The document provides guidance on writing reflective reports. Reflective reports help students learn from practical experiences by making connections between theory and practice. When writing reflectively, students describe an activity, how they performed it, and evaluate their performance based on what they've learned. Reflective reports also serve as a reference and allow students to consider how they can improve for next time. The document outlines the typical organization of a reflective report, including an introduction, personal report, reflection on action and teaching, identification of gaps, and action plan.

1. Writing Reflective
Reports

2. Writing Reflective Reports
• The purpose of a reflective report is to help
you learn from a particular practical
experience. It will help you make
connections between what you are taught in
theory and what you need to practice. You
reflect so that you can learn.

3. Writing Reflective Reports
• In reflective writing, you are trying to write
down some of the thinking that you have
been through while carrying out a particular
practical activity, such as writing an essay,
teaching a class, or treating a patient.
Through reflection, you should be able to
make sense of what you did and why, and
perhaps help yourself do it better next time.

4. Writing Reflective Reports
• Your written reflection will also serve as a
source of reference and evidence in the
future.

5. Writing Reflective Reports
Let us assume that you are reflecting on
something you have done in class.
• You will probably start by describing what
you did.
• You may then want to write about exactly
how you did the activity, what methods you
used.
• You might then want to evaluate your
performance. How well did you do?

6. Writing Reflective Reports
• In order to do this, you need to consider
what you have been taught. You may want
to describe what the experts say.
• You may then need to consider your
reactions. How did/do you feel?
• You might finish by considering how you
would do it next time.

7. Writing Reports
Organization of the report
Preliminaries

8. Writing Reflective Reports
Introduction
 Description of your situation

9. Writing Reflective Reports
Personal report
 Report of what you did or
what happened.

10. Writing Reflective Reports
Reflection on
action
 Report of what was
good/bad, easy difficult,
pleasant/unpleasant,
successful/unsuccessful, etc
Comparison and contrast of
your experiences
Explanation as to why.

11. Writing Reflective Reports
Reflection on
teaching
 Report of what you have
been taught.
Description of what you
know.

12. Writing Reflective Reports
Connections
 Evaluation of your practice,
drawing on your knowledge
and experience.

13. Writing Reflective Reports
Identification of
any gaps
 Description of any gaps in
your knowledge.
Explanation of how you can
fill them.

14. Writing Reflective Reports
Action plan
 Production of action plan for
future (learning + practice).
Justification of action plan.

15. Writing Reflective Reports
Conclusion
 Summary of situation
Summary of planned action

16. Writing Reflective Reports
End matter