Developing higher order thinking in medical education through reflective learning and research

Reflection in education is not a new concept for as Meiklejohn (1882) enthused, ‘learning is a social act.’ Dewey (1933), a key twentieth century instigator of the concept of reflection, expanded upon the ideas of earlier educators including Plato, Aristotle, Confucius, Lao Tzu, Solomon, and Buddha (Houston, 1988). The preferred reflective model of Perioperative Critical Care pathway students at the University of Bedfordshire has been Reflection-for-Learning. This student-centred model of reflection was developed for their use to meet student identified needs.