RES-811 Module 4 DQ 1

Module 4 DQ 1

My impression of what Socrates was saying is that to live a fulfilled life, one needs to continually learn and grow and change.  Part of learning is self-learning through a reflective focus on actions, words, and goals to compare to one’s own personal philosophy or mission. The first step would to actually reflect on what that philosophy and mission are.  What is meaningful for you at the end of the day or the end of your time here?

Personally, reflection is also a type of catharsis: to rid myself of those thoughts and feelings that can be hindering or steering me in a direction that does not best serve to meet my goals. I sometimes need to eliminate the subjectivity that can deviate my focus on the purpose of my life. Reflection is a way to evaluate in a meaningful way, deconstructing and evaluating. Black and Plowright (2010) write:

“Reflection is the process of engaging with learning and/or professional practice that provides an opportunity to critically analyze and evaluate that learning or practice.  The purpose is to develop professional knowledge, understanding and practice that incorporates a deeper form of learning which is transformational in nature and is empowering, enlightening, and ultimately emancipatory” (page 246).

The discipline of higher education has an abundance of scholarly formation on the subject of reflection.  In one of his earlier published works, Brookfield (1998) believed that reflective practice is one of the ways to increase critical thinking, which is what we all want for the future of our students. Likewise, we desire this for ourselves as doctoral learners. The process of reflection through different “lenses” (Brookfield, 1998) is a very valuable tool for critical thinking, evaluation, and growth.

As a new educator this past year and with now embarking on my own goals in a doctoral program, reflection can serve as process to achieve Socrates challenge, to examine one’s own life.  Part of my rationale for changing careers last year and embarking on this doctoral education is the outcome of reflection and examining my own life. I believe this process to be deeply personal.  I am seeking out further knowledge to help me reach a purpose that is meaningful and more in concert with my own philosophy and mission.

References

Black, P. E., & Plowright, D. (2010). A multi-dimensional model of reflective learning for professional development. Reflective Practice, 11(2), 245-258. doi:10.1080/14623941003665810

Brookfield, S. (1998). Critically reflective practice. Journal of continuing education in the health professions,18 (4): 197-205.