The idea that reflection is important in the educational enterprise is not new. Reflection can mean different things to each of us. In a physical sense the notion of mirrors and reflected images will often come to mind. From the individual view we may imagine silent, introspective reviewing of experiences that we have had or we might see groups of people carrying out post mortems on issues or events they have shared. The common thread through the definitions is that reflection involves action and that the interaction of thoughts, feelings and actions is paramount.
Reflection occurs within a social setting.
It is not an internal, solitary process. Even when reflection takes place in the mind, the ideas, the form and the language of reflection are acquired through the culture and values in which the action is situated. Reflection is action orientated. The reflective response occurs as the learner constructs, reviews and links experiences to prior, present or proposed learning experiences. To be able to do this the learner needs to be able to question, self question, assess, evaluate, find alternatives and to express their feelings.