A reflection is a vital tool for learning from experiences and improving our future actions. It allows us to analyse and evaluate our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, providing insights that can help us grow and develop.
Driscoll’s Model of Reflection is a structured approach to reflection that can be used to enhance our learning and personal development.
The model is especially beneficial in educational and professional settings, but its simplicity makes it applicable to various real life.
In this blog post, we will explore the three stages of Driscoll’s Model of reflection and how it can be applied to different experiences.
The Three Stages of Driscoll’s Model of Reflection
Driscoll’s Model focuses on three key questions that guide you through a structured reflection process:
- What? – Describe the experience.
- So what?– Analyze the experience.
- Now what? – Plan for the future based on your learnings.
Stage 1: What – What happened?
The first stage of Driscoll’s Model of Reflection is to describe the situation or experience in detail. This includes what happened, where and when it occurred, and who was involved. The goal of this stage is to provide a clear and objective account of the experience.
In this stage, it is essential to reflect on both the positive and negative aspects of the experience. This allows us to gain a deeper understanding of the situation and identify areas for improvement.
For example, let’s say you recently completed a group project for your class, and it did not go as well as you had hoped. In this stage, you would describe the project, including the roles and responsibilities of each group member, the goals of the project, and the outcomes.
Also Read: What is Reflective Writing? Benefits and Examples
Stage 2: So What? – What were you thinking and feeling?
The second stage of Driscoll’s Model of Reflection is to reflect on your thoughts and emotions during the experience. This includes identifying any assumptions or beliefs that may have influenced your actions or reactions. The goal of this stage is to gain a deeper understanding of your internal processes and how they relate to the experience.
In this stage, it is essential to be honest with yourself and reflect on both positive and negative emotions. This allows you to acknowledge and process your emotions, leading to a better understanding of yourself and your reactions.
Continuing with our previous example, in this stage, you would reflect on your thoughts and emotions during the group project. This may include feelings of frustration or disappointment, thoughts about the group’s dynamics or individual contributions, and any assumptions or beliefs you may have had about the project.
Stage 3: Now What? – What sense can you make of the situation?
The third and final stage of Driscoll’s Model of Reflection prompts an action stage. This includes identifying what you have learned from the experience and how you can apply this knowledge in the future. The goal of this stage is to use reflection to enhance your learning and personal development.
In this stage, it is important to focus on actionable insights and identify specific steps you can take to improve your future actions.
Returning to our group project example, in this stage, you would evaluate the experience and identify what you have learned. This may include recognising the importance of clear communication and setting expectations, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the group members, and considering alternative approaches for future group projects.
Benefits of Using Driscoll’s Model of Reflection
Using Driscoll’s Model of Reflection can provide several benefits, including:
Encourages Structured Reflection: The three-step model offers a direct and rational framework for reflection, which makes it simpler to examine experiences in an organised manner. In contrast to unstructured reflection, which could result in abstract or partial observations, this model guarantees that individuals carefully analyze every phase of an experience. This structured model is especially helpful in careers like medicine, education, and management, where reflective practice is critical to ongoing learning and skill development.
Enhanced learning: By asking the “So what?” question, people can critically examine the meaning of their experiences. This process enables them to pinpoint essential lessons, grasp the outcomes of their actions, and recognize patterns in their choices. Consequently, they become more conscious of their strengths and weaknesses, which enable them to develop their skills and enhance performance in subsequent situations.
Supports Continuous Improvement: The “Now what?” phase challenges the person to establish steps for doing things better. This phase goes beyond just considering past experiences since it compels individuals to form goals and come up with approaches for improving professional or personal growth. With time, this regular loop of review, learning, and application shapes resilience and adjustability, making career advancement much more possible.
Increased self-awareness: By reflection, one becomes more reflective of his strengths, weaknesses, and emotional reactions to various situations. This increased self-knowledge leads to improved emotional control, stronger people skills and relationships, and communication. This also enables one to develop empathy, patience, and understanding of how one’s actions affect others, which is essential in leadership.
Improved decision-making: Reflection can help you make better decisions by providing insights into your decision-making processes and identifying potential biases or assumptions. Through the structured examination of what went wrong, why it went wrong, and how to make it better, one is able to improve one’s problem-solving abilities. It is thus a useful tool for decision-making under pressure in emergency healthcare, business management, and customer service, where timely and effective responses are essential.
Increases Accountability and Professionalism: By critically examining experience, practitioners can identify ethical problems, bias, and scope for improvement in practice. Such self-reflection ensures a sense of responsibility and professional integrity and, therefore, more ethical practice. Sectors like healthcare, education, and business leadership derive much benefit from this, as it guarantees practitioners’ high standards of accountability and service.
Conclusion
Driscoll’s Model of Reflection is an effective instrument for learning from experience and enhancing personal and professional growth. By using the three steps of the model, you can learn about your thoughts, feelings, and actions, and develop greater self-awareness and personal development. Reflection takes time and effort, but the rewards are well worth it, such as improved learning, better decision-making, and enhanced relationships.
