importance of reflective practice
A load of research has been done on learning and reflective practice and its effectiveness on the practitioners and one of the first people to research reflective Practice was Donald Schon in his book “The Reflective Practitioner” in 1983. Schon was an influential writer on reflection and had two main ways of identifying reflection and they were reflection in action and reflection on action. “The practitioner allows himself to experience surprise, puzzlement, or confusion in a situation which he finds uncertain or unique. He reflects on the phenomenon before him, and on the prior understandings which have been implicit in his behaviour. He carries out an experiment which serves to generate both a new understanding of the phenomenon and a change in the situation”. (Schon 1983) Reflective practice has been described as ‘paying critical attention to the practical values and theories which inform everyday actions, by examining practice reflectively and reflexively. This leads to developmental insight’. (www.wikipedia.org, 3rd Jan 2011).
Reflection is an important part of the learning process and is needed for effective learning. Reflection is a form of self-awareness and learners that can reflect are better able to understand themselves and the learning process. Reflection can help us control over our own learning and achievements. Reflection leads to learning from experience and outlines strengths and weaknesses; by completing action plans to work on weaknesses will lead to continued learning and improvement. Rogers (1996,) states “Reflection on experience to action forms a large part of the learning process”.
The process of reflection helps the practitioner to assess, understand and gain knowledge through experience leading to potential improvement and change. This is a positive process that lets me go over and examine and then evaluate so I can develop as a learner and a youth worker. The ability to reflect on practice helps me to consider my needs
Reflection is an important part of the learning process and is needed for effective learning. Reflection is a form of self-awareness and learners that can reflect are better able to understand themselves and the learning process. Reflection can help us control over our own learning and achievements. Reflection leads to learning from experience and outlines strengths and weaknesses; by completing action plans to work on weaknesses will lead to continued learning and improvement. Rogers (1996,) states “Reflection on experience to action forms a large part of the learning process”.
The process of reflection helps the practitioner to assess, understand and gain knowledge through experience leading to potential improvement and change. This is a positive process that lets me go over and examine and then evaluate so I can develop as a learner and a youth worker. The ability to reflect on practice helps me to consider my needs
References: Thompson N. “People Skills second edition” Hampshire and 175 Fifth Avenue New York, Palgrave Macmillan (2002) Thompson S. & Thompson N. “The Critically Reflective Practitioner” Hampshire and 175 Fifth Avenue New York, Palgrave Macmillan (2008) Redmond, Bairbre. (2004) Reflection in Action Developing Reflective Practice in Health and Social Services. Aldershot, England: Ashgate Share, P. & Lalor, K. (2009) Applied Social Care (2nd Ed). Dublin: Gill & Macmillan http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/experience.htm http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-schon.htm http://www.itslifejimbutnotasweknowit.org.uk/files/whatisreflectivepractice.pdf