Self-reflection is the practice of thinking about your own learning. It isn’t just looking back at what you did; it’s about analyzing how you learned, what went well, and what could be improved. It turns simple experiences into valuable knowledge.
A Learning Journal is a personal space (digital or paper) where you document your progress. It is not just a diary of events, but a record of your insights and shifts in perspective.
When to write? Regularly, either immediately after a learning event or at the end of each week.
Why write? It helps clarify your thoughts, identifies gaps in your knowledge, and increases your emotional intelligence by helping you understand your reactions to challenges.
To help you structure your reflections, experts have developed "frameworks." Here are the most popular ones:
1. Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle (Kolb, 1984)
David Kolb suggests that we learn through a four-stage cycle:
Concrete Experience: Doing something.
Reflective Observation: Thinking about what happened.
Abstract Conceptualization: Learning from the experience (forming new ideas).
Active Experimentation: Testing your new ideas in the next situation. (Kolb, 1984)
2. Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle (Gibbs, 1988)
Graham Gibbs expanded on reflection by adding a focus on feelings. His 6-step cycle guides you through:
Description, Feelings, Evaluation, Analysis, Conclusion and Action Plan. (Gibbs, 1988)
3. Rolfe et al. (The "So What?" Model)
This is the simplest model for beginners. It uses three powerful questions:
What? (What happened?)
So What? (What does this mean? Why is it important?)
Now What? (What will I do differently next time?) (Rolfe et al. 2001)
Be Honest: You are writing for yourself, not for a grade.
Be Consistent: Even 5 minutes a day makes a difference.
Focus on "Why": Don't just list tasks; explain why they mattered.
Set Goals: Always end with a "Next Step" to turn your reflection into action.
(per approfondimenti in italiano v. Micalizzi & Koprivica Lelicanin, 2023: 76-81)
Micalizzi, A., & Koprivica Lelićanin, M. (2023a). Studiare i creative media. Ricerca e analisi dei processi di creazione, condivisione e appropriazione culturale. Torino: UTET. ISBN: 9788860088888 https://www.utetuniversita.it/catalogo/scienze-umane-e-sociali/studiare-i-creative-media-3867