reflective writing sample

reflective writing sample

The Importance of Reflective Writing

1. Introduction

It sheds light on the fact that reflective writing is not only helpful in the education of teachers, but also teachers can use this method to improve the learning of their students. Reflective writing is a way of thinking back on an incident, idea, or even a theory in order to learn from it. In the teaching profession, it is not enough to learn a concept or theory, then try to use it in practice and think “well, that didn’t work” before learning nothing more about it until it arises at a later date where the same thing happens again or a similar thing happens with the same results. However, what we are looking for is to know why it got these results. Reflective writing can only encourage a teacher to think more about what they are doing, why they are doing it, how it’s affecting others and the surrounding environment, and also helps them to see if there is a better way of doing the task at hand. By reflecting on past incidents where similar things occurred, the teacher can develop new ideas and theories by comparing the past incidence with a current one to determine new possible outcomes. It provides a learning tool for a teacher to understand and even change their own behavior or thoughts.

2. Benefits of Reflective Writing

Dr. Peterkin builds his case by following by way of concrete examples of his work with learners and from students’ written reflective debts. He lists a few of the advantages that may accrue: lucid questioning and conversation, better figuring out of affected persona concerns, promotion of self-understanding and identification of limitations, escalated observation about scientific exercise, more robust empathic competencies, maintaining believing and idealism, optimization of the curative and an end to burnout, and at last, emotional sustenance. Any one of these one idea be an honest motivator for some clinicians, and let us not overlook innovation of give value to the patient care journey. With famous consciousness got abandonment clinical error, reflective perform has being named in an institute of medicine story as an approach to preventing error that is versatile and likely effective. Essentially the practice engaging in a mission, accomplishing it, checking whether meant outcomes were met and if not analysing why, and then acting on modified designs for loaning back the embodiment of double loop learning.

What if someone told you that they were a doctor? It would not be long before you imagine that the places they frequented were sterile, cold and sterile, and their worlds were filled with pills, needles, Band-Aids and sufferers. Dr. Allan Peterkin, in this book one Told me a physician became a poet, argues that literary competence should be a key attribute of all physicians and that a obligatory second of the curative arts to reflect on intensively. He is too modest; it could well be that the knowledge from his splendid text, would suggest reflective writing, is something all considering people must do.

3. Techniques for Effective Reflective Writing

Reflective practice is the capacity to reflect on action so as to engage in a process of continuous learning, which, according to the originator of the term, is one of the defining characteristics of professional practice. Reflective writing is a balancing act between the exploration of experience and the interpretation of that experience with the aim of learning or gaining insight (Moon, 1999). These two concepts will now be explored in more detail, outlining strategies to determine when to use the activities and refining these activities for. 3.1 “When”? At points of uncertainty or complexity, helpful strategies include: (i) reflecting on the cause of the uncertainty or complexity, (ii) playing the experience as a scenario, thinking out options and outcomes, (iii) seeking feedback from others. A more complex process that involves learning from an experience where learning is not the intended outcome can be refined starting with the recording of the experience. This can be written, presented in visual form, dramatized, etc. This can capture underlying thoughts and feelings. These can then be clarified by reflection using any of the strategies outlined in the model, such as self-regulated questioning or reflecting on standards and comparing them to the thoughts and your views. This can then lead onto work which is more focused on improvement of the original experience and can follow the model in more detail to guide the way to further action and inform the planning of further experience to continue learning. An example of this may be a senior clinical medical student reflecting on a GP placement in an area of medicine which they feel needs further work. To help with this, the student could make a mind map of the problem and work through the thought process of assessing the best options. Overall, the intention here is to develop competence in a defined area of practice.

4. Examples of Reflective Writing

I tried to familiarize myself with the theme and topic of his essay, yet my background knowledge in biology was not vast enough for the conversation to be interesting or beneficial for my tutee. He seemed to sense my constant reaching for relevant knowledge and actually said, “Sure, you know a bit about this. Doesn’t matter. Stick to what I’ve written and answer my questions in the essay.” This was basically permission for me to dumb down and teach to the essay, which is hardly the best way to invoke insightful learning.

Unfortunately, he probably watched it once, if at all, and to my astonishment, I was to discover that my PowerPoint slide introducing the concept of trophic levels in food chains was the highlight of his biological knowledge. Oh bother… I think I wanted to teach him too much too early at this stage.

I really had no idea what to expect to be talking about in this consult. To tell the truth, I was hoping we would mainly discuss my presentation because that was the piece of work easiest to talk about. When my tutee pulled out his essay, I was tempted to still solely talk about my presentation, explaining how he should have watched it and then read the essay himself as supplementary material.

From the beginning of a consultation to the end, I wrote every word I spoke. I cannot say I was thinking particularly highly of my performance. Admittedly, I had no qualifications to be seen as a professional in training, and my tutee was not exactly the cooperative, well-mannered kid in a school uniform. My session had the potential to be a good lesson in teaching, but ignorance and defiance on the part of my tutee turned it into a somewhat authoritative conversation. Begin!

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, this essay has shown that there is great importance in using reflective writing to begin to analyze the different events that occur in our life. We all live different lives and we all have different pasts. Reflective writing is a way to enable us to express our feelings and experiences in an analytical way. It allows for questioning and learning through the re-creation of an experience. Reflective writing has been shown to lead to real learning and facilitate a connection between theory and practice. Through this connection, it can help us adapt to new settings and ultimately change our behaviors. Reflective writing has the potential to effect great personal growth and development. This essay has looked at the different ways we can apply reflective writing to our lives and the many benefits that it can provide. Overall, reflective writing is a way to move forward by looking back on the past and learning from the experiences of others.