Unit I - Reflective Writing

and Critical Thinking

Aitzaz Ijaz
Sr. Lecturer
Milestone Institute of Arts and Science
 Objectives
• Discuss thinking process
• To understand the process of reflective observation
• List and Compare types of thinking
• Define critical thinking
• Discuss the components of critical thinking
 Cont…
• Define reflection
• Discuss types of reflections
• Discuss process of reflection
• Analyze the role of critical thinking in reflective practice.
Thinking Process
• The design thinking process is a problem-solving methodology used
by designers to approach complex problems and find innovative
solutions. It typically involves five stages: empathize, define, ideate,
prototype, and test.

• Thinking is an important mental process. It helps us to define and

organize experiences, plan, learn, reflect and create. But sometimes
our thinking may for a variety of reasons become unhelpful and this
has a negative impact on our well being.
 5-steps of thinking process

• Empathize: Internalize your users' needs.

• Define: State your users' needs and problems.
• Ideate: Challenge assumptions and create ideas.
• Prototype: Start to create solutions.
• Test: Try your solutions out.
 Thinking process in psychology

• Thinking, also known as 'cognition', refers to the ability to process

information, hold attention, store and retrieve memories and select
appropriate responses and actions. The ability to understand other
people, and express oneself to others can also be categorized under
thinking.
Thinking Process in nursing
• The process includes five steps: assessment, diagnosis,
outcomes/planning, implementation and evaluation.

• “One of the fundamental principles for developing critical thinking is

the nursing process,”
Types of thinking
• Abstract thinking • Critical thinking
• Analytical thinking • Divergent thinking
• Application thinking • Convergent thinking
• Associative thinking • Linear thinking
• Concrete thinking • Non-linear thinking
• Creative thinking • Metacognition
Critical thinking
• Critical thinking is a kind of thinking in which you question, analyze,
interpret, evaluate and make a judgement about what you read, hear,
say, or write.

• The term critical comes from the Greek word kritikos meaning “able
to judge or discern (distinguish)”.
Reflective thinking
• Reflective thinking is a form of critical thinking that reflects on
experiences and learnings.

• This thinking process, popularized by U.S. philosopher John Dewey's

How We Think book, requires intense introspection and can improve
decision-making and problem-solving processes.
U.S. philosopher John Dewey
Reflective writing
• Writing reflectively involves critically analyzing an experience,
recording how it has impacted you and what you plan to do with your
new knowledge. It can help you to reflect on a deeper level as the act
of getting something down on paper often helps people to think an
experience through.
Gibbs reflection cycle/process
Description of Gibbs reflection cycle
• Description of the experience
• Feelings and thoughts about the experience
• Evaluation of the experience, both good and bad
• Analysis to make sense of the situation
• Conclusion about what you learned and what you could have done
differently
• Action plan for how you would deal with similar situations in the
future, or general changes you might find appropriate.
Reflection
• Reflection in action is the ability to think about what you are doing
while you are doing it, and to adjust your actions accordingly. It is a
form of tacit (silent/unspoken) knowledge, or knowing-in-action, that
allows you to cope with complex and uncertain situations.
 Types of Reflection
• Two main types of reflection are often referred to – reflection-in-
action and reflection-on-action.

• The most obvious difference is in terms of when they happen,

• This is the reflection that takes place whilst you are involved in the
situation, often a patient interaction.
Types of reflection
Role of critical thinking in reflective practice
• Critical and Reflective Thinking encompasses a set of abilities that
students use to examine their own thinking and that of others.

• This involves making judgments based on reasoning, where students

consider options, analyze options using specific criteria, and draw
conclusions.
Thank You