❓ Rolfe et al. — What? • So What? • Now What?

This is a quick, practical framework built on three questions.

  1. What? describes the event.
  2. So what? explains why it matters — insights, implications, meaning.
  3. Now what? turns learning into next steps and changes you will make.

Use when: you need a fast, practical check-in.

Source: Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D., & Jasper, M. (2001). Critical Reflection for Nursing and the Helping Professions. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. (Earlier roots: Borton, T. (1970). Reach, Touch, and Teach; see also Driscoll, J. (1994)).