Reflection-in-Action
Updated 2026-08-09
INTRODUCTION
English translation pending.
CORE DEFINITION
Donald Schön contrasted two forms of professional reflection. Reflection-on-action reviews what happened after the event. Reflection-in-action happens during practice, where the practitioner reads the situation's feedback, treats it as a conversation, and adjusts the approach on the spot. Schön argued that professional knowledge is largely situated, so plans often cannot anticipate what the case will present. The capacity to stay sensitive to real-time feedback, rather than applying a fixed recipe, is what he called the core competence of the reflective practitioner.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
- Use in-the-moment noticing: watch for feedback signals while the work is actually proceeding. - Use situational dialogue: treat the situation's response as something to answer and learn from. - Use live adjustment: change the approach immediately rather than at the review stage.
Anchor fast decisions
Professional competence comes not only from reviewing afterwards but from reflecting while acting, conversing with the situation on site and adjusting immediately. Knowledge is situated, so plans rarely anticipate everything the case presents, which makes sensitivity to real-time feedback more useful than mechanically applying an existing recipe.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/1Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Sch%C3%B6nverified
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