Planning a practitioner enquiry: reflective journals

It can be helpful to keep a reflective journal to support your professional learning. The format is up to you but the purpose is to allow you to:

  • document your thinking
  • track changes and review observations
  • examine assumptions and gain fresh perspectives and insights as you move through an enquiry cycle

The enquiry in education reflective journal template can complement your work around enquiry.  It is intended as an optional extra and is not for submission.

Prompts for reflection

  1. You might want to focus your reflections of yourself as an educator. Think about what is important to you and how this might relate to your enquiry.

  2. You might focus your reflections on your setting and learners. Note any observations you have made and questions or ideas that have arisen from this.

  3. You may have focussed your reading on the current educational context in Scotland. How has this impacted your thinking about your enquiry?

The following resources can support you to reflect on your own leadership and purpose:

How great leaders inspire action by Simon Sinek presents a simple but powerful model for how leaders inspire action. Examples include Apple, Martin Luther King, and the Wright brothers.

Origin of The WHY by Simon Sinek shares the story of 'why'.

In How to be a professional troublemaker Luvvie Ajayi Jones explores 'disrupting the status quo'. The book shares three questions to ask yourself when tackling fear while standing up for what you believe in. 

One of the main characteristics of effective educator leadership is being able to explore, and critically question your own assumptions, values and beliefs. Watch this Ted Talk by Julia Middleton on Cultural Intelligence to consider your own ‘core’, ‘flex’ and ‘knots’.

Alike by Daniel Martínez Lara and Rafa Cano Méndez is an animated short film about the purpose of education and the impact different approaches can have on young people.

Education in the Digital Age is part of a series that examines the intersections between education, wellbeing and digital technologies. It explores the important role of play and risk-taking in learning. It examines the “pursuit of perfection” and the impact on children’s lives. It also highlights important efforts countries have made to reduce inequality.

It’s all about Relationships - video by Barnardo’s Scotland and Public Health Scotland launched for Mental Health Awareness Week. This film highlights practical examples and tips that education staff can build into their everyday practice to support positive relationships with young people.

What does CLD involve? | CLD Standards Council for Scotland is a useful reference page for considering the range of CLD settings and learners.

Engagement and Immersion in Digital Play takes a human-centred approach to digital engagement from birth to age five. This may be of particular interest to early learning and childcare (ELC) and Primary colleagues.

From 2022 to 2023 Scotland engaged in a National Discussion about the future of education. These are some of the reviews and reports that make recommendations for all of us in the education system.

Putting Learners at the Centre : Towards a Future Vision for Scottish Education by Professor Ken Muir was commissioned by the Scottish Government. This provides independent advice on aspects of education reform in Scotland that arose from arose from Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence: Into the Future (OECD).

All Learners in Scotland Matter is an independent report produced by Professors Carol Campbell and Alma Harris. It sets out a vision, values, and a call to action for the future of Scottish education. A summary report is also available. 

It's Our Future is an Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment by Professor Louise Hayward. 

Fit for the Future is an independent Review of the skills delivery landscape provided to Scottish Ministers by James Withers.

Support for Learning: our children and all their potential is a review of additional support for learning implementation by Angela Morgan. A Summary version and children’s version are also available.

The Promise is that Scotland's children and young people will grow up loved, safe and respected. To keep it, Scotland must bring about the change demanded by the Independent Care Review. 

Scotland's learning for sustainability Target 2030 action plan aims to build an inspiring movement for change so every 3 to 18 place of education becomes a sustainable learning setting by 2030.

Scotland’s National Performance Framework sets out the four national outcomes that the Scottish Government want to achieve by 2030. 

Current policies and strategies influencing Community Learning and Development are  available from the CLD Standards Council for Scotland.