Embedding Reflective Dialogue in Personal Tutor Conversations

Reflective conversation is a powerful relational pedagogical tool. When embedded within personal tutor conversations, it can enhance the student experience of mattering in higher education, where increasing student numbers can reduce the relational quality and experience of learning. Personal tutor conversations that embed reflective dialogue therefore have the potential to become purposeful conversations, empowering students to feel heard and understood. As key components of mattering, feeling heard and understood when achieved, enable personal tutors to develop accurate, empathic understanding of the student’s lived experience of learning and teaching. Furthermore, reflective dialogue embedded within personal tutor conversations can empower students to get to know themselves. Supporting the student to develop an enduring curiosity into who and why they are creates space for the generation of knowledge that can enhance self-awareness. However, this piece argues that for this to be truly meaningful, personal tutors need to recognise the value of reflection for themselves, have the courage to develop their own reflective mindset and skills, and model reflective behaviours if students are to perceive they matter through the relational reflective pedagogy inherent in personal tutor conversations