Theories, Principles and Models of Reflective Practice

This document discusses the theories, principles, and models of reflective practice in education. It explores the Kolb's learning cycle and Gibbs reflective cycle as two popular models. It also covers the development of wider skills to improve student motivation, confidence, and achievement, as well as the application of quality assurance, quality improvement, and quality cycle in education.

Unit 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
Task 1. Theories, principles and models of reflective practice..................................................3
Task 2. Development of wider skills to improve student motivation, confidence and
achievement................................................................................................................................5
Task 3. Application of Quality assurance, quality improvement and quality cycle...................7
CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Reflective practice is process to influence on the actions of others for continuous learning. It can
be defined paying attention to practical values to inform everyday actions. It is professional
practical learning which can be learned from owns practical experiences. Reflective practice is
assessing own action for purpose of personal learning. It is an innovative and influencing process
which can be used with traditional methods such as training and development.
MAIN BODY
Task 1. Theories, principles and models of reflective practice.
Learners have given lot of importance to student learning and staff development. There
are many models laid down for reflective practice. The target of each model is to get the better
results from the learning. Each model of reflective practice aims to convert thinking into doing.
Basic model of reflective practice are discussed in detail as under.
 Kolb's learning cycle :-The model was developed by David kolb, an educational
researcher. He developed Four stage reflective model. The model states reflective
practice is a tool to get ideas from the experience and results. The aim of this cycle is to
take innovative learning experience (Harvey, Coulson and McMaugh 2016). Kolb's
learning cycle includes following four stages.
1. At first stage practitioners have a concrete experience, which means experiencing something
new for the first time in the classroom. The information should be specific one, active and able
to be tested.
2. The next stage is observation of concrete observation and after that reflection on the
experience. Consideration of strengths of experience and areas of development has also to be
recognized at that time. They have to understand the key factors of learning and its hindrances.
3. Third stage of Kolb's learning cycle includes formation of abstract concepts. The practitioners
have to know what has happened by making the links between what they have done, what they
already know about the concept and things they have to learn. The practitioners have to make
research to get ideas.
4. The last stage the practitioners implements the learning into practice. The ideas are
implemented into active experiment to get idea about future teaching.
Thus Kolb's model uses both educational research and everyday experience into practice.

 Gibbs reflective cycle :- This is six stage model starting from description of stage till the
conclusion for future considerations. This encourages teacher to reflect on their own
thoughts and feelings. The stages of Gibbs model is as below.
1. Description :- At this stage overall experience is outlined.This includes the facts about
learning in classroom. Practitioner clearly mention the outline of experience.
2. Feelings :- Here practitioner expresses their feeling either negative or positive they had
experienced during their learning. Only when feelings are known than only barriers are removed.
3. Evaluation :-It is process of analyzing about what went well and consideration for the areas of
development.
4. Analysis :-Here practitioner analysis of what makes them to learn and what are the obstacles
for them.
5. Conclusion :-They draws all the ideas together and makes research on areas they have to
improve.
6. Action plan :-At this stage they make step by step future learning plan by considering all
previous factors. This also include changes to be made to overcome barriers and grab
opportunities.
Gibbs reflective cycle will be more beneficial as model focuses on learning with the help
of experiences. Person has to reflect on important experiences to form theories, rules and
principles that will make person efficient at his performance. The reason for choosing Gibbs
reflective cycle are its advantages. The advantages of Gibbs reflective cycle are firstly, Model is
easy to understand and easy to use. It allows a person to learn over the time on the basis of
experience (Oxman 2017). With the passage of time and experience the judgment is more
accurate and balanced. It also gives an opportunity to view different perspectives on an
experience, issue and actions. It allows systematic thinking about the different perspectives of
experience.
There are many techniques for Gibbs reflective practices. These techniques are helpful in
proper implementation of Gibbs reflective model. Some techniques are as follows. First is action
planning for reflective planning. To achieve the goes personal insights and training does not
matter too much. One has to make planning to achieve the realistic goals. Action planning is
helpful in achieving insights. The action planning according to Gibbs model finds the answer to

following questions such as what actions are committed ?, what is indication for completion of
tasks ?, When these actions would be completed ?
The next technique for identification of alternative ways to adapt and improve the current
practice. The Gibbs model focuses on the alternative to improve the practices. The model
analyses the alternative ways to improve the learning experience of the candidates.
The SWOT analysis is very effective tool to analyses the strength, weakness,
opportunities, and threats of the model. This is helpful in proper implementation of Gibbs
models into practice and do the necessary changes on need. Following is a brief SWOT analysis
of Gibbs model. It allows a person on basis of practical experiences. But on other hand it takes
lot of time to be learned. The opportunities are it looks for improvement in future learning.The
above is SWOT analysis of Gibbs model of reflective practise.
Task 2. Development of wider skills to improve student motivation, confidence and
achievement
Wider professional skills are competencies that an individual possess. These skills are not
taught or learned as a part of syllabus. There are basically speaking skills or soft skills which are
helpful to get interact with the others. Sometimes soft skills and hard skills are combined that
makes hybrid skills. The person will be more influencing who possess the following professional
skills. Some wider professional skills that are necessary for the learning process. These skills
include the following. First is communication, Public speaking, Team work, Time management,
Leadership, Flexibility and other personal skills. Strong communication maybe it verbal or
written will be necessary for an effective learning (Lin-Siegler, Dweck and Cohen 2016). The
communication is the only thing which influences learners to get the learning from the person.
After that person who is also a good public speaker will be more influencing and have an impact
on the learning of others. Team leader always has to perform multiple tasks and have to manage
multiple learners also. So he has to be flexible to manage the overall tasks of the
organization.Team work is also a basic quality for learning which uses interaction with other
members for better learning. Among all these communications and leadership are most important
for influencing learning process. These skills include various responsibilities for a practitioner.
Wider skills play a crucial role in the over all learning and development of the learner.
These skills are helpful in learners motivation, confidence and achievement. The improvement

of skills in the learner will surely help them to efficiently achieve the organizational goals. There
are certain skills which are responsible for development of learner motivation, confidence, and
goal achievement. First is leadership, the person who can lead has a capability to influence other
and will be good teacher or reflector (Forneris, Camiré and Williamson 2015). Leader has a
capability to lead the team of members and will be influencer over the other. So leadership is one
of the skills for improving learner confidence, motivation and helpful for goal achievement. The
another professional skill necessary is Engagement and influencing. The persons' ability to
engage in the activities makes an example for the learners. It is important for practical learning
of learner. Next the influencing nature of a person is also important for the goal achievement,
motivation and confidence development of learner. Public speaking is also next influencing
factor for practical learning experience. Hence, all these are the important professional skills for
motivation, confidence and goal achievement for the learner.
On the other hand there are certain professional skills which are required by the learner
for his effective learning (Becker and et.al, 2017). These skills will be helpful for learners
motivation, confidence and achievement of objectives. The first skill that a learner must posses
is listening skills. Learner must be good listener to notice the practical things and verbal
communications. The proper listening will be helpful to learner to implement the task in an
effective manner and achieve the goals as mentioned. Next is interpersonal skills, learner must
posses interpersonal skills to interact with the others. Interaction is most important tool to learn.
Lastly, team work is also an important factor for the learner to gain more knowledge. Learner
need to interact with each other to get more knowledge and clarifications to their queries. So
these type of interpersonal skills is also necessary to achieve organizational goals, learners
motivation and confidence building. Another skills learner must have is habitual to know the
details. An effective learner has to be very keen to know the details of the things they are
leraning. The detailed knowledge will be helpful for further implementation of knowledge
practically. Detailed information will give a valuable feedback and error free results. Learner has
to be attentive and has to always ask the queries if they had. They must resolve their queries and
questions at the time of teaching. These skills are very necessary for the learner to posses to get
the effective results from the learning.
Thus these all are the wider professional skills that learner and practitioner should have
for an effective learning experience.

Task 3. Application of Quality assurance, quality improvement and quality cycle
Quality Assurance
To maintain a desired level of quality in product or service is called Quality assurance. It
is a process of preventing or eliminating the mistakes and defects in product to attain high
customer satisfaction. It is process of quality control which can be used interchangeably. This
comprises managerial and procedural activities so as the requirements to achieve the goals are
achieved (Konieczka and Namiesnik 2016). Process of Quality assurance has four phases which
includes plan, do, check, act. These steps are repeated on regular basis to ensure that procedure
followed is evaluated on regular basis. This helps the organization for regular quality check and
ensure that the product is according to set standards and according to procedure.
Quality assurance of a product can be done with the help of several tools. There are
various quality assurance tools available for quality control. These tools and techniques includes
the following standardized proforma and course files, verification of documentation and
assessment, course review, observation scheme, achievement prediction and tracking, self
assessment review, annual staff review.'
Here we will use verification of documentation in quality assurance of product. It is process used
in management, control, delivery or support of item required for quality assurance. Next tool
used for quality assurance will be standardized proforma. It is technique by which specific
parameters are marked on the data sheet and assessment is done on the basis of these parameters
on the performa. Observation scheme is also an effective tool for quality assurance.
Quality Improvement
Quality improvement is effort of everybody in the company to make everything better
about the products of the company. It is systematic process for the reduction of rework, waste
and loss in the production and goal achievement of the company. It is a part of quality
management. It focuses on improving the production process. It is important to assess about how
to introduce changes and implement (Berman,Raval, and Goldin, 2018). It is important to adopt
combination of approaches to get ensured improvement results.
Tools and techniques for quality improvement are quality improvement plan, sharing best
practice, staff mentoring, in- service training, creating opportunities for promotion and personal

development. Here appropriate tool is to applied according to the nature of activities and
products. First effective tool for quality improvement will be sharing best practice. It includes
the recognition of the best procedure or output. It will be a good learning to employees to
improve their performance and quality as well. Next method adopted by me for the purpose will
include in service training. Time to time training of employees will be beneficial to improve the
quality output from them. It will be most effective technique for the quality improvement.
Creation of opportunities for promotion and personal development are also motivating and
influencing factor to achieve organizational goals efficiently. Hence, all these goals will be
helpful in quality improvement for the company.
Quality Cycle
It is systematic process having steps for gaining valuable learning for the purpose of
continuous development and improvement of product. These steps involve identification of goal
and purpose, formulation of theory, defining metrics of success and implementation of plan. The
major steps in quality cycle are Firstly the identification of work related problem is done, after
that problem is selected from the alternatives, after that problem is defined for further
assessment, then analysis of problem is done, after that causes of problems are identified and
selection of appropriate cause is done. The collected data is arranged for analysis and lastly
solution is made to the problem (Qian and et.al, 2017). Above is overall process of quality cycle.
The factors of quality cycle which are helpful in effective quality control are firstly is to
respond to the feedback of students. Responding to the feedback of students will give a morale
boost to students and motivates them to give results efficiently. Student will free to ask their
queries next time. Identification of the opportunities for change will also be a great to improve
the quality. The things which change according to time and need will be helpful in achieving
quality standards for the company. Next will be measuring the impact of change. The pros and
cons. Of change has also to be analyses for efficient quality cycle process.
Self assessment is looking of owns aspects and assess the importance of skills and
qualities that oneself owns. Self assessment of an individual can be done with variety of ways
first is informal session and course evaluation. An informal interaction with others will be
beneficial for the self assessment. Another way is formal self assessment review. It can be done

by number of tools such as IQ test and other tests. Using feedback from others is also an
effective tool to assess the self.
Role of EQA's is to review the process of assessment and inter quality assurance of the
center staff. The EQA's ensures that members of center staff are making assessment and
judgments are consistent with learning and assessment criteria. The main role of IQA's is to
make informed judgments of decisions made by assessment team to maintain standards.
CONCLUSION
The above discussed report analyses that learning is a typical procedure. The reflective
practices of learning is most effective process of learning. Here practitioner and learner both
need to possess some wider professional skills for effective learning. The wider professional
skills include leadership, public speaking, flexibility, etc. Along with all these skills' practitioner
has to be good influencer. He must have influencing personality. There is to be proper quality
assurance, quality improvement should be done on regular basis. And appropriate technique is
also to be selected foe efficient results.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Harvey, M., Coulson, D. and McMaugh, A., 2016. Towards a theory of the Ecology of
Reflection: Reflective practice for experiential learning in higher education.Journal of
University Teaching & Learning Practice. 13(2). p.2.
Oxman, R., 2017. Thinking difference: Theories and models of parametric design thinking.
Design Studies. 52. pp.4-39.
Lin-Siegler, X., Dweck, C.S. and Cohen, G.L., 2016. Instructional interventions that motivate
classroom learning.Journal of Educational Psychology.108(3). p.295.
Forneris, T., Camiré, M. and Williamson, R., 2015. Extracurricular activity participation and the
acquisition of developmental assets: Differences between involved and noninvolved
Canadian high school students. Applied Developmental Science. 19(1). pp.47-55.
Becker, C., and et.al, 2017. Effects of regular classes in outdoor education settings: A systematic
review on students’ learning, social and health dimensions.International Journal of
Environmental Research and Public Health. 14(5). p.485.
Konieczka, P. and Namiesnik, J., 2016. Quality assurance and quality control in the analytical
chemical laboratory: a practical approach. CRC Press.
Berman, L., Raval, M.V. and Goldin, A., 2018, December. Process improvement strategies:
Designing and implementing quality improvement research. In Seminars in pediatric
surgery (Vol. 27, No. 6, pp. 379-385). WB Saunders.
Qian, J., and et.al, 2017. Water quality and daily temperature cycle affect biofilm formation in
drip irrigation devices revealed by optical coherence tomography. Biofouling. 33(3).
pp.211-221.