Definitions Definitions reflective thinking begins with awareness of

Definitions

Definitions • … reflective thinking begins with awareness of a real problem and uncertainty about its solution. It proceeds through the formulation of ideas about a solution and the collection of evidence which may confirm or disconfirm some of the original ideas. This process leads in an ordered way to the development of a hypothesis which rationally incorporates facts and ideas about the interpretation of those facts. … The process ends in a judgment or decision which provides an answer to the question at hand. This end product, however, must remain open to scrutiny and criticism for future inquiry.

Characteristics Reflection involves not simply a sequence of ideas, but a consequence—a consecutive ordering in such a way that each determines the next as its proper outcome, while each in turn leans back on its predecessors. The successive portions of the reflective thought grow out of one another and support one another.

Characteristics [M]en are forced to consider the grounds of reasons of their belief and its logical consequences. … It marked the close of study into facts, of scrutiny and revision of evidence, of working out the implications of various hypotheses, and of comparing these theoretical results with one another and with known facts.

Characteristics Reflection thus implies that something is believed in (or disbelieved in), not on its own direct account, but through something else which stands as witness, evidence, proof, voucher, warrant; that is, as ground of belief. [italic in original]

Characteristics Thinking, for the purposes of this inquiry, is defined accordingly as that operation in which present facts suggest other facts (or truths) in such a way as to induce belief in the latter upon the ground or warrant of the former.

Characteristics Reflective thinking is always more or less troublesome because it involves overcoming the inertia that inclines one to accept suggestions at their face value; it involves willingness to endure a condition of mental unrest and disturbance. Reflective thinking, in short, means judgement suspended during further inquiry; and suspense is likely to be somewhat painful.

Elements of reflective thinking a. A state of perplexity, hesitation, doubt; b. An act of search or investigation directed toward bring to light further facts which serve to corroborate or to nullify the suggested belief.

Elements of reflective thinking [T]he most important factor in the training of good mental habits consists in acquiring the attitude of suspended conclusion, and in mastering the various methods of searching for new materials to corroborate or to refute the first suggestions that occur. To maintain the state of doubt and to carry on systematic and protracted inquiry—these are the essential of (reflective) thinking

Criteria 1. Reflection is a meaning making process that moves a learner from one experience into the nest with deeper understanding of its relationships with and connections to other experiences and ideas. 2. Reflection is a systematic, rigorous, disciplined way of thinking with its root in scientific inquiry. 3. Reflection needs to happen in community, in interaction with others. 4. Reflection requires attitudes that value the personal and intellectual growth of oneself and of others.

Types of reflection • Reflection on action – “We reflect on action, thinking back on what we have done in order to discover how our knowing-in-action may have contributed to an unexpected outcome. ” (p. 26) • Reflection in action – “When someone reflects-in-action, he becomes a researcher in the practice context. He is not dependent on the categories or established theory and technique, but construct a new theory of the unique case. ” (p. 68)

Five steps of reflective thinking 1. 2. 3. 4. A felt difficulty Its location and definition Suggestion of possible solutions Development by reasoning of the bearings of the suggestion 5. Further observation and experiment leading to its acceptance or rejection; that is, the conclusion of belief or disbelief.

Six phases of reflection 1. An experience 2. Spontaneous interpretation of the experience 3. Naming the problem(s) or the question(s) that arise out of the experience 4. Generating possible explanations for the problem(s) or question(s) 5. Ramifying the explanations into full-blown hypotheses 6. Experimenting or testing the selected hypotheses.

Five phases of reflective thinking 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Problem recognition Enumeration of possibilities Reasoning Revision Evaluation

Obstacles • • • Dogmatic principle Closed minds Strong passion Authority Bad mental habits that are social as well as inborn.

Obstacles • Sources of misbelief …reside in the natural tendencies of the individual (like those toward hasty and too far-reaching conclusion, social conditions tend to instigate and confirm wrong habits of thinking by authority, by conscious instruction, and by the even more insidious halfconscious influences of language, imitation, sympathy, and suggestion.

Obstacles • Education has accordingly not only to safeguard an individual against the besetting erroneous tendencies of his own mind … but also to undermine and destroy the accumulated and self -perpetuating prejudices of long ages.