How do I create a plan for improving my practice?

Healthcare professionals are required to be lifelong learners – a process that relies on reflection.  Some of the most fundamental questions in the reflection process are:

a. What do I know?

b. What do I need to learn?

c. How do I create a plan for improving my practice?

According to Donald A. Schon, reflection is “a dialogue of thinking and doing through which I become more skillful.”  In this definition, thinking is described as “intentional cognitive thought” and doing is “action.”  

To prepare for this writing assignment, watch the two videos located on the Week 13 Content & Instructions page; they are repeated at the bottom of this page.  Don’t skip this step!

• What is reflective practice? [3:15]
• How to Write a Reflection Essay [5:52]

Be sure to follow the 5-step process described in the “How to Write a Reflection Essay” video tutorial (i.e., description, evaluate, analysis, conclusions, plan) and use each step as a subheading in your paper.  Remember, in a reflection paper, the writer explains why s/he thinks and behaves the way s/he does.