Gibbs reflective practice in Art & Design

Why use the Gibbs reflective practice model to write up your written responses to your work?

(Updated Nov 2021)

The reason we recommend you write up your work in this way is simply because it steers you to produce written content that meets the assessment criteria. Almost all photography courses will require written evidence that supports your practical work. Using this simplified version with 5 prompts, based on the Gibbs Reflective Cycle brings structure to your work flow whilst at the same guiding you to write the type of content that meets the assessment criteria.

 When should you use it?

Currently (2020) my students have to use it in key areas of their work during the Creative process. They have to use it once they have completed their research: Reflecting on the research, explaining and analysing what they have learned from the research and how this will inform their initial practical response. For example- what aspects of the research will they carry forward into their own work. This may be as simple as using the same light as the artist that they've looked at, or perhaps being informed by their idea/concept? 

This then leads into producing an action plan - this serves as the plan or proposal for their first shoot/practical activity. 

Thereafter, they have to use the Gibbs model to reflect on all of their practical activities. Photo-shoots, Printing sessions in darkrooms, Photoshop sessions and any activity that involves any significant new learning. 

With practice, the Gibbs reflections become the only large written components of their work other than the research at the start of the project and the final evaluations. This approach,  tends to cut out the propensity to waffle and encourages more relevant and targeted written responses that meet the Unit criteria. 

The  5 Prompts 

What Happened - Describe what you’ve done/not done. (Keep this relatively short).

Feelings – How do you feel your doing are, worried, confident, confused? (Keep this relatively short).

Evaluation – What value is there to having produced this work, why has it been a useful in your learning? (Keep this relatively short).

Analysis – Involves questioning what you have done in order to explore better ways of working and or to produce better quality outcomes that meet the criteria... What have I learned; What more do I need to do to improve, why has the activity been useful and importantly use a what if?; question to explore a different way you may have produced the work, that would have been better. 

Action Plan – What will you do next - when, why, where, who with and what for? Also identify what you'll be using in terms of equipment, media, materials, techniques and processes as part of your plan. Other things you can use include lighting/floor plans and reference images. 

*See here for an example https://southendasphoto.blogspot.com/2021/11/example-of-unit-04-evaluation.html

*Note I no longer insist on the students writing up the conclusion part as more often than not they'll draw conclusions in the analysis section. So for us the conclusion component is optional.