The Functions of Sharing Experiences, Observations and Insights for Reflective Learning at Work

In this paper, we are concerned with knowledge workers that want or need to improve their work performance, and choose to do so by reflective learning. These knowledge workers think back to own work experiences, critically re-evaluate them, and distil lessons learned relevant to their own work practice. We highlight in this work the functions of sharing own work experiences, observations and insights for reflective learning at work. Based on analysing existing Apps that support reflective learning in organizational context, we identify as different functions of sharing for reflective learning: 1) Shared data as baseline to (re-)evaluate own work. 2) Shared data as guideline for future behaviour at work. 3) Sharing as necessary prerequisite for collaborative or organizational learning. 4) Sharing to integrate multiple perspectives. Additionally, we show how knowledge of these functions of sharing can inform the design of Apps for reflective learning in an organizational context.