By Helen Fidell 22 October 2013
What is Reflective Learning?
There is no one definition of reflective learning as it is an idea based on looking further into a subject or matter in depth. Then analysing it and processing it to a different level. It is a learning skill that requires ongoing development through further education and into a career.
Evelyn M Boyd and Ann W Fales state that reflective learning is the process of internally examining and exploring an issue of concern, triggered by an experience, which creates and clarifies meaning in terms of self, and which results in a changed conceptual perspective.
Evelyn M. Boyd and Ann W. Fales. The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Journal of Humanistic Psychology SPRING 1983 vol. 23 no. 2 99-117
John Dewey in the early 21st century had a theory that Personal Development had to be from the personal perspective. Over recent times he had observed that learning practises had become impersonal and in order to achieve a greater understanding of learning, a person had to use “I.”
His belief was
‘Active, persistent and careful consideration of any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the grounds that support it, and further conclusions to which it leads…it includes a conscious and voluntary effort to establish belief upon a firm basis of evidence and rationality’ (Dewey, 1933).
My understanding of the term is that a review of information gathered or imparted needs to be looked at later in time to re-evaluate your interpretation and understanding of it and its relevance to you. It also allows an individual to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and develop their learning skills over time allowing them to review and improve their work.
During a learning process such as the Foundation Degree in Business Management, reflection, is vital to understanding learning skills and career pathway but also gaining a greater insight into fellow pupils learning styles and