38 THE BIOMEDICAL

SCIENTIST
ADVICE
How to...
ADVICE
How to...
THE BIOMEDICAL
SCIENTIST 39

HOW TO… REFLECT

R
eflection has become a part Reflection models to reflect upon your own feelings and how KOLB’S GIBBS’ MODEL
of our working lives, whether There are a number of different models and the lesson went. LEARNING CYCLE OF REFLECTION
we like it or not. I remember methods that can be employed when trying
a number of years ago, to reflect, these are some of my preferred Kolb’s learning cycle 1. Concrete Experience:
a new experience or situation is
Description: What happened, this
section can be kept concise
when I was a fresh-faced, methods and my opinions on how I have Using Kolb’s learning style as a method encountered, or a reinterpretation
of existing experience.
newly-qualified biomedical employed them for reflective exercises. of reflection is a more cyclic process,
Action Plan: going Feeling: What were
scientist, we had a talk by a it is typically represented by a four stage forward how do you thinking and
2. Reflective
nice gentleman who sang the Lesson plan evaluation learning cycle process (see right).
4. Active
Experimentation: Observation:
you plan to deal
with the situation?
feeling? What did
you expect the
The learner applies looking into the outcome to be?
merits of reflection and stated he sat This method for a lesson plan evaluation The process stipulates that effective new experience,
them to the world
quietly on a Sunday afternoon with a glass is written from the point of view of the learning is seen, when a person around them to see particular importance
what results. are any
of wine and reflected about his past week. person who gave the talk, it could progresses through a cycle of four stages, inconsistencies
between experience
You may think this sounds like an obviously be modified and extra sections initially requiring you look at your and understanding.
Conclusion: Evaluation: what was
excellent idea, or, if you are more like me, added, or used from the perspective of experience, apply some direct reflection what else could good and bad about
you have done? the experience?
you are more likely to just drink your wine having attended a talk. as to what you thought/felt/learnt, then 3. Abstract Conceptualisation:
Reflection gives rise to a new
while trying to clear up your children’s It is useful to get feedback on the delve a little deeper into the thought idea, or a modification of an
Lego. It wasn’t until undertaking a group’s experiences, they can provide process theorising why you feel this way, existing abstract concept. Analysis: what sense can you
make out of the situation?
management course, that I realised that surprising insight and this can be useful before working out what you plan to do
reflection can actually be a really useful with this learning how you will apply this
tool and help you formulate your thoughts. as part of the experimenting phase.
Reflective thinking is a skill, apparently This method is useful for reflecting
Albert Einstein thought up the theory of upon situations that have occurred
relativity while riding a bike, everyone
EVALUATION outside of the classroom environment,
Lesson Evaluation
knows the story of Sir Isaac Newton and the subheadings help rationalise
Was the lesson reasonable, how the
the apple tree, and the lyrical masterpiece student/s found the difficulty was it too thoughts, particularly following
Park Life by Blur was written in Hyde Park. advanced/easy? challenging experiences. For example you
Obviously, working in busy labs as busy How could the lesson be modified? could use Kolb’s learning cycle following a Gibbs’ model of reflection information, the model can be used to fit a evidence supports? The action plan is
professionals we often need to make quick What could be improved to provide UKAS inspection, the concrete learning Gibbs’ model of reflection is also cyclic (see lot of situations, from reflection on a required to take the situation forward.
a greater understanding of the topic?
decisions, but I hope this brief article can would be the feedback from the inspector above, right), it is concerned with DATIX and how you could improve, to As long as you have gained some form
highlight some methods to employ Student evaluation (good and bad), the reflective observation “learning by doing”. There are a number of reflection on a full MSc project. of learning you can utilise this model.
reflective thinking, in a way to benefit How did the student behave, were they would allow you to think about how you separate stages, descriptions of these You start with a description of what you
you and maybe give you some ideas to enthusiastic/interested/bored? felt the inspection went, could you have stages are a little clearer. As with Kolb, are reflecting on – this needs to be clear. In conclusion
help with CPD. What feedback did they provide? been more organised, was the inspector a effective learning is seen when a person The next stage is to do with how you were All methods have strengths and
Did they ask appropriate questions (this
Something I initially struggled with is bit militant etc, the conceptualisation progresses though all the stages – the cycle feeling at the start of the process, what weakness, and some methods may be
can help to show they have understood
that you can reflect upon anything, it what you are discussing)? would allow you to think about how you encourages people to think systematically you were hoping to achieve and your more situational than others, but I hope
doesn’t have to be following a course or a might change something what are you about experiences they have during a evaluation of the situation, this can be as I have highlighted some new ways to
presentation, maybe this sounds obvious Teacher evaluation going to do about that CAPA etc, and the specific situation, event or activity. involved as required. Leading into your employ reflective thinking, rather than
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but as long as you have learned How do you feel the lesson went? experimentation section would be when The Gibbs model has a number of analysis of the situation – what sense can just the same old “what I have done, what
What do you intend to change to improve?
something, or gained further insight into you formulated an appropriate action strengths, firstly you don’t really need to you make out of it? The conclusion I have learnt, how will I use it in the
a situation, you can reflect upon it. plan to put these procedures in place. write too much, it works well with concise requires you to think about what the future” method.