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One of the habits of reflection is finding a way to notice what is going on, recording it, inquiring into it and re-visiting it as needed.
Many people therefore keep some kind of a reflective journal. Keeping a journal helps us to record and remember what happened.
It also gives us a place to reflect on what happened. Reflection invites us to look at events, to examine what happened, what feelings arose, what issues came up, what action happened as a result and from that to see if we can gain any insights that might help us. Hunches and intuitions can also be written about. It is also a way to think ahead to the future and to how lessons you have learned could be applied.
You could also include images - drawings, images from magazines that connect to you and photographs.
The more you use your journal and develop a habit of writing the deeper your reflection will become
It is useful in your journal to develop a systematic way of writing about an event. You could use the questions mentioned below in Questions for Reflection to help you think about an event.
In your journal:
These questions may help with your reflections:
"Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.” Rainer Maria Rilke
Writing in the context of reflection involves more than a description of an event, it also needs to include thoughts, feelings, intuitions. It is essentially an exploration of yourself. Writing tends to make us create a coherent story and clarifies thought. The act of actually writing things down can in itself help us to clarify and see a situation.
Writing also requires that we find our own voice. Your reflective piece is yours and it shows your unique voice. You will not write the wrong thing because whatever you write will be right for you.
Your writing should aim to be non judgemental, seeking openess and looking for interconnections
Include as much detail as you can (Use the 5 senses initially to help with this)
It involves:
analysing and commenting on the object, process, etc from different perspectives
looking at what worked and what didn't
Certain types of language and words can be used in this type of writing. Examples include:
For me / Thought - Did Not Think / Felt - Did Not Feel / Noticed - Did Not Notice / Realised - Did Not Realise / Perhaps / Wonder if / Shows / Learning / This means that
Key things to bear in mind
Reflective writing begins with Reflective Thinking
It includes looking back and looking forward to how lessons learned could be applied.
While descriptions (such as who, what, when, where, how) might be useful description is not the same as reflection. Only use description to give the context needed.
For writing to be reflective it should also include
The Reflective Journal by
Are you being encouraged to reflect more deeply and critically on what you do? If your answer is yes, this uniquely inspiring book is for you. The Reflective Journal is a thoughtful and encouraging introduction to critically reflective practice. With space to write your reflections, it will give you a place to capture your learning and a structure to record your development. As a powerful tool for processing your thoughts, feelings and actions, it will lead you to a deeper understanding of yourself and your work so that you can develop your practice and achieve your professional goals. Written for students on a range of courses from education and social work to business, counselling and health, it will also be invaluable for those on placement or in professional practice.
Learning Journals by
Fully updated with important new theory and practical material, this second edition of Learning Journals offers guidance on keeping and using journals and gives step-by-step advice on integrating journal writing on taught courses, in training and professional development and in supporting personal development planning (PDP) activities. Key topics covered include: the nature of learning journals and how we learn from them the broad range of uses of learning journals, including portfolios and personal and professional development the depth and quality of reflection in learning journals the assessment of learning journals and reflective writing the use of narrative and story-telling techniques in journals. With useful exercises and activities that enhance learning journal work in a structured manner, Learning Journals is invaluable reading for teachers and students in higher education, for all professionals, particularly those working in the health services and business and training and for all those who want to learn more about keeping a fulfilling personal journal.
Journal Keeping by
** By the authors of the acclaimed Introduction to Rubrics ** Major growth of interest in keeping journals or diaries for personal reflection and growth; and as a teaching tool ** Will appeal to college faculty, administrators and teachers One of the most powerful ways to learn, reflect and make sense of our lives is through journal keeping. This book presents the potential uses and benefits of journals for personal and professional development--particularly for those in academic life; and demonstrates journals' potential to foster college students' learning, fluency and voice, and creative thinking. In professional life, a journal helps to organize, prioritize and address the many expectations of a faculty member's or administrator's roles. Journals are effective for developing time management skills, building problem-solving skills, fostering insight, and decreasing stress. Both writing and rereading journal entries allow the journal keeper to document thinking; to track changes and review observations; and to examine assumptions and so gain fresh perspectives and insights over past events. The authors present the background to help readers make an informed decision about the value of journals and to determine whether journals will fit appropriately with their teaching objectives or help manage their personal and professional lives. They offer insights and advice on selecting the format or formats and techniques most appropriate for the reader's purposes.
