Events

This one-day workshop on Reflective Learning is organised by BMAF's Human Resource Development Special Interest Group.

The theme of the event is Reflective Learning : facing up to the challenges of teaching, researching and learning about reflection in Business and Management.

Reflective learning is perceived as a critical ‘lifelong’ learning skill; an enabling skill in terms of effective management and professional practice throughout one’s career.  The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) encourage those studying towards professional qualifications in HR that “Reflecting on your learning enables you to link your professional development to practical outcomes” and the same advice underpins PDP provision in many undergraduate business and management programmes.

Whilst the place of reflective learning in the curriculum is not in doubt its use in pedagogic activity remains problematic. Contentious issues include:

• Poor levels of student engagement
• Strategies and techniques for teaching and learning
• Teaching reflective learning cross culturally
• Challenges of reflective writing and its assessment
• Ethical issues – ownership, privacy, the tutor-student  relationship
• Transfer – sustainability and benefit beyond the classroom

With its interest in all things learning HRD might legitimately claim to be the natural ‘guardian’ of personal development planning, continuous professional development and reflective learning.  However, reflective learning and in particular its teaching has received substantially less critical attention within the HR literature than in other professional areas such as medicine and social work.  In HR and HRD professional education reflective learning is indeed a core concept yet there is scant research about effective practice and the responsibilities of tutors as well as learners in reflective learning processes.

This workshop provides the opportunity for those involved in the teaching and research of reflective learning to engage in a process of continuous professional development on the very topic of reflective learning.  Importantly we want to hear the student voice; whether directly or vicariously through the contributions of teachers / researchers.  The emphasis is on trying to get beyond an understanding of issues and towards knowledge generation. We envisage a highly participative day. Whilst this will include research contributions and reflections on reflective learning in practice, the intention is to generate a forum for constructive dialogue around this theme - its relationship with HR and HRD specifically but also with other professional areas within Business and Management.

We would welcome contributions from a wide constituency of  teachers and researchers interested in reflective learning and participation is not limited to those working in the fields of HRM or HRD. A booking form is overleaf,  followed by a Call for Contributions.

Format

Morning: 

• Introductory Guest Speaker
• Research based presentations
• Reflections on practice

Afternoon:  

• Symposium
• Initiating contributions
• Group Discussions
• Summary Plenary

Cost:  The Workshop will be supported financially by BMAF/UFHRD. This enables us the keep the cost to a very modest £25.

To book a place please complete the booking form below and return it to bmaf@brookes.ac.uk 

Booking Form (.doc)