Reflective Practice and Journaling - An Introduction



Overview

Since the publication of Donald Schön's work, The Reflective Practitioner, in 1983, the importance of the ongoing development of professionals has been widely understood.  Many professions today expect their members to engage in 'reflective practice' as part of their ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and yet very few provide any clear advice as to how to do so, or provide support as this habit is slowly nurtured.  We know that reflective practice is a process that distinguishes mediocre performance from exceptional success in many disciplines.  It is the 'secret' behind many widely accepted, highly talented individuals.

In this course, we take a blended approach to developing the skill and the habit of using it.  We shall explore some well-known exemplars, put reflective practice into the context of critical analysis, experiment with a number of different approaches, and support one another as we instil it into our daily lives.

Reflective practice is not simply 'keeping a diary', indeed it may use very different technologies; it is about observing ourselves, the impact of our actions, and our responses to the world around us.  It calls for an openness to challenge and preparedness to experiment with different approaches to many aspects of our work and life.

Programme details

Course starts: 20 Apr 2026

Week 1:  Introduction, overview and self-assessment; initial exercise

Week 2:  A brief history of reflective practice; working with assistance (eg coaching)

Week 3:  Critical analysis

Week 4:  Journaling (by hand and computer); models and aids to reflection

Week 5:  Cultural influences on our performance

Week 6:  Our ability to observe ourselves - psychological and other barriers to objectivity

Week 7:  Alternative approaches (Blog, Vlog)

Week 8:  Applying our insights - the nature of experimentation

Week 9:  Motivation - theory, practice, finding it

Week 10:  Committing to the process; establishing our own approach

Certification

Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS) Points

Only those who have registered for assessment and accreditation will be awarded CATS points for completing work to the required standard. Please note that assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail. Please follow this link for more information on Credit Accumulation Transfer Scheme (CATS) points

Digital Certificate of Completion 

Students who are registered for assessment and accreditation and pass their final assignment will also be eligible for a digital Certificate of Completion. Information on how to access the digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course attended. You will be able to download the certificate and share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Please note students who do not register for assessment and accreditation during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun.

Fees

Description Costs
Course fee (with no assessment) £300.00
Assessment and Accreditation fee £60.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Dr Graham Wilson

A leadership and OD consultancy/coaching career followed my behavioural science PhD. Since 2015, I’ve taught psychology, counselling, coaching, and photography at Oxford. Through teaching, writing (15+ textbooks), and conversations, I hope I help people understand these subjects' day-to-day relevance.

Course aims

  • To introduce the theory of reflective practice, to experiment with different approaches, and develop it as a habit, so that participants are equipped to use it on an ongoing basis for years ahead.
  • To understand the benefits of reflective practice in our personal and professional lives.
  • To place reflective practice in a historical and theoretical context alongside 'critical theory'.
  • To experiment with, and evaluate, a range of alternative approaches, using different technologies, assisted and individual. 

Teaching methods

Large and small group discussion – variously led by the tutor and participants; self-reflection; triads; pre- and post-session tutor-led input via VLE (Canvas); online and offline peer dialogue.

Learning outcomes

  • To understand the contribution of reflective practice, especially seen in the wider context of critical analysis, to the development of professional excellence and personal success.
  • To raise the level of self-awareness of individuals and their ability to observe themselves more objectively.
  • To enable participants to maintain a habit of reflective practice in a form that best suits them.

Assessment methods

At the end of the course, participants will be expected to share two or more written reflective pieces based on their experience of the group and/or the course.  The total word count will be up to 1500 words.

Only those students who have registered for assessment and accreditation will submit coursework.

Application

To be able to submit coursework and to earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £60 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. Please use the 'Book now' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment form for short courses | Oxford University Department for Continuing Education

Students who do not register for assessment and credit during the enrolment process will not be able to do so after the course has begun. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

 

Level and demands

The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.

 

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support