We’ve all heard the phrase, “If you always do what you've always done, you will always get what you've always got”. But what many of us don’t realise is how to elevate ourselves, a process where reflection is key. The science and psychology behind reflection is telling and can be traced back to human instinct. We know intuitively that the only mistakes we ever make are the ones we don’t learn and grow from.

Until now it has been widely accepted that reflection meant being able to successfully question what you did and didn't do well in a situation. Now, however, one must challenge the world around them which requires distancing oneself from the passive listing of positives and negatives. And adopting an active approach that not only aids self-reflection, but may lead to self-discovery. As a tool, reflection encourages learning and without it we may never truly grow. 

So what active reflection routes can you can take to maximise your personal growth? Consider enrolling on an online training course. Online courses allow you to work with a coach who guides your reflection through challenging and teaching - proven to be one of the most effective routes to reflection. No matter how remote your location thousands of online schemes offer you the flexibility to learn from home and can be tailored to suit your schedule. To assist you in making the best choice of online scheme, we have narrowed down our favorite five.

E-learning 

For the creative individual, the International career institute offers many design courses including Fashion and Jewelry Design. Both courses are 14-31 weeks long and are available in three-levels of completion: Certificate, Diploma, and Advanced Diploma. And with no previous work or education requirements needed for entry, you can enroll at any time. 

If healthcare is your calling, then NCC Home Learning may be just what you’re looking for. Offering level 1-5 Health Care Diplomas, this flexible online course starts with a minimum of 200 hours that you can begin anytime. This is a great way to challenge yourself and learn something new. 

Or maybe you want to guide the next generation of industry leaders and teaching is your passion. With a tagline boasting “Where E-learning Becomes Life Changing”, The Centre of Excellence provides a certified Teaching Assistant Course made up of 6 modules. There is no time limit for completing this course, meaning you can learn at a pace that suits your needs allowing for optimum self-reflection. 

E-reflection 

Learning from industry leaders combined with your own self-assessments after each day, week, month, or module can be a powerful tool. One that structures a form of reflection that helps learners to think about their effectiveness within their role and reward their achievements. In reflection terms this is known as the progressive principle.

The progressive principle is the ability to make changes and achieve small wins’. Therefore, while passing one of 6 modules, sticking with our Teaching Assistant Course, may not seem a significant goal. Being able to reflect all our achievements can be a powerful motivation booster and is a key reflective factor. 

However, while online courses offer you the flexibility of home learning, they are not always affordable thus they are not always accessible. We believe reflection through education shouldn’t be impacted by people’s ability to study within their chosen field, whether that be special learning needs or for financial reasons. Fortunately, some organisations share this ethos and fund many training courses that encourage everyone of all ages and abilities to learn and grow. 

Reflection 

At the forefront of national and regional course and project funding is The Health Lottery. For every £1 (GBP) Health Lottery ticket sold, at least 20p goes into funding community and health related projects, from IT programmes for the elderly to drop-in groups for people affected by depression. These free to join projects are easy for you to get involved and start your journey of reflection. To help you narrow down your choices, we have selected our top 2 free to join schemes. 

The Health Lottery funds music classes for Med3 Music, a Portsmouth based music group who promote emotional and physical recovery for those experiencing enduring mental health difficulties. Here, you can nurture your passion for music, build your self-esteem and actively participate in reflection. If you’re an aspiring musician or music teacher, you can get involved with Med3 Music. 

Another course funded by The Health Lottery, and built on the principles of self-reflection, are the English language sessions for members of migrant communities. If you’re a budding bilingual mandarin speaker looking to sharpen up your skills, consider joining  Suffolk Chinese Family Welfare Association. This is a no expense spared, great opportunity to get involved with a meaningful teaching and learning project. Discover The Health Lotteries range of free projects and schemes and get involved. 

Reflection, when combined with online teaching and learning courses, can be a powerful development mechanism. Not only is self-reflection a confidence and motivation booster, it can make all the difference to one’s personal and professional growth. To learn more about reflection practices, read The Training Zones full article here.