What are the 6 stages of Gibbs' Reflective Cycle?

The six stages are Description (what happened), Feelings (what you were thinking and feeling), Evaluation (what was good and bad about the experience), Analysis (what sense can you make of the situation), Conclusion (what else could you have done), and Action Plan (what will you do next time). They form a continuous circle, since the action plan feeds into the description stage of your next reflection.

What does a 'labeled' Gibbs Reflective Cycle diagram mean?

A labeled diagram shows the name of each of the six stages directly on the diagram, usually alongside a number showing the order, rather than a blank circle you'd need to annotate yourself. This tool's diagrams are labeled by default, with each of the six segments named and numbered.

Can I download the Gibbs Reflective Cycle diagram as a PNG?

Yes. Fill in your reflection under each of the six stages and download the finished diagram as a PNG image for free, ready to paste into a Word document, PowerPoint slide or PDF. Pro Mode adds a high-resolution version, a transparent-background PNG, and SVG and PDF export.

Is the Gibbs Reflective Cycle diagram circular or a chevron shape?

Both versions exist. The circular wheel is the more traditional and widely recognized representation, since it visually reinforces that reflection is a continuous, repeating process. This tool generates the circular version. If your course specifically requires a chevron or arrow-based layout, check your assignment brief, as institutions occasionally specify a preferred style.

Gibbs Reflective Cycle Generator - Small Study Tools

Gibbs 1988 · 6 Stages · Download PNG · PDF · SVG

Gibbs Reflective Cycle Generator

Q: Who created Gibbs' Reflective Cycle and when?

Graham Gibbs created the model in 1988, published in his book Learning by Doing: A Guide to Teaching and Learning Methods. It's one of the most widely used reflective practice models in nursing, education, healthcare and social work coursework.

Q: Can I customize the colors and fonts on my diagram?

Yes, in Pro Mode. Choose from several color palettes, including a monochrome option for black-and-white printing, pick from four font styles, adjust the background, and toggle whether stage numbers, question prompts and directional arrows are shown.

Q: Is this Gibbs Reflective Cycle generator free?

Yes, fully free, including PNG and PDF export with no account required. Pro Mode — also free — adds color palettes, custom fonts, high-resolution and transparent PNG export, and SVG vector export.

Enter your reflection points and generate a beautiful circular diagram instantly. Download as PNG, PDF or SVG. Pro Mode adds colour palettes, fonts, custom styling and high-resolution export.

● Pro Version is Free for now

✓ Colour palettes · Font options · Arrows · Background · High-res PNG · SVG vector · PDF unlocked

All processing happens in your browser — your reflection content is never sent anywhere

✏️ Your Reflection

Diagram Title (centre)

Subtitle / Author Name

🎨 Colour Palette

🖌️ Custom Stage Colours

✨ Appearance

Font Style

Background

Show directional arrows

Show stage numbers

Show question prompts

Show inner glow effect

Text Density

Centre Circle Size

👁️ Live Preview

⬇️ Download

`;const blob=new Blob([html],{type:'text/html'}); const a=document.createElement('a'); a.download=`gibbs-reflective-cycle-${(title||'reflection').replace(/\s+/g,'-').toLowerCase()}.html`; a.href=URL.createObjectURL(blob); a.click(); toast('PDF report downloaded — open and Print → Save as PDF'); }// ── MODE ────────────────────────────────────────────────────── function setMode(mode) { isPro=mode==='pro'; document.getElementById('btnSimple').classList.toggle('active',!isPro); document.getElementById('btnPro').classList.toggle('active',isPro); document.body.classList.toggle('pro-mode',isPro); const pb=document.getElementById('proBar');if(pb)pb.style.display=isPro?'flex':'none'; if(isPro){buildPaletteGrid();buildStageColorPickers();} redraw(); try{localStorage.setItem('sst_gibbs_mode',mode);}catch(e){} }// ── UTILS ───────────────────────────────────────────────────── function toast(msg){const t=document.getElementById('toast');t.textContent=msg;t.classList.add('show');setTimeout(()=>t.classList.remove('show'),2800);}// ── INIT ────────────────────────────────────────────────────── buildInputs(); buildPaletteGrid(); buildStageColorPickers(); redraw(); try{const m=localStorage.getItem('sst_gibbs_mode');if(m==='pro')setMode('pro');}catch(e){}// Redraw on any settings change ['diagramTitle','diagramSubtitle','centerSize','textDensity'].forEach(id=>{ const el=document.getElementById(id); if(el)el.addEventListener('input',redraw); });

Free Gibbs Reflective Cycle Diagram Generator — Labeled & Downloadable

Most people looking for a Gibbs reflective cycle diagram don't want a description of the model — they want to see it, fill it in with their own reflection, and get a clean image to submit. That's exactly what this tool builds: a fully labeled circular diagram with all six stages named and numbered, generated live as you type, ready to download as a PNG the moment you're done.

Type your reflection under each stage — as a paragraph or as bullet points — and the diagram updates instantly in the preview. There's a sample reflection built in if you want to see a finished example before writing your own, and the whole thing runs in your browser, so nothing you write is ever uploaded anywhere.

What this tool actually does: generates a labeled, circular Gibbs Reflective Cycle diagram from your own text for each of the six stages, rendered live and downloadable as PNG. Pro Mode adds color palettes, custom fonts, high-resolution and transparent PNG export, plus SVG and PDF.

The 6 Stages of Gibbs' Reflective Cycle (1988), Labeled

Graham Gibbs published this model in 1988 in Learning by Doing: A Guide to Teaching and Learning Methods, and it remains one of the most commonly required reflective frameworks in nursing, healthcare, education and social work coursework. Each of the six labeled stages asks a specific question, and the diagram's circular shape is deliberate — the action plan you land on feeds directly back into the description stage of your next reflection, making it a genuinely continuous cycle rather than a one-off checklist.

DescriptionWhat happened? Stick to the facts of the situation, without judgment yet.

FeelingsWhat were you thinking and feeling at the time, and afterward?

EvaluationWhat was good and bad about the experience?

AnalysisWhat sense can you make of the situation? Why did things happen the way they did?

ConclusionWhat else could you have done? What did you learn from this?

Action PlanWhat will you do next time you're in a similar situation?

How to Create Your Diagram — Step by Step

Add a title (optional)Defaults to "Gibbs Reflective Cycle" — rename it to your module or assignment title if you prefer.

Write your reflection under each stageUse paragraph mode or switch to bullet points — whichever matches how you're drafting the rest of your assignment.

Check the live previewThe labeled diagram updates as you type, so you can see how much text fits comfortably in each segment.

Download your PNGFree in Simple Mode. Pro Mode adds high-resolution, transparent background, SVG and PDF options.

Circular vs. Chevron Gibbs Diagrams — Which Should You Use?

A small number of people specifically search for a Gibbs reflective cycle chevron diagram rather than the circular version — worth addressing directly since the two look quite different. The classic and far more common representation is the circular wheel, which this tool generates, since the closed loop visually reinforces that reflection is meant to be ongoing rather than a linear one-time process. A chevron or arrow-based layout lays the same six stages out in a straight sequence instead. Neither is more "correct," but if your course or supervisor has specified one style in the assignment brief, that instruction should take priority over which version is more common generally.

🔵 Circular Wheel (this tool)

The traditional, most widely recognized format. The closed loop visually shows reflection as continuous — the standard choice unless told otherwise.

➡️ Chevron / Linear

Stages laid out as a straight sequence of arrows. Less common, occasionally requested by specific institutions or style guides.

⚡ Quick Answers

What are the 6 stages of Gibbs' cycle?

Description, Feelings, Evaluation, Analysis, Conclusion, Action Plan — in that order, looping back to Description.

When was Gibbs' Reflective Cycle published?

1988, by Graham Gibbs, in Learning by Doing.

Can I download the diagram as a PNG for free?

Yes — free PNG download with no account, plus PDF. Pro Mode adds high-res, transparent and SVG export.

Is the diagram labeled?

Yes, by default — every stage is named and numbered directly on the diagram.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Gibbs' Reflective Cycle and building your diagram

The six stages are Description, Feelings, Evaluation, Analysis, Conclusion, and Action Plan. They form a continuous circle, since the action plan feeds into the description stage of your next reflection.

Graham Gibbs created the model in 1988, published in Learning by Doing: A Guide to Teaching and Learning Methods. It's one of the most widely used reflective practice models in nursing, education, healthcare and social work coursework.

A labeled diagram shows the name of each stage directly on the diagram, alongside a number showing the order — rather than a blank circle you'd annotate yourself. This tool's diagrams are labeled by default.

Yes. Fill in your reflection and download the diagram as a PNG for free — ready for Word, PowerPoint or PDF. Pro Mode adds high-resolution, transparent-background PNG, plus SVG and PDF export.

Both versions exist. The circular wheel is the more traditional and widely recognized representation, and it's what this tool generates. If your course specifically requires a chevron layout, check your assignment brief — some institutions specify a preferred style.

Yes, in Pro Mode. Choose from several color palettes, including monochrome for black-and-white printing, pick from four font styles, adjust the background, and toggle stage numbers, question prompts and arrows on or off.

Yes, fully free, including PNG and PDF export with no account required. Pro Mode — also free — adds color palettes, custom fonts, high-resolution and transparent PNG export, and SVG vector export.