Adapted from: Gibbs G (1988). Learning by Doing: A guide to teaching and learning methods. Oxford Polytechnic: Oxford Further Education Unit.
The Gibbs Reflective Cycle
for
Continuous Self-Improvement and Learning!
Use this repeatable process to learn, adapt, and plan from events that went well or didn’t go well. The Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle's six stages offer an opportunity for deeper reflection at each stage. Ask questions to help better understand the topic being reflected upon. The guiding questions below can help facilitate each stage.
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The tool is easy to use and provides a structured reflection process that enhances learning, improves decision-making, and fosters critical thinking for personal growth!
The Stages
1. Description
Reflect upon what happened and why it was important.
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What happened?
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When and where did it happen?
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Who was involved?
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What did you and other people do?
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Were you there?
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What was the outcome?
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What did you want to happen?
4. Analysis
Make sense of the experience and understand why things happened the way they did.
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Why did things go well?
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Why did things go poorly?
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What theories or concepts help explain this situation?
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What knowledge can help me understand the situation?
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2. Feelings
Identify our reactions, thoughts, and feelings before, during, and after the event.
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What were you thinking and feeling?
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What were you feeling before and after the situation?
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How did others feel?
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How do you feel about it now?
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5. Conclusion
What else could have been done and what did you learn from the experience.
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What could have been done differently?
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What did you learn about yourself?
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What did you learn about your practice or behavior?
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3. Evaluation
Make sense of the experience and understand why things happened the way they did.
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Why did things go well?
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Why did things go poorly?
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What theories or concepts help explain this situation?
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What knowledge can help me understand the situation?​
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6. Action Plan
Create a plan for when the experience happens again.
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How will you address similar situations next time? What skills or knowledge do you need to develop?
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What did you learn from the situation?
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What skills do you need to develop to handle a situation like this better.
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What will you do differently?
Usage and Limitations
Use the Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle for:
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A performance situation
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A retrospective of a goal
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A significant event or personal experience
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A one-time training event
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An encounter with someone that may have gone particularly well or not so well​
The Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle may not be good for:
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Group retrospective
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Large groups
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Quick, direct or fast results