Reflective Practice (RP)

What does RP look like?

Reflective practice involves viewing our actions, feelings, interpretations and judgments from the perspective of an external observer. In this way it resembles the third-party objective account style of reporting adopted in scientific papers. This is why, in the personal development and healing context, it is sometimes called "witness consciousness". It is as if we are viewing the situation, and our involvement in it, from a dispassionate "helicopter" view.

Reflection-on-action is a retrospective activity, free from the urgency and pressures of the immediate situation. It can be empowered by feedback and ideas from others.

Reflection-in-action is a "hands-on", "Where do we go from here?", tuning-in and going-with-the-flow approach.

Peters (1991) describes a four-step protocol called "DATA" (Describe, Analyze, Theorize, Act):

1. Describe:  the basic elements of the problem, task or situation;
2. Analyze:  identify assumptions beliefs, rules, motives and any other factors underlying the current approach;
3. Theorize:  what alternatives are possible? Comparative merits and drawbacks?
4. Act:  try out the new approach, evaluate the results.

 

Reflective Practice Index...
 
Introduction
What is RP?
What does RP offer?
What does RP look like?
The "Sunflower Health" Reflective Protocol
RP in Teacher Training
RP References & Additional Resources
Personal interest & experience
Author details