Unit 1: What is Reflection?
Link to: ETAP 623 Spring 2014 Home | Lisa Perreault's Portfolio | Mini-Course: Understanding Reflection: Using the Reflective Learning Journal
UNIT 1:What is reflection and how it is effective for student thinking and understanding?
LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Educators learn and conceptually understand how to define reflection. and explain what they learned.
Educators can explain in their own words, orally or in writing how reflection is useful and effective for student learning.
DIDACTIC INSTRUCTION
Unit 1: Designed to inform you about the essential content to help you understand reflection.
Click to View: Reflection Learning Slide Presentation
GROUP LEARNING ACTIVITY
As you view the PPT presentation, you can follow along in the syllabus to take notes and write down questions for the post - Q & A.
SLIDE 1: Reflection: Learning Theories
- Introduction
SLIDE 2: What is Reflection?
- Reflection is many things: thoughts and feelings; honest; varied; done in many different ways; sometimes boring; difficult; creative; can build self-awareness; surprising; sometimes fun; helpful for planning; and done alone or with others.
- Students explore the affective part of what they understand which are feelings. They can express a thought by saying or writing: I think; I know; I believe; I wonder; I guess; I surmise; I propose; I consider; etc.
SLIDE 3: Purposes of Reflection
- Can be formative, generative, or transformative.
- When reflection is informative, students deepen their understanding and learning from their perspective. Learners may be able to differentiate between their thoughts and feelings. Students are able to look at the big picture (macro) and the smaller details (micro).
- When reflection is generative, guiding students to think about what they could have done differently in a situaion. Thinking about new ideas, asking deeper questions, and connecting further with the experience to make more decisions.
- When reflection is transformative, a constructive process facilitates personal change and growth. the students learn and understand self and others. Making meaning from the current, recent, and cumulative experience. Learners may develop a sense of integrity as they evaluate an experience.
SLIDE 4: Theories of Reflection
- John Dewey: Reflection as a meaning-making process
- Donald Schon: Reflection-in action and Reflection-on action
SLIDE 5: John Dewey & Reflective Thinking
- What is an experience? According to Dewey, an experience involves an interaction between self and another person and their environment. From this experience, a change occurs in the self and in the environment.
- Reflection is a useful tool that transforms a raw experience into a meaningful experience. It is also a rigorous way of thinking; used in community with others; and requires an awareness of attitudes and emotions.
- The reflective teacher is whole-hearted and curious; uses directness, is open-minded; and exhibits a readiness to use reflection.
SLIDE 6: Donald Schon: Reflection in-action & Reflection-on action
SLIDE 7: Click to watch Student Reflection youtube video
SLIDE 8: References
Kaye, C.B. (2014). Meaningful reflection: A practical approach. Principal Leadership, 20-24.
http://www.bradford.ac.uk/wimba-files/skill-space/Reflective_Writing_HTML/page_04.htm
http://www.chrismadden.co.uk/cartoon-gallery/category/more/
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/29999446/JOHN-DEWEY-AND-REFLECTIVE-THINKING
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do01QGzwDZ0
Rodgers, C. (2002). Defining reflection: Another look at John Dewey and reflective thinking. Teachers College Record, 104 (4), 842-866.
LEARNING ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION
Link to the Discussion tab at the top left hand side of the page to participate in the learning activity.
ACTIVITY #1: View the photo to answer the following question.
- What does reflection mean to you?
- What are your thoughts about how reflection encourages learning and understanding?
REFLECTIVE ASSESSMENT
At the end of Unit 1, educators are encouraged to ask questions and share information about what they have conceptually learned. The course facilitator provides feedback and assesses the educators level of understanding and satisfaction about the content of the course.
LINKS:
Go back to: Understanding Reflection: Using the Reflective Learning Journal
Move on to Unit 2: Gibb's Cycle of Reflection