5. Reflection and reflective practice
What is reflection and reflective practice?
Reflection is a key tool for learning in Higher Education, both to increase the ability to learn independently and to improve performance in a wide range of academic tasks. It also increases self-awareness, and supports successful progression in workplace contexts through career development opportunities.
Reflection is the ability to look back at experiences, question them in greater depth, and to make sense of them in order to repeat what worked well and to learn from mistakes. Study modules can usefully include elements of evaluation, review, reflection and self-assessment, while assignment feedback and tutorial discussions should also encourage in-depth thinking about specific approaches, ideas, and ways of working. Helping students to develop a habit of reflection and reflective practice in a range of situations will prove an invaluable life skill for managing future progress. It is increasingly valued as essential for development within many professional communities and organisations.
Reflection helps students to:
- Understand the process of their learning and its application
- Identify, while in a situation, the best action to take
- Recognise strengths and weaknesses, and ways to improve
- Assess the extent to which they are achieving goals, and any potential barriers
- Consider how to address skills or knowledge gaps
- Increase self-awareness and personal effectiveness
Reflecting is the process of thinking about and sorting out ideas, reactions, attitudes, and behaviours, in order to gain new insights.
Recording reflections
Recording reflections helps track progress and self-development, clarify understanding, and focus ideas for constructive action - perhaps to approach a situation differently next time. For example, keeping notes on experiences and insights on a placement experience helps extract your key learning and action points, and strategies for applying these in future situations.
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