Becoming a Reflective Practitioner, 6th Edition

CHAPTER 2The Six Dialogical Movements

Christopher Johns

Learning through reflection is structured through six dialogical movements set within the hermeneutic spiral of interpretation (Table 2.1). The first movement involves the practitioner paying active attention to and writing a description of a particular experience. The second movement is reflecting on the text of the particular experience with the aim of gaining tentative insight. Insights change the practitioner in some way through understanding, feelings, and actions towards realising their vision as a lived reality.

The third and fourth movements invite the practitioner to dialogue with theory and guide to challenge and deepen their tentative insights. The fifth movement involves constructing a reflexive narrative to communicate insights. The sixth movement is a dialogue with the narrative’s audience.

The Hermeneutic Spiral

Hermeneutics is the interpretation of the text (Gadamer 1975), the text being the practitioner’s description of the experience. The practitioner dialogues with this text to find meaning and gain insight towards self‐realisation (usually expressed as realising a vision of self and practice). Insights inform subsequent experiences within a reflexive deepening of personal knowing that can be communicated as an unfolding reflexive narrative.

Imagine throwing a stone into a pool. It makes a splash and sends out ripples over the whole surface of the pool. The pool represents the whole of one’s understanding ...