Reflection

Why reflect?

Reflection is critical to learning how to learn (metacognition) and being a successful self-directed learner. Being a 'learning worker' keeps us relevant and valuable in the 21st century workplace, as Jacob Morgan argues.

4 steps to self-directed learning:

1. Being ready to learn

2. Setting learning goals (your purpose)

3. Engaging in the learning process

4. Evaluating learning

Reflection Models

Choose from one of the 4 models below to help you move to the higher levels of reflection. An insightful reflection avoids vague or superficial statements at these higher levels. They should also take up a substantial part of your reflection; they shouldn't be just a throwaway line or two at the end!

A. Holmes:

• 1. What did I do?

  2. How do I think/feel about this?

  3. What did I think about but not say (or what did I want to say but did not)?

  4. How well (or badly) did it go?

  5. What did I learn?

  6. What will I do differently next time?

  7. How will I do it differently next time?

  8. What have I achieved?

  9. What have I learnt about myself?

  10. How have I put any theory into practice?

  11. How does what I have been doing lead to me becoming better at a skill?

  12. How can I use this to plan for the future?

  13. (How) can I use this to plan new learning experiences?

B. Peter Pappas:

How does reflection work?

Watch the videos below.

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