Cultivating Reflection

University of the Western Cape

October 2013

Melanie AlpersteinM Phil (Ad Ed) P G Dip (PHC Ed) B Soc Sc (Nursing)

Education Development Unit, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Veronica MitchellM Phil (HES) B Sc (Physio)

Today’s pathway

IntroductionFree writing for 3 minsVideo clipTheoretical concepts

Melanie AlpersteinVeronica Mitchell

Sharing experiencesDifferent contextsChallengesInsights

is to encourage

the development of a habit of processing cognitive material

that can lead the student to ideas that are beyond the curriculum,

beyond learning defined by learning outcomes, and beyond those of the teacher

who is managing the learning.

Moon, J., 2001. PDP Working Paper 4 Reflection in Higher Education Learning

http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/hr/researcher-development/students/resources/pgwt/reflectivepractice.pdf

“Our objective as educators:

Free writing

Video clip

YouTube video on reflective writing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0plCU9oyZlM

Reflective PracticeIntroduction to reflective

journaling

Melanie Alperstein

Theories support reflection DeweyEffective learning: student engages

actively with content in an intensely personal way

Kolb Experiential learning – reflective cycleConcrete experience; reflective

observation; abstract conceptualization; active experimentation of application

Reflective journaling helps students through stages to final stage of applying new meaning or interpretation

3 conceptsJournals

Portfolios

Reflection reflective practice reflective writing

Reflection

Why reflect?What exactly is reflection?“An important human activity in which people

recapture their experience, think about it, mull over it and evaluate it” (Boud et al, 1995)

Reflective journaling helps adult learners toward higher levels of critical thinking and personal insight.

Stages in reflective practice (Atkins 1993 in Brigden and Purcell, 2004)

Awareness

Critical analysis

New perspectives

Reflective practice skills

Self awarenessDescription

Critical analysisSynthesisEvaluation

ABC of reflection (Welch, 1999)

Affect – explore feeling and emotions

Behaviour –actions

Cognition and content – information, concepts, theory, skills, knowledge, values

CC:BY: Highways Agencyhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/highwaysagency/6194928490/sizes/m/in/photolist-arqCpU-9rHqvz-8RTDrv-9RRoEj-39UXyD-7mw8Ht-73JeRH-73NdZ1-73NcS1-73NcM3-73NdCC-73JfpX-73NdJN-73JfLT-73NcXA-73Jgjv-

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Reflective activityDynamic / unpredictable

Term: Reflection ?

Veronica Mitchell

Multiple forces, interpretations & resistance

Exploring beyond the surface

Reflection is the process we use when working with material that is presented in an unstructured manner – not organised and purified as in a traditional curriculum.

Moon, J., 2001. PDP Working Paper 4 Reflection in Higher Education Learning

http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/hr/researcher-development/students/resources/pgwt/reflectivepractice.pdf

“

Dr Maria Christodoulou

Adapted from a conflict resolution model Couple Communication 1: Talking Together” by Sherod Miller, Elam W. Nunnally and Daniel B. Wackman

Transitions Europe Empowerment Circle Manual 5th Revision, 2002”. (Transitions is an outreach of Woman Within International)

A model for conflict resolution developed by Woman Within lnternational. www.womanwithin.orq

6 steps for reflective practiceYear 1

@ UCT Health

Sciences

Towards empathy and empowering practices

Steps

1. Data2. Feeling3. Meaning4. Consequences5. Needs6. Learning

Adapted through the

years

Kolb’s Learning Cycle

http://www.ldu.leeds.ac.uk/ldu/sddu_multimedia/kolb/static_version.php

Butler’s model

Social Self

Public Knowledge

Reflection

Professional Practice

Personal Knowledge

World View

Butler, J. (1996) Professional development: Practice as text, reflection as process, and self as locus. Australian journal of education. 40(3) 265-283

The Paper Mirror: Understanding Reflective JournalingDelaura L. Hubbs and Charles F. Brand (2005)

Journal of Experiential Education. 28:1: pp. 60-71

Viki Janse v Rensburg

Delaura, Hubbs & Brand’s quadrants

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

Gibb’s model Nariman Laattoe

Arnold, R., et al. (1991). Educating for a Change. Toronto: Between the Lines. Adapted with permission from the Doris Marshall Institute for Education and Action. In Equitas manual, International Human Rights Training Programme.

The Learning Spiral

Vula UCT’s Learning Management System

http://opencontent.uct.ac.za/Health-Sciences/Probing-Professionalism-Towards-Positive-Practice

Six Step Spiral for Critical Reflexivity (SSS4CR)

Thanks to Dr Kevin Williams, Prof Athol Kent, Nariman Laattoe, Dr Simone Honikman, Sarah Crawford-Browne

Year 4@ UCT Health

Sciences

UCT OpenContent

Learning Management System

Limitations

Google Drive

Collaboration Student managed Anytime, anywhere App Free Net generation …

Affordances

Challenges and limitationsStudents

Sharing private thoughts & feelingsMotivation & commitmentActive participationHonestyEmotional disturbance

ProcessDepth of reflectionMaking connections / theoryAssessmentTrust

Our practices ?1. Are there limitations on the questioning in which students are

allowed to engage?

2. Does the assessment system enable students to be really free to reflect and express their own views?

3. Are student told to ‘reflect’ when actually they will simply follow a recipe

4. Is learning really going to occur or are students going through the motions of reflection?

5. Is the material that students are encouraged to produce more than descriptive?

6. …is there pressure (through monitoring and assessment) … to write what they think the tutor wants to see?

7. Have there been appropriate guidelines developed for students with regard to ethical issues and confidentiality of material that they produce?

8. …Is there adequate consideration of the costs / benefits of potentially revealing information for the student, staff and others?

Moon, J., 2001. PDP Working Paper 4 Reflection in Higher Education Learning

http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/hr/researcher-development/students/resources/pgwt/reflectivepractice.pdf

“

Thank you