Critical reflection: reflecting on learning to be reflective

Abstract

In this paper, I explore reflective practice literature and the elements of critical reflection, and I reflect on my experiences of learning and using a critical reflection approach to better understand a significant incident. This reflective paper is written from my personal perspective as a social worker using Fook and Gardner’s model of critical reflection to provide a framework to reflect, explore and learn from my own experiences. The Fook and Gardner approach to critical reflection encourages deconstruction and analysis of a personal or professional experience to understand the different assumptions, relationships and influences embedded within it and how it affects our practice. As new understandings emerge, the individual is able to reconstruct this incident and develop new techniques to deal with a similar incident in the future.

Keywords:

• critical reflection
• reflection
• reflective practice
• learning
• Fook and Gardner

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Dr Jennifer Lehmann and Fiona Gardner, her PhD supervisors, for their support and guidance in developing this paper.