Personal and Professional Reflection Report for Public Service Student

This report is a personal and professional reflection for a public service student, analyzing the meaning and purpose of reflection, and evaluating reflective models such as Kolb's and Gibb's reflective cycles. The report delves into the impact of reflection on the student's learning, development, and future career. The student utilizes the Gibbs reflective model to assess a team project experience, detailing each stage: description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion, and action plan. Through this process, the student identifies the development of management and leadership skills, and the ability to inspire others for more productive work. The analysis highlights lessons learned about work distribution, team planning, and decision-making processes. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of critical thinking within a team and the action plan outlines strategies for future team projects to improve collaboration and outcomes.

Personal and
professional reflection
as a Public Services
student

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................3
Meaning and purpose of reflection................................................................................................3
Evaluate the reflective models Reflective models.........................................................................4
Reflective journal to assess impact of the reflecting as a student of the public service................6
Critically evaluate that how the reflection can impact learning, development and future............7
...........................................................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES.................................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
Professional reflection is that process in which a person generally focuses on enhancing
and improving personal abilities or skills so that the professional objectives or goals can be
attained very easily. The professional reflection helps in making strategies and plan to integrating
new abilities and knowledge properly (Aziz, 2022). Reflective practices are majorly done to
enhance self awareness among individuals working within organizations. This is because by
performing this kind of practices, possibilities of a positive and better career for an individual
automatically enhance. Professional reflective practices help the individuals in enabling to know
its strength and weakness in s short time period. This report will include, purpose of the reflection,
different reflective models, impact of reflecting as a student and analyze how this period impact
student’s learning, development and future.
Meaning and purpose of reflection
It refers to writing or thoughts about something, specific in past or what one see when
looking into the mirror and body of water. Reflection is that process in which individuals explore
and analyse themselves. Their perspective, experience, attributes and interactions or action (Gani
and et. al., 2022). It helps them in gaining an insight and see how to move forward, the reflection
is frequently done as writing possible as it allow them to probe their reflection and develop them
more thoughtfully. In relation to students, in the process of reflection, students describe their
learning and how it is related to their future learning experience. It is analysed that reflection
improve the job performance of an individual. Although frequently situated in human social
science, reflection is considered as an essential practice across the academic disciplines including
business, nursing, science and many more.
Purpose of the reflection
It is considered as a broad term which includes various different applications, instructors
can assign various reflective activities, both unguided and guided. There are various purpose of
the reflections. Few of them re mentioned below:
 Reflection allows the students or individuals to make a sense of the material/ experience in
the relation to others, oneself and condition which shaped the experience/ material.
 Its another purpose is to give brain an opportunity to pause amidst chaos, in tangle and sort
through experience and observation, consider the multiple possible interpretation and
create meaning.

 Reimagine experience/ material for social and personal benefits.
 It encourages individuals or students to think critically regarding their writing practices
and for making a sense and reimagine their experience for their future benefit (Harmon,
Howard and Sharrad, 2022).
 Reflection help individuals in developing their skills, or abilities and also review their
effectiveness, rather than merely carry on doing the things they have always done them.
This is about the questioning, in an affirmative way, what they do and why they do it and
then deciding whether there is more efficient and better, way of doing it in future.
Evaluate the reflective models Reflective models
Kolb’s reflective theory
Kolb’s reflective framework is considered as an experimental learning. This model is
supported by personal experienced that is then reviewed, analyzed and evaluated in a systematic
manner in three stages. When this process, undergone completely, new experience will form the
beginning point for another cycle.
 Concrete experience- Individual physically, consciously face or experience a situation,
that ake them realize that they require to reflect in a systematic manner in order to acquire
something new and improve in their existing practice or skills at this phase, individuals
make a note of particular situation and describe what they see, how they feel and what they
think.
 Reflective observation- Having a written down statement of experience, this is not time to
reflect very deeply own hat has happen in such situation. Questions they need to ask
themselves are: what worked? What unsuccessful? Why did a condition arise? Why did
other and they behave in w way they did?
 Abstract conceptualization- In this guiding queries leads on from the questions on from
the question in reflection observation stages; what could they have done differently or
better? How can they improve? Primarily, they try to find the different ways to deal with
situation and think up plans or strategies for when they experience any similar situation
again. Also, it is that stage where individual should consult their colleagues to get more
better understanding or knowledge and furthers ideas (Hawk and Griffin, 2022).

 Active experimentation- This phase is now practising newly learned theoretical
knowledge. They take individuals own reflections and ideas or thoughts regarding an
improvements and theories back into their practices and try out new strategies. Few of
them strategies will work and others won not, so it is then mechanically basis for fresh
cycle. As an experience in active experimentation stages become new “concrete
experience.”
Gibb’s Reflective Cycle
It is that management and self reflection tool which help individual to think very clearly or
systematically regarding different experience that individuals have gone through at the time of any
specific activity and same situation and then draw conclusions. This model contain six stages.
These stages are mentioned below:
 Description- In first stage of this reflective model, individuals describe a situation and
their experience. In this phase, no conclusion is drawn but to know that what was
happened. In this main focus in the relevant information which will provide actual
description of any situation. This phase aid the people in creating a suitable background to
understand an incident.
 Feelings- Here, individuals describe their ideas, thoughts and statement feelings and how
this has shown an effect on their experience. In this step, people explore their thoughts
regarding the situation by asking themselves few significant questions.
 Evaluation- In this step, individuals evaluate their experience negatively or positively both
the bad and good about the situation. In this step, people have to be understand that what
worked in their favor and what did not (Korthagen and Nuijten, 2022).
 Analysis- In this, individuals, think, feel and attempt to make a sense of position and
understand that what happened. Earlier an individual was concerned on detailed but now is
a chance to think and extract a meaning from any specific situations and experience.
Individuals who wish to involve the academic writing can do so at this phase. It is that
stage where people learn that what went good and aided the situation and what was main
cause of any misstep.

 Conclusion- Here, individuals think regarding what they have lettered and done
differently. It is a section to come to conclusion by concluding that what actions could
improve the outcome in future (Mälkki, Mäkinen and Forsell, 2022).
 Action plan- In this last step, individual describe that how they will handle same situation
in future day and how they can do better future time. In this stage, individuals make
changes and make plans to do thing in different manner in future.
Reflective journal to assess impact of the reflecting as a student of the public service
For this amassment. The Gibbs reflective model has been selected. Being a student of the
public service, I have applied this model in my learning which is described below:
 Description- This stage give a chance to explain or describe any situation in details and
mainly concerned with what happened. Being a student of the public service, we got an
assignment. To completed this project a team was created in which we decided to divide
different section between all the team members so that one members can research one
element only. At this stage, my person contribution was mainly focused on supporting my
other team members where it possible.
 Feeling- In this, people explore their thoughts and feeling that they had during an
experience and how they have impacted their experience. Initially we felt uncertain,
nevertheless as we were progressing with this project and I felt leadership responsibility as
a main element which I could bring to my team. When I realised that we could hand in this
project like it was, and few members has cancelled their plan in this project then I got
frustrated. There are various leadership style, but I feel that democratic leadership will be
more effective. Upon the reflection, I feel very satisfied because I brought a value to my
team.
 Evaluation- Here, people get a chance to evaluate that what worked and what thing did
not work in any situation (Ostapowicz, 2022). It has been evaluated that every team
members was doing best and produced a good quality work with the agreed deadline.
Furthermore, the fact is that few members from my team cancelled their plans motivate use
more to work more harder. It contribute positively to team's work ethics efficiently. The
thing is that clearly did not work was that I and my team assumed we performed in a same
way and hence, overall time plan of team failed.

 Analysis- In this phase, individual have an opportunity to make a sense of that what
happened. in this, I have realised that our initial division of the work went good was
because every member had a say in what part of this project they are comfortable to work
on and then according to member's strength, we had decided to divide the work as well. I
have experienced that working that way before and identify when I am operating by myself
I enjoy the working in such areas which match my strength. From my experience, doing
this project with a company in my career, I find out a similar process in which every
member of my team allowed creativity to flow unconstrained. Ideas were prioritized
democratically and disagreements managed by the consensus.
 Conclusion- In this phase, we summarise our learning and also highlight that what change
to our action could improve the result in future (Redmond and et. al., 2022). In this I have
lean that when a team divide the work, then we should plan that how each section leek and
feel- having done it would likely to made it easy to put all the sections jointly.
Furthermore, I have also learn that we often have to challenges a decision we seen to agree
on a team to ensure that our team is not going for it just because of the group thinking.
 Action plan- In this step, we plan for what we would do in different way in a similar
situation in future. When I will work in a team next time, then, firstly I will discuss them
regarding their strength. Next, if we decide to divide the work, then I will insist that we
should make a plan to what our team anticipate from it early. I am confident that this
current experience is enough to inform me to advice this if someone says that we should
split the activity in future. At last, I will ask my team members if we can challenge the
initial decision to ensure that all of us are confident and making the informed decision in
order to avoid the group thinking.
Critically evaluate that how the reflection can impact learning, development and future.
Public service studies an implementation of the government policies and prepare the future
civil servants for work in public service. This draw heavily on filed of the administration law and
politically science.
Being a student of the Public service, I have identified that this study help me a lot in
learning in various things. When studying the Public service, I have develop the management and
leadership skill. This study will help me in future to learn how to manage the people expeditiously
and how to inspire them for more productive work. It will be helpful for me in diversing my

knowledge in context of a wide area. By studying this subject I can learn more transferable skills
which are valued by the employers in wide range of the industries.
When it come about development, then study of the Public service develop the skills and
improve it effectively (Suprapto and et. al., 2022). It will develop my critical thinking skill that
make me enable to think in most effective and unique way. It will also develop my other skills
related to the planning, decision making, planning and many more. All these abilities are very
useful for me to understand various perspective as I will work wit a variety of the communities. It
will develop my mental and physical strength. By this study, I will become able to discover that
which areas interest I most, and start to work on selected area to develop it more effectively or
better.
Study of the Public service will impact my future positively as it will provide me various
career opportunities. At workplace, study of the Public service will expand my leadership and
teamwork qualities in future. It will provide me fantastic opportunities for my future career. It
provide several avenues towards transforming and implementing the change in future. Ability to
choose from a diverse occupation on wide variety of the industries is another major benefit to
study the Public service (Yu and et. al., 2022). By this study, I will become able to deal with the
constitutional framework in future. This study will advance my skills that will impact my future
positively. As resources are very scare and there is dire need for the sustainable development, so
study of the public service will be helpful for me in finding a solution for effective, economical
and efficient utilisation of such resources within workplace in future.

CONCLUSION
From the above report it is analysed that professional reflection is very significant for
every individuals as it assess the values and theories which inform individual's action at work.
There are various theories related to the professional refection including Gibss reflectivity cycle
and Kolb's reflective model. This report has discussed about utilisation of the the Gibbs reflective
learning on individual. In this people summarise their learning and also highlight that what
changes to their action need to improve for a better result in future. Therefore, it is advised to
every student that they conduct a professional reflection as it enhance the personal development
by of individuals by leading to the self awarenesses. Thus, it make them more valuable for their
future so that they can attain their goals efficiently.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Aziz, W.A., 2022. Semantic reflection of rhetorical expression in brand design. Al-Academy
Journal, (104), pp.91-114.
Gani, M.O. and et. al., 2022. Understanding the determinants of ePharmacy services: the
moderating effect of technology discomfort. The Bottom Line, (ahead-of-print).
Harmon, J., Howard, M. and Sharrad, S., 2022. Habitus, social capital, leadership, and reflection:
insights for early career nurse academics. Collegian.
Hawk, A.K. and Griffin, M., 2022. Adherence to Standardized Measures and Metrics for Public
Services in US-Based Special Collections Libraries and Archival Institutions. Journal of
Library Administration, pp.1-16.
Korthagen, F. and Nuijten, E., 2022. The Power of Reflection in Teacher Education and
Professional Development: Strategies for In-Depth Teacher Learning. Routledge.
Mälkki, K., Mäkinen, M. and Forsell, J., 2022. Revitalizing reflection in teacher education: A
digital tool for reflection as a gentle trigger for transformation. In The Palgrave
Handbook of Learning for Transformation (pp. 301-331). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Ostapowicz, D., 2022. How the Pandemic Affected the Provision of Special Education Services:
Comparative Case Study of Inner-City Public Schools (Doctoral dissertation, Southern
Connecticut State University).
Redmond, P. and et. al., 2022. Adopting a framework to support the process of critical reflection
and understanding of online engagement. Journal of Computing in Higher Education,
34(1), pp.109-131.
Suprapto, S. and et. al., 2022. Government Culture in Public Services Based On Electronic
Government in DKI Jakarta Province. Budapest International Research and Critics
Institute (BIRCI-Journal): Humanities and Social Sciences, 5(1), pp.3255-3266.
Yu, J.F. and et. al., 2022. Professional identity and emotional labour affect the relationship
between perceived organisational justice and job performance among Chinese hospital
nurses. Journal of Nursing Management.