Reflective Writing

Good Reflective Writing

CPD and study will usually require elements of reflective reading, reflective writing and reflective practice.

What is Reflective writing:

Provides a way in which you can make best use of an experience.
Can be used to record your progress throughout your study/practice.
Can improve your performance by using the outcome of reflection to inform future practice.
Is a means of learning by making links between theory and your practice.
Is a skill which can continue to help you develop professionally.

Demonstrates personal insight into how you are performing and show learning from your everyday experiences.
Has some evidence of critical thinking and analysis, describing your own thought processes
Reveals self-awareness, demonstrating openness and honesty about performance along with some consideration of your own feelings
Contains some evidence of learning, appropriately describing what needs to be learned, why and how
Includes appropriate linkage to relevant criteria/curriculum (where this is relevant)
Demonstrates behaviours that allow linkage to one or more competence areas (where this is relevant)

Just a description of what you did or read.
A detailed description of what actually took place. (It should be a brief account of the key events/ideas only).
Irrelevant details that don't discuss the experience in context.

Gibbs’ reflective cycle is a popular framework for reflection. The framework includes 6 stages of reflection and is illustrated below.

Gibbs, G. (1988). Learning by Doing. A Guide to Teaching and Learning Methods. Oxford: Oxford Brookes Further Education Unit.

Did you know the library offers Training Sessions?

You can find out more about some of the training sessions we offer including Reflective Writing here.

These can take place either in the Library or at your place of work and can be delivered as group session or 1:1.