DO I NEED?
Reflective practice: integration of affective and cognitive skills AFFECTIVE SKILLS COGNITIVE SKILLS
Cognitive skills for reflective practice Higher order thinking skills Bloom et al (1964)
Failing to learn from reflection – is the cycle complete? Actual experience Observe & reflect on the experience Draw out general principles & ideas Plan action using general principles Active experimentation (Cowan, 1998) Risk of incomplete learning
HOW DO I RECORD MY REFLECTIVE PRACTICE?
Benefits of recording reflective practice recorded account can be analysed in a more objective manner process of documenting can provide structure to thoughts/ideas recorded account is permanent - can be reviewed later enables the development of self-awareness by creating a personal/professional history Bolton (2001)
Some suggestions for recording reflective practice handwritten text e.g. journaling, use of proformas audio recording e.g. using digital recorder on mobile phone/MP3 player to record thoughts/peer reflection blogging/use of iPhone - a digital form of journal keeping visual records e.g. photographs, drawings, mindmaps, decision-trees Experiment to find what works best for you... make sure that whatever format you use to store your work securely.
Summary: what reflective practice can do personal a form of learning/development helps identify personal targets/goals fulfil regulators’/employers’ expectations professional enhances practice political increases awareness of wider issues facilitates change
References: Bloom BS, Krathwohl DR, Masia BS (1964) Taxonomy of educational objectives. Book 2: affective domain. London; Longman Group Bolton G (2001) Reflective practice: writing and professional development. London; Paul Chapman Publishing Ltd. Boyd EM, Fales AW (1983) Reflective learning : key to learning from experience. J Humanistic Psych 23(2) Cowan (1998) On becoming an innovative university lecturer: reflection in action. Buckingham; SHRE/Open University Press Dewey J (1910) How we think. Boston; DC Heath & Co. Ghaye T, Lillyman S (1997) Learning journals & clinical incidents: reflective practice for healthcare professionals. Dinton: Quay Books Hull C, Redfern L (1996) Profiles & portfolios: a guide for Nurses and midwives. Basingstoke: Macmillan Press Schön DA (1991) The reflective practitioner: how professionals think in action. Avebury: Arena