Virtual Booth

Critical thinking is a vital competency for graduates, yet many interns struggle to produce meaningful reflective writing. In many cases, they often describe workplace experiences rather than analysing them critically. To address this challenge, the Prompts for Interns’ Reflections (PIR) was developed as an innovative instructional tool to scaffold and aid reflective writing, simultaneously promote critical thinking during internships. Consisting of eight structured guiding prompts, the PIR was developed based on Paul and Elder’s Elements of Thought, and further informed by the Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy, Questioning Circles, and Self-Regulated Learning Theory. Three subject matter experts validated the prompts to ensure their relevance and rigor. Subsequently, the validated PIR was implemented with undergraduate interns, and participants’ perceptions were explored through semi-structured interviews. The findings indicated that the PIR assisted interns to organize their thoughts systematically, analyse workplace experiences more critically, consider multiple perspectives, and reflect more confidently. Participants added that the prompts reduced uncertainty during reflective writing by providing purposeful and clear guidance throughout the reflection process. Theoretically grounded and user-centred, the PIR transforms reflective writing from an unstructured narrative into a guided process of critical inquiry. Its adaptability across disciplines and potential integration into digital learning platforms make it a scalable educational innovation. The PIR offers a solution that is practical for enhancing reflective practice, critical thinking, and graduate preparedness in higher education.