Journaling and Reflective Practice

Sarah Stewart 2008sarahstewart07@gmail.comAcknowledgment: Dr Deborah Davis

Image: 'Pencils and Moleskines 04' www.flickr.com/photos/33586091@N00/82648702

Why reflect?

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Different ways to Different ways to reflectreflect

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Why keep a journal?

• To remember & record your thoughts, feelings, actions and practices

• A record for you to revisit and analyze

• Helps you think things through

• Allows you to see where you’re at, where you’ve been and where you’re going

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What do you need?

Pen or pencil

Paper eg old exercise book

Computer or typewriter

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Where?

Somewhere quiet, warm, safe and comfortable

where you can think without interruption

When? • Straight after an event before you forget

Or

• A little while after the event so you have had time to think about what happened

• At a time when you can quietly write with no interruptions

• Journaling can be time-consuming so don’t pick a time when you are rushed

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What to write?

• No rules – this is YOUR journal• Start with every day ‘stuff’• Doesn’t have to be a drama

• It could be an event of the day, how you are feeling, or what you are reading

Journaling…

• will help you think about what you already know

• give you time to think further and gain deeper understanding

• can stimulate critical thinking

What is critical reflection?

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Influences on what goes on around us

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Why did she do that?

Why did that happen?Why did I do it that way?

What was he thinking?

What does the literature say?

What is the evidence?

What was said?

Why was that said?

Influences of attitudes and beliefs

Where do they come from?

How have attitudes and beliefs changed?

How do attitudes and beliefs affect

what we say and do?

Who is served by these attitudes and beliefs

Influences of politics

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Journaling as a tool for reflective practice

• Enables us to become better writers, express our hopes and dreams

• Watch our personal and professional growth and development.

• Gives us opportunities for learning, and enables us to explore our inner selves and the outer context we live and practice in.

• Supports our actions which are based on new insights and learning that result from critical reflection.

References

• Brammer, E. (2008). Journaling: The basics. Retrieved October 10, 2008, from http://www.slideshare.net/ebrammer/journaling-545270

• Taylor, B. (2000). Reflective practice: a guide for nurses and midwives. St Leonards, Allen and Unwin.

• Thanks to Dr Deborah Davis, Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin, whose previous work this slideshow is based

on.