Poetic transcription with a twist: An approach to reflective practice through connection, collaboration and community

Abstract

Learning from experience is integral to professional development, with the processes by which it is expected and enabled, varying depending on context and discipline. There is general consensus that it does not just happen. Rather learning from experience is a deliberate act. In higher education, much attention is given to reflective practice and the use of reflective models designed for individuals to use. However, even with a high level of commitment, an individual’s review of their own practice is likely to be limited because it is a sole endeavour with inevitably constrained perspective. This paper features an alternative, innovative approach identified as poetic transcription with a twist which situates reflective practice in a group context. As such, it enables learning for the individual and for the group members. The paper offers an example drawn from work with a group of early career academics which illustrates both the approach and the potential of poetic transcription with a twist to facilitate development with and beyond the immediate participants in the learning experience. It presents poetic transcription with a twist to the community of academic developers for consideration in their own practice, understanding that the nature and purpose of the role is complex and contested.

Keywords:

• Professional development
• reflective practice
• social learning
• academic developers

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. See Smart and Loads (2016) for further detail about the study.

2. The account has been anonymised.

3. Name changed to protect anonymity.