Reflective Practice

The importance of reflecting on what you are doing, as part of the learning process, has been emphasised by many investigators. Reflective Observation is the second stage (in the usual representation) of the Kolb learning cycle.
At the induction day at Middlesex it was stressed to us quite a lot about reflection and reflecting on what we do and what we have achieved, and it was confusing as it's not something we would normally do on a day to day basis. However since researching reflection I now understand it's importance. So I thought I would share this bit of information on reflection and hope to help others understand what it's all about.

Why is it important for me to reflect on my learning?

-To help you see a clear link between the effort you put into your development activity and the benefits you get out of it.

-To help you see more value in each learning experience, by knowing why you’re doing it and what’s in it for you.

-To help you 'learn how to learn' and add new skills over time.

How do I reflect on my learning?

Reflecting on your learning enables you to link your professional development to practical outcomes and widens the definition of what counts as useful activity. Quite simply, you need to keep asking ‘what did I get out of this?’
As a reflective learner, you’ll think about how you’ll use new knowledge and skills in your future activities – so learning is always linked to action, and theory to practice. It’s also useful to reflect on how you learn best. This may be through private study, networking with peers, formal courses, mentoring, or a combination of techniques.

How often should I reflect on my learning?

Reflection should become a routine part of working life that is more or less instinctive. If you see learning as an intrinsic part of your job, you don’t have to interrupt your work to do it. People who routinely plan, record and reflect on their learning tend to see more opportunities for personal development. It’s a matter of capturing the moment. The fact is, the world becomes a richer, more stimulating place when you embrace reflective learning, because you switch on a kind of intuitive radar that’s tuned to pick up useful opportunities.

http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/reflecti.htm