Reflective Practice - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages... Basically the adult learners who are engaged in some kind of  professional activity which they can use to reflect on their strengths, weaknesses and areas for development are called  reflective practitioners. Thus, reflective practice has become a very important aspect of professional training programmes and its use is encouraged by the teachers and mentors for self analysis and development. Reflection is an active, live and an ongoing process which is usually initiated when the professional encounters some problems in his practice which he is unable to fully comprehend. As per Schön (1987) there are two types of reflection, these are reflection-in-action -- thinking on your feet and reflection-on-action --retrospective thinking. Clamp (1980) said that the attitudes of the nurses is mainly responsible  for the care to be administered to their client and usually the reasons for the improper care are ignorance and wrong attitudes. Therefore the process of reflection can help the individual in gaining the required knowledge and help in improving the quality of the care that person can give to his patients. As is clear from the above discussion that the most useful result or outcome of reflective practice is Learning (Mezirow ,1981) I for most part of my career has been  primarily utilizing the retrospective thinking. See appendix 1 for my reflections. In all disciplines, the use of reflection in action  and on action (after you have done it) has become an important feature of professional training programmes....
Therefore the process of reflection can help the individual in gaining the required knowledge and help in improving the quality of the care that person can give to his patients. As is clear from the above discussion that the most useful result or outcome of reflective practice is Learning (Mezirow ,1981) I for most part of my career has been primarily utilizing the retrospective thinking. See appendix 1 for my reflections.
In all disciplines, the use of reflection in action (while doing something) and on action (after you have done it) has become an important feature of professional training programmes. Usually all mentors or teachers encourage their wards or staff to use reflective practices in their professions. It has been said that "the "real" reflective practice needs another person as mentor or professional supervisor, who can ask appropriate questions to ensure that the reflection goes somewhere, and does not get bogged down in self-justification, self-indulgence or self-pity!" (Atherton, 2005)
Infact, many educationists have described Reflections as one of the most important tool for self analysis and self improvement. Dewey (1933) who was an educationist conceptualized his version of reflective practice through experiential learning theories and defined reflection as: "An active persistent and careful consideration of any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the grounds that support it and the further conclusion to which it tends."
As a part of my Portfolio of Learning Achievement (PLA), I have tried to use reflective practice as a tool for self assessment and improvement. Schon recommended that reflective practice ...Download file to see next pagesRead More