INTRODUCTION 2 GIBBS’ REFLECTIVE CYCLE 2
JOHNS’ MODEL OF STRUCTURED REFLECTION3
KOLB’S LEARNING CYCLE 5
ROLFE, FRESHWATER AND JASPER’S FRAMEWORK OF REFLECTIVE PRACTICE 6
REFERENCES 8
CONTENTS
Physiotherapy New Zealand 2 INTRODUCTION
Reflection is the conscious exploration of an experience. In order to learn from an experience, you
need to reflect on it.
As a learning tool, reflection may be more powerful when you use a structure or framework to guide
you.3 There are many models and tools of reflection available to help you engage in the process. All
of them can assist you to move out of ‘auto-pilot’ in your practice. Because reflection is ongoing,
and you take the learning from one reflection forward into your practice and future experiences,
most of the models are represented as a cycle.4
It is important that you choose the model that works best to help you to learn from your reflecti
on.
You may need to try one or two before you find a model that resonates with you. Four models are
presented here to help you to develop your reflection skills. We encourage you to select one and
apply the structure and questions next time you are reflecting.
Physiotherapy New Zealand 3
GIBBS’ REFLECTIVE CYCLE
Gibbs developed his reflective cycle from an educational perspective.5 It is a popular model to assist
with reflective practice. It can be applied to reflection on any type of experience, but is particularly
useful to assist you to learn from everyday situations.6
Gibbs’ reflective cycle encourages you to think systematically about the experience. It contains six
stages, and poses a key question to consider at each stage.7 It asks you for a clear description of
the situation, and then leads you through the reflection and learning, to plan what you would do if
the situation arose again.6