Reflective thinking is verry important since I think its a retroinsoection and helps us to give ourself some time to absorb information and then analyse the situation this helps to gather all availabel information and choices and then make a good decision.
Cindy,
Reflective thinking is the process of looking back and then looking forward so you can benefit from the past while creating a solution for the future. Problem solving development is an ongoing process based upon learning and growth.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Shawn,
Good list of benefit because they help form the foundation from which a good decision can be made and a problem solved.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree with looking back at what is working and what is not working it is very helpful in the work force especially when you have a delemia and you need to find a solution to the problem because the current one does not work.
Some of the benefits of reflective thinking is essentially taking a mental note of previous thoughts on the some or simuliar subject and evaluating your decision again, mor critically.
Robert,
You hit upon a key point when you mention time consumption. So many students just want to jump to some solution whether viable or not so they can complete the assignment rather than doing the required reflective thinking.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Reflective thinking gives one the ability to consider all aspects of an issue before making an important decision. While more time-consuming, decisions are enhanced and prevent additional efforts that are often necessary to correct the consequences of hasty decisions.
The reflective thinking will enable a good assessment of the problem to be solved and will render an oppertunity to select best methodes to be used in solving the problem.
Reflective thinking allows someone to step back away from a situation and view it for what it is. When I practice reflective thinking, I try to emotionally disengage which allows me to try to look at the situation objectively. I also try to see things from others points of view so I can understand what they are seeing and feeling. I believe this gives me insight to solve difficult issues that arise.
Reflective thinking can help us see the solution versus seek a solution. By seek a solution I’m speaking in the context of trial and error. It is my opinion that a reflective step should be put into most if not all problem solving formats. Currently most problem solving formats jump right from defining the problem to analyzing course of action.
A bit of reflection between steps would be helpful.
Through reflective thinking, we can come up with the best solution, not just a solution that made it through the selection process.
Daneen,
Seems like the saying "Ready, aim fire." has been change to "Ready,fire, aim." by many students as the result of the access they have to resources today. Reflective thinking is such a critical part of problem solving because it gives time to integrate common sense into the situation. Keep up the good work you are doing in helping your students to be reflective in their thinking processes.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Reflective thinking gives the learner a chance to step back and observe one's environment or to evaluate a situation from multiple perspectives with in one's own mind. It provides the learner with a chance to create judgements , think creatively to solve problems and develop plans with out using trial and error. If we all "stopped and smelled the roses" every so often then I think less decisions would be volatile because they would not be based on impulse. More importantly, reflective thinking gives the learner a chance to think before communicating, thereby making informed opinions about the environment in which they live, work and learn.
Teresa,
Reflective thinking is a powerful tool when used to establish a foundation from which possible solutions can be created. It needs to be developed and used prior to moving forward in the problem solving process.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Reflective thinking has led me in some cases to a more innovative soultion to a problem.
John,
I agree with your assumption about the how reflective thinking gets better and quicker as one gains experience. The ability to quickly work through a situation is what will enable a chef to rise to the top of his or her profession.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The more you learn to use reflective thinking through the years the more skilled one becomes at solving the diverse problems that a chef and restaurant owner faces on a daily basis. Because of the time constraints that nightly service provide, this ability to spend a few minutes of reflective thought allows for quicker to do lists and time management. I have found that one becomes quicker with this type of thinking the more it is utilized before the analytical and emotional thought process.
Marcia,
The key is to be creative in selecting activities that will enable your students to acquire the needed skills for problem solving. I am constantly looking for strategies I can use to help my students to become problem solvers. I use a lot of case studies so my students can do reflective thinking and knowledge sharing to come up with solutions.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Taking a moment to have self talks during a problem solving situation will assist in a better outcome.
I commend all the responders, and reflective thinkers in this Forum. I am impressed with all the responses and creative ideas expressed here. I enjoyed each one. Now I am reflecting on how to answer this question. I want my nursing students to be good problem solvers, to think critically and reflect on their learning. The specifics on "how to teach this" (reflection, analysis, problem-solving, etc.), is the hard part.
Standing back to think allow yourself to about the many possible solutions and outcomes to a problem permits you to reanalyze initial reactions and decide on the best course of action in regard to the problem.
