Not only does reflection help us to appreciate positive experiences, but it also allows us to more easily identify ways in which our professional practice and service delivery can be improved. In this way, engaging in reflective practice is thought to be crucial for ensuring continuous learning. However, despite being frequently encouraged to engage in reflection, often we are not taught how to reflect effectively. Reflection is more than simply talking or writing about our day. It is more than meeting with our team or our supervisor to discuss the activities and tasks that might or might not have been achieved.
The following post will share with you Gibbs' (1988) model of the reflective cycle and some key questions that you can ask yourself as a guide to improving your reflective practice.
The Reflective Cycle developed by Graham Gibbs in 1988 provides a continuous six-stage framework which individuals can use to examine and learn from their experiences. Whilst Gibbs originally advocated for its use in situations that are experienced frequently, the stages and questions outlined in the model can also be applied to reflections about single, standalone experiences too.
STAGE 1 - DESCRIPTION
What happened?
When and where did it happen?
Who else was present?
What was the outcome?
STAGE 2 - FEELINGS
What thoughts and feelings did you experience before, during and after the event?
What impact did this have on you?
What do you think other people were feeling?
How do you feel about the situation now?
STAGE 3 - EVALUATION
What was good about the experience?
What was bad about the experience?
STAGE 4 - ANALYSIS
Why did it go well?
Why did it not go well?
What sense can you make of the experience?
STAGE 5 - CONCLUSION
What did you learn from the situation?
How could it have been a more positive experience?
What else could you have done?
STAGE 6 - ACTION PLAN
What will you do differently next time?
How will you develop the necessary skills to act differently?
Although it was not formally acknowledged in Gibbs' work, some researchers have since suggested that it can be beneficial to add an additional step to the start of this reflective cycle.
STAGE 0 - EXPECTATIONS
What did you expect to happen?
I hope that you have found this blog post to be an interesting and informative read. If you have any questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment or get in touch with me directly. My contact information is at the bottom of the page.
What does your current reflective practice look like?
References
Gibbs G. (1988). Learning by Doing: A guide to teaching and learning methods. Further Education Unit. Oxford Polytechnic: Oxford.
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