Why do we need to reflect?

Learning Activity

Why reflect?

Purpose:

·         To assist participants to recognise the value of reflection.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Discuss ways in which reflection can contribute to learning and professional practice
• Reflect on how this fits into their own learning preferences

• Consider ways of encouraging reflection with their own learners

Resources needed:

• ‘Why reflect’ statements
• Media files / videos / examples of others reflections to stimulate thinking on the theme of reflection (e.g. May’s video)

Activity:

NOTE: You can use sections of this activity, over a number of sessions, or run it as an integrated activity over one session.

Examples / videos / case studies can be introduced before parts 1 or 2

Part 1 – Individual work

• Participants consider the ‘why reflect’ statements and consider how or if they currently address the aspects of their professional practice which the statements cover. Are there gaps / additions?

Part 2 – Group work

• Share thoughts from individual work and summarise – in writing; verbally; visually (i.e. create a visual image of ways in which the statements could be addressed by actions and / or reflection) to rest of group

Part 3 – Plenary

Share the results of Parts 1 and 2, and consider:

·         Whether reflection could potentially help participants as teachers in the ways suggested.

·         Ways in which participants could enable their own learners to use reflection

Reflection can help us to feel more aware of and confident in ourselves generally, and in our teaching role. It can help us to:

• Make the best use of the knowledge available.
• Be conscious of our potential for bias & discrimination.
• Challenge & develop the existing professional knowledge base
• Maximise our own opportunities for learning.
• Recognise what we do well so that we can apply these skills in other situations
• Improve professional judgment
• Learn from successes and mistakes to enhance development
• Plan for future situations and therefore respond more positively to change