Reflective Learning
Reflection is an act of looking back in order to process experiences. It is a way of thinking about one’s own thinking in order to grow. Reflective learning helps to develop critical thinking, self-awareness and analytical skills and is important to your academic success and your overall wellbeing (HE Academy, n.d.). It is not sufficient simply to have an experience in order to learn. Without reflecting upon this experience it may quickly be forgotten, or its learning potential lost. Developing your skills of reflection enhances your learning experience in all aspects of life. It involves stepping back from an event or experience to analyse it from different perspectives, with a view to improving future performance (Faculty of Humanities Study Skills Website, n.d.).
YouTube Videos on Reflective Learning
Watch the following videos to develop reflective practices
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Reflection Questions
Write in your learning journal:
- How will I know if I have been successful?
- What will I check my success against?
- What can I do to improve my work?
- Have I been successful?
Strategies for improving reflective learning skills
Reflection doesn’t have to be done on your own in a darkened room! Talking over a situation or experience with someone can be an excellent way of starting to reflect – distancing yourself from it a little, breaking it down, looking at it from a different viewpoint, analysing what happened and why, and deciding how you would handle it differently next time. Reflection is not a static form. It can work in many dynamic ways: talking, blogging/vlogging/podcasts, concept maps, writing letters, diary and learning journals etc.
Tips for writing learning logs:
Set 10 minutes aside each week to write a Learning Log. Record key events/experiences, your reactions to them, and then reflect on them to draw out conclusions about what happened and determine any subsequent actions you should take. Here are four things to record in a simple Learning Log: 1. The experience/situation/event 2. Your initial reactions to it 3. What you did 4. What you learned from the experience/situation/event (Source: Faculty of Humanities Study Skills Website, n.d.) |
Another strategy to develop reflective practice skills:
Read - around the topics you are learning about or want to learn about and develop Ask - others about the way they do things and why Watch - what is going on around you Feel - pay attention to your emotions, what prompts them, and how you deal with negative ones Talk - share your views and experiences with others Think - learn to value time spent thinking about your life experiences (Source: Skills You Need, n.d.) |
Reflection activities and Resources
http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/teaching/service_learning/refact.cfm
http://students.adelaidehs.sa.edu.au/Subjects/SACE/IL-Resource/Studentweb2/6evaluating/selfreflection.htm
http://www.lsa.umich.edu/UMICH/sweetland/Home/Instructors/Teaching%20Resources/Metacognition.pdf
http://www2.bgsu.edu/downloads/provost/file96971.pdf
http://students.adelaidehs.sa.edu.au/Subjects/SACE/IL-Resource/Studentweb2/6evaluating/selfreflection.htm
http://www.lsa.umich.edu/UMICH/sweetland/Home/Instructors/Teaching%20Resources/Metacognition.pdf
http://www2.bgsu.edu/downloads/provost/file96971.pdf