Value of Reflective Practice

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Value of reflective practice By Ibid Ibid What is Reflective Practice? By three methods we may learn wisdom; first, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest (Confucius, 551 BC, Chinese Philosopher). Being able to critically reflect is one of the important skills that you can develop and is the key to successful assessment work. Introduced by Donald Schon in 1987, reflective practice involves thoughtfully considering your own experiences as you make the connection between knowledge and practice, under the guidance of an experienced professional within your discipline (Schon, 1996) Schon had previously argued (1983) that the model of professional training that relied upon filling up students with knowledge then sending them out into the world of practice was inappropriate in a fast-changing world. A reflective practice model would enable learners and novices within a discipline to compare their own practices with those of experienced practitioners, thus leading to development and improvement. Although given currency by Schon (1983) and Kolb (1984), reflective practice has been advocated by educationists such as Dewey (1909) and Lewin (1952) and can be traced back to the Socratic method of enquiry - in which questioning and exploration of the implications of another's viewpoint are employed to enlighten the enquirer. Moon (1999) defines reflective practice as "a set of abilities and skills, to indicate the taking of a critical stance, an orientation to problem solving or state of mind." In essence, it is a readiness to constantly evaluate and review your practice in the light of new learning (which may arise from within the context of your professional practice). A reflection in a mirror is an exact replica of what is in front of it. Reflection in professional

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