Getting the broom to fly: Significant moments of transformation toward the becoming of a reflective practitioner

This study investigates the intersection between education and professional practice from a student perspective. Emphasis is particularly on how students reflect and reason over their experiences before, during and after having finalized their practicum period. We argue that these post reflections may serve as an opportunity to enhance awareness on the transfer between education and professional practice in the process towards becoming a reflective professional practitioner. We further suggest that reflection may facilitate an opportunity for transformative learning among the students, and that the often-challenging transitions shocks many students experience doing a practicum may be an opportunity for transformation to take place. The study thus seeks to illuminate how, if, and when opportunities for transformative learning might happen. The primary empirical data draws on focus group interviews with students from a higher education institution having finalized their practicum in Denmark or abroad within the last six months. The study is a cross faculty pilot project that included students from the Hospitality, Social and Educational departments. The findings suggest that students do experience transitional shocks, and if managed well these shocks serve as an ingrained part of the students’ learning trajectory toward becoming reflective practitioners.