Rolfe Reflective Model
Rolfe 2001 Reflective Model
You might have noticed a clear gap between what you learn as a student and how it applies in your practical life. Yes, it happens to all of us. What we learn in theory is not always the same as how it works practically. What you learned is what feels right to you, but then, when you apply it in some practical way, you may think, there must be a better way of doing this.
And honestly, it shows up in all parts of life.
- A student may think, “I could have prepared better for the exam”.
- Being a teacher, one may think, “ Could I have delivered the lecture better”?
- A doctor may think they could have taken better care of patients after their shift ends.
Yes. It happens everywhere and at any role you are in. The feeling might be common for you, but the real question is, what is the solution? That’s the Rolfe 2001 Reflective Model, also sometimes called the Rolfe reflective model, and that’s what we’re going to explain here in this blog.
What is the Rolfe Reflective Model?
The name sounds formal, but the idea behind it is straightforward.
The Rolfe Model Reflection approach is just a way to look back at something you’ve done, think about it properly, and decide what you’d do next time.
It is based on three simple questions.
What? So what? Now what? That’s the whole method.
The Rolfe et al reflective model, introduced in 2001, was developed by professionals in education and healthcare. They tried it to find out a method that could make sense in real-life scenarios, not just on paper, which had been coming over for years.
And that’s why it’s still being used today, in all kinds of fields, by people who just want to learn from what life throws at them.
How Does the Rolfe Model of Reflection Work?
The Rolfe Reflective model is based on three simple questions, which you have to ask yourself and address along the way, and it turns you into a better individual in the field you are in.
The questions are:
What? So what? Now what?
These questions may seem basic, but when you think deeply, it is a complete learning framework to take you through a full circle — from the moment something happens, to how it makes you feel, and finally, to how you’ll grow from it.
Let’s take a healthcare scenario and try to understand this model in a better way, something a healthcare provider might face during their shifts.
Rolfe’s Reflective Model Example
What? – What happened?
This is where it all starts. This is not a phase to explain or justify things, but only walk yourself through facts you found.
Ask yourself:
- What took place?
- What did I do?
- Who else was involved?
- What was the outcome?
Example:
Let’s assume a doctor says
During my busy night shift, I served a patient with medication, but did not check what their most recent allergy update was.
So What? – Why does it matter?
Here, you reflect on the emotions and lessons behind the situation. This is the second state of the model, where some questions arise that address how you responded to the situation.
Ask yourself:
- How did I feel at that moment?
- What did I learn?
- Did it challenge my usual way of thinking?
- Why is this important?
Example:
Being a nurse, it made me realized how a simple miss could have serious consequences. This helped me know that even under pressure, we should not rush into action, because it can put patients’ lives at risk, even if we skip or do not properly address one step.
Now What? – What will I do next?
This is where the real change begins. You take everything you’ve noticed and ask yourself how to do better next time.
Ask yourself:
- What will I do differently going forward?
- What can I put in place to avoid this again?
- What else do I need to learn or improve.
Example:
From now on, I will not directly go for medication; rather, I will double-check the patient’s allergy updates. No matter if I feel short on time, I will also recommend that my team highlight allergies on charts for quick spotting.
The Rolfe Reflective model helps you understand how you can change your practice and learning strategy by just answering three simple questions, and can improve yourself.
How the Rolfe Model Can Help You Grow
Whether you are a professional working in any particular field or someone learning anything new, the Rolfe Reflective Model is helpful in both cases.
Using this model, you can achieve a big milestone by just applying those three simple questions. Not only professional like a nurse, but you can apply it at any learning phase too.
Here’s how it can benefit you as a working individual or as a learner.
When You’re Already Doing the Work ( In Practice )
This model is ideal and fits well in a situation when you are involved in real-life jobs. This is why this model is sometimes called the Rolfe reflective practice model. More specifically, in a fast-paced sector like healthcare or teaching, you can benefit from this model the most.
It does not require much time from you to practice; this is simple and easy to implement alongside your practice.
Why it helps:
- Simple: Only three questions guide you, and improve you in your domain
- Quick: It only takes a few minutes to reflect on a situation and act accordingly
- Useful: It tells you clearly what went wrong and what is right.
- Builds confidence: You learn and are now prepared to do better next time
When You’re Still Figuring Things Out ( In Learning )
The model also works great for students. Especially in situations where you don’t even know how and where to start, the reflective model can help a lot. It makes reflective writing, journaling, and assignments much easier.
Why it helps:
- Easy to remember: All you have to remember is what? So what? Now what?
- By applying this model, you think deeper about a situation than surface-level thinking.
- Once applied in learning, you learned how to turn a mistake into a learning experience
- This model enables you to develop learning behavior and become a better entity later in your field.
This model makes you turn out a better person in equal measure; it doesn’t matter if you are a student in a classroom or already in a working position. It makes you know in full what went wrong previously, what you can learn therefrom, and how you can improve next time.
FAQS
1. How does the Rolfe Model of Reflection help in real-life practice?
Reflective practice is useful in every situation, particularly when you are under stress and require good results. It provides room for you to step out of action, review its results, and contemplate the next move, and do it better.
2. What does ‘So What Now What’ mean in reflection?
So what part of the model focuses on how significant the event was, what you learned from it, while the now part identifies the next step for improvement.
Together, they encourage and motivate practical learning in everyday situations.
3. How does the model of reflection, ‘What So What Now What’, support learning?
The model of reflection provides a clear framework, which you can apply to promote deeper thinking, not surface-level, and aids you in continuous growth.
4. Can this reflection approach be used for personal growth?
Absolutely. This model is not limited to professional settings. You can apply this in your daily life and choices, learn from them, and grow as an individual.
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