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Introduction
Introduction
Reflective practice is the process of thoughtfully considering your actions and experiences to foster learning. It's a crucial part of learning from experiences, as research suggests that experience alone isn't enough for genuine learning unless it's thoughtfully analysed.
While reflecting on the past is a natural human trait, reflective practice involves a deliberate effort to analyse events and gain insights, enriching your knowledge and enhancing your understanding.
For apprentices, honing reflective skills is vital to effectively develop workplace skills and behaviours. It's also a key component of your Endpoint Assessment. There are numerous models and tools to aid your reflective practice.
This page offers a variety of resources to kick-start your reflective journey:
Why Reflect- The first section considers why reflection is important and the benefits you will gain.
Using a Reflective Model- The second section will help you to select a reflective model to guide your reflection, which is right for you.
Creating a Good Learning Journal Entry- The third section provides guidance and examples to help you craft a good learning journal entry.
Need some help?- The last section is designed to provide extra help and support if you are struggling to get started.
Why Reflect?
Why Reflect?
Reflection should not just be a box-ticking exercise—it should be engaging and constructive. Here are some articles and short videos which explain the personal and professional benefits you will gain from regular reflection.
Personal Empowerment through Reflection and Learning | Dr. Craig Mertler | TEDxLakelandUniversity
Personal Empowerment through Reflection and Learning | Dr. Craig Mertler | TEDxLakelandUniversity
How we empower ourselves to become better people through a systematic process that incorporates individual reflection?
The Value of Self-Reflection
The Value of Self-Reflection
Self-reflection is a super important factor in living a better life. When we fail to reflect on our lives, we lose sight of the things that are most important.
Using a Reflective Model
Using a Reflective Model
Develop your reflective skills for personal and professional growth with these key models. For a straightforward approach, start with Driscoll's Model, which uses three guiding questions. If you're seeking deeper insights, consider Gibbs' Reflective Cycle and Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle, which offer structured stages for thorough analysis. Enhance adaptability and decision-making with Schön's Reflective Practice, or focus on critical thinking with Dewey's Reflective Thinking. For emotional intelligence and learning from past experiences, Boud's Model is invaluable.
Explore these models to find the right fit for your reflective journey!
Driscoll's Model of Reflection
Driscoll's Model of Reflection
Driscoll's model uses three simple questions: "What?", "So what?", and "Now what?".
This straightforward framework helps you understand your experiences, derive meaningful insights, and plan improvements, promoting clarity and focused personal growth.
Introducing the “What, So What, Now What” Model
Introducing the “What, So What, Now What” Model
We reflect all the time, anytime we think back on something that happened and imagine how we might do it differently next time.
Gibbs' Reflective Cycle
Gibbs' Reflective Cycle
Gibbs' model guides you through six stages: description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion, and action plan.
By following this structure, you can systematically explore your experiences, enhancing self-awareness and guiding future actions for both personal and professional development.
Gibbs' Reflective Cycle Explained
Gibbs' Reflective Cycle Explained
In this video, we'll explain the theory behind Gibbs' Reflective Cycle.
Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle
Kolb's Experiential Learning Cycle
Kolb's cycle involves concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualisation, and active experimentation.
By integrating theory and practice, you can foster adaptive learning and innovation in your personal and professional life.
How to Develop a Growth Mindset using Kolb's Learning Cycle
How to Develop a Growth Mindset using Kolb's Learning Cycle
If we want to have a growth mindset, we need to ensure we are developing effectively.
Schön's Reflective Practice
Schön's Reflective Practice
Schön distinguishes between reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action.
By reflecting during and after experiences, you can enhance your adaptability and problem-solving skills, leading to improved professional practice and decision-making.
Reflection On Action vs. In Action
Reflection On Action vs. In Action
By reflecting during and after experiences, you can enhance your adaptability and problem-solving skills, leading to improved professional practice and decision-making..
Dewey's Reflective Thinking
Dewey's Reflective Thinking
Dewey emphasises reflective thinking as an iterative process of active, persistent, and careful consideration.
By using this model, you can develop critical thinking skills and informed decision-making, benefiting both your personal insight and professional judgement.
John Dewey: Unleash The Power of Learning By Doing
John Dewey: Unleash The Power of Learning By Doing
Is learning all about textbooks and lectures? John Dewey challenges that notion! This video explores Dewey's groundbreaking theory, which emphasises learning through hands-on experience.
Boud's Reflection Model
Boud's Reflection Model
Boud's model focuses on returning to experience, attending to feelings, and re-evaluating the experience.
This approach helps you learn from emotions and past events, fostering emotional intelligence and personal development.
Boud Reflection Model
Boud Reflection Model
A brief practical overview of how to take your first steps with this model.
Creating a Good Learning Journal Entry
Creating a Good Learning Journal Entry
Creating a good Learning Journal entry is crucial for maximising the benefits of your learning experiences. By taking the time to reflect on your learning, you can deepen your understanding of the material and enhance retention, making it easier to recall and apply in real-world situations.
The Learning Journal function in OneFile logs both on-the-job and off-the-job training, essential for demonstrating apprenticeship compliance, securing funding, and providing evidence for your End-Point Assessment (EPA). It ensures accurate documentation and captures reflections, supporting personal development and formal assessments.
Tips for effective reflective practice
Tips for effective reflective practice
Apprentices who complete their Learning Journal entries regularly save a lot of time later on! Make time for reflection and dedicate time each week. Be sure to log your hours regularly and aim to log a minimum of six hours of off-the-job activity each week (on average).
Tuition periods
Tuition periods
During tuition periods, you should spend time each day to reflect on the day’s teaching and learning. One week of tuition/5 days teaching = 50 mins (10 mins per teaching day). A Skills and Behaviours Live Online session equals 20 mins per session.
Non-tuition periods
Non-tuition periods
During periods of no formal tuition, you are still learning, and we would still expect you to update your Learning Journal regularly.
Reflect on your learning
Reflect on your learning
Journal to demonstrate your learning, reflecting on what you have learnt and how you will apply it in the workplace.
Choose a quiet place where you can concentrate.
Reflect honestly on your experiences, including both successes and challenges.
Provide specific examples to illustrate your points.
Ensure your reflections are linked to the relevant KSB criteria.
Key Questions
Key Questions
What have you learned?
What impact has this learning had on you?
How will this learning be applied and implemented in your job role?
Learning Journal: OneFile demo
Learning Journal: OneFile demo
In this demonstration, we’ll guide you through how to record your learning activities in our online portfolio platform, OneFile.
Select the play button to learn more.
To see some examples of good learning journal entries, click the button below.
To see some examples of good learning journal entries, click the button below.
Tips
Tips
Add the right title for your entry. The title should be clear and easy to understand- the title of the course or activity.
Select the right learning category- you can remind yourself of the categories by clicking the button below.
Add the date, start time and duration of your learning activity, as this contributes to your recorded learning hours
Remember to reference your learning against the Skills and Behaviour criteria, which will show your progression within your apprenticeship.
Need some help?
Need some help?
Sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start or overcome the obstacles that prevent us from reflecting. We often learn more from our mistakes than from our successes. Don't be afraid to start with something that has not gone well, try to see this as an opportunity rather than dwelling on the mistake, be open to feedback from others, as this is how you will learn much more quickly. Within your business, others with fantastic experience have made the same mistakes along their journey, and most are happy to share this with you.
Here are a few short courses on reflection to get you started.
Taking Control of Your Development
If you need additional help then sign up for a live online Skills Session. Our 2.5-hour online sessions encourage active participation, allowing you to exchange ideas with tutors and fellow apprentices.
By participating, you will:
Gain a deeper understanding of what motivates you in your professional life.
Explore various reflective models and identify practical tools for self-reflection.
Discover the secret to optimising your learning experience.
Click on the link below to find out when the next session is running.
Click on the button below to access some additional resources to help you develop your reflective writing skills.
Common Obstacles
Common Obstacles
If you are still unsure where to begin, here are some tips to overcome the most common obstacles to reflection.
Obstacle 1: I’m not sure what I’m doing
Overcome It By...
Give yourself a chance to look through the resources on this page, there are some great tools and techniques and good advice. Reflection isn’t easy but becomes easier by practising! Making a commitment to regular reflection does require a commitment, but the benefits in the long term are significant and are the key to accelerated development in your professional career.
Obstacle 4: I can’t find a place to reflect
It can be difficult in a busy office environment to find a quiet space to think. Pick your moments, and try and find a place where you can just sit quietly for 10-15 mins. How quiet the surroundings are is a personal preference, some prefer a high level of silence to concentrate, whereas others like background noise or music. Find somewhere that works for you!
Obstacle 2: I don’t have the time
We are all busy people, but should always try and find the time to do the things that benefit us the most. By taking just a small amount of time each week- just 10-15 mins will have a big impact.
Obstacle 5: Personal biases
We all have our own biases and filters when we consider our performance. This can make it difficult to see a true picture and can devalue the impact of your reflection. Try to include feedback from others as part of your reflection, you may have to ask for this. If this is not available then try to put yourself in the position of others and consider your performance from their perspective. You will notice that the deeper reflective models include the opinions and feelings of others to give a less subjective view.
Obstacle 3: I don’t feel confident
Often confidence with reflection comes from over complicating the process. Start with a simple model like Schon or Borton, once you have mastered this you can extend your reflection to a deeper model like Boud or Gibbs. Remember your reflections are for your development and you have creative control, others will only see the finished product when you are ready.
Obstacle 6: How do I write reflectively?
Obstacle 6: How do I write reflectively?
Don't just describe, explore and explain.
Be honest, it is ok to admit mistakes as well as successes
Be selective, choose key events and ideas
Look to the future, reflect on the past and look at the impact it will have on the future.
Click on the button below to access some additional resources to help you develop your reflective writing skills.
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