There is a theory of Reflective practice from David Kolb called Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory in 1984. It is a good basis to understanding reflection in professional development. Kolb talked about learning being a process where knowledge is created through gathering experiences and transforming these experiences to desired better outcomes for children. He said it happens in four stages which are:
Concrete or Direct involvement in a task, Reflecting on the experience, Conceptualisation and formulating theories and
Active applyication of the theories to new experiences.
Kolb drills into the importance of reflection as a bridge between experience and learning. He said professionals must reflect on their experiences to derive meaningful lessons and apply these insights to future actions