Gibbs' Reflective Cycle

Overview:

Gibbs' Reflective Cycle is a well-established framework for reflective practice, developed by Graham Gibbs in 1988. It is widely used in coaching, education, and professional development to help individuals and teams systematically analyse experiences and learn from them. The cycle encourages structured reflection by guiding users through a series of stages: Description, Feelings, Evaluation, Analysis, Conclusion, and Action Plan. This process helps individuals and teams understand what happened, why it happened, and how to improve future practices.

What is Gibbs' Reflective Cycle?

Gibbs' Reflective Cycle consists of six key stages:

1. Description: Describe the experience or event in detail. What happened? Who was involved? Where and when did it occur?