Student ReflectionStudent Reflection

An Action Research Project by An Action Research Project by Megan Graham and Viv OsborneMegan Graham and Viv Osborne

20082008

Our Research Aim:Our Research Aim:

To teach students to use Reflective Journals To teach students to use Reflective Journals to record things they have learnt and how to record things they have learnt and how they have learnt them.they have learnt them.

What is Reflection?What is Reflection? Reflection involves getting people to talk about Reflection involves getting people to talk about

their experiences.their experiences. (Christopher Koliba, Ph.D. Research Assistant Professor, John Dewey Project on Progressive (Christopher Koliba, Ph.D. Research Assistant Professor, John Dewey Project on Progressive

Education)Education)

Rules for Reflection.Rules for Reflection. Each person has the right and opportunity for Each person has the right and opportunity for

Reflection.Reflection. Every idea has value and can contribute to Every idea has value and can contribute to

learning.learning. Individual contribution are recognised.Individual contribution are recognised. Students are responsible for their own learning.Students are responsible for their own learning.

What is the Purpose of Reflection?What is the Purpose of Reflection?

To find out what students have learnt about To find out what students have learnt about a topic.a topic.

To reflect on current learning: To reflect on current learning:

- how did you learn best? - how did you learn best?

- What is that?- What is that?

- How will you learn next - How will you learn next time?time?

To understand how students learn best.To understand how students learn best.

Reflection Activities used with Reflection Activities used with Students:Students:

Reflection CircleReflection Circle Reflection QuestionsReflection Questions Role Playing Role Playing Pair and SharePair and Share Reflection Strips – Kath MurdochReflection Strips – Kath Murdoch Reflection CubeReflection Cube Reflection JigsawReflection Jigsaw Photographs of studentsPhotographs of students Sentence Starters for individual reflective journalsSentence Starters for individual reflective journals Reflection Cards Reflection Cards Discussion with groups and individualsDiscussion with groups and individuals Room 7 Reflection DairyRoom 7 Reflection Dairy

What do we think of the Reflection What do we think of the Reflection Activities?Activities?

REFLECTION STRIPSREFLECTION STRIPS ““The reflection strips help ‘tune’ our thinking into our reflections.” JosieThe reflection strips help ‘tune’ our thinking into our reflections.” Josie ““They help us begin our reflections.” AngusThey help us begin our reflections.” Angus ““They make saying our reflections fun and easy.” LiamThey make saying our reflections fun and easy.” Liam ““They encourage us to be reflective.” HeathThey encourage us to be reflective.” Heath ““They allow us to share our thinking to a group or partner, or the teacher.” EmmaThey allow us to share our thinking to a group or partner, or the teacher.” Emma

REFLECTION CUBEREFLECTION CUBE ““The reflection cube is fun to make and decorate.” TaylorThe reflection cube is fun to make and decorate.” Taylor ““It is easy to use and helps us to say our reflections clearly.” FinlayIt is easy to use and helps us to say our reflections clearly.” Finlay ““We can use the reflection cube by ourselves or with a group.” CharlieWe can use the reflection cube by ourselves or with a group.” Charlie

JIGSAW REFLECTIONSJIGSAW REFLECTIONS ““The jigsaw reflection is a neat partner activity.” DylanThe jigsaw reflection is a neat partner activity.” Dylan ““It is fun matching up the puzzle pieces and saying our reflections.” ClaudiaIt is fun matching up the puzzle pieces and saying our reflections.” Claudia

Photo’s of classroom ReflectionPhoto’s of classroom Reflection

Writing in an individual or class Reflection Writing in an individual or class Reflection Journal.Journal.

Sharing reflections with the Sharing reflections with the class.class.

Taking part in a reflection circle Taking part in a reflection circle activity.activity.

Participating in a reflection game – Participating in a reflection game – reflection strips, reflection cube or reflection reflection strips, reflection cube or reflection jigsaw.jigsaw.

Writing individual reflections to share on a Writing individual reflections to share on a classroom poster or display.classroom poster or display.

How have the Reflection Activities How have the Reflection Activities helped with our Reflections?helped with our Reflections?

The reflection activities are lots of fun. The reflection activities are lots of fun. They are easy to use and help make sharing our reflections They are easy to use and help make sharing our reflections

enjoyable.enjoyable. The activities have given us more confidence and helped us to The activities have given us more confidence and helped us to

see what we are actually learning at school and how we are see what we are actually learning at school and how we are learning.learning.

We think everyone should reflect on their learning!We think everyone should reflect on their learning!

(Shared writing activity with Room 7 24/10/08)(Shared writing activity with Room 7 24/10/08)

What the Students Think…What the Students Think…

Saying and writing reflections were hard at Saying and writing reflections were hard at the beginning of the year, but go easier as the beginning of the year, but go easier as they practiced.they practiced.

The activities that were hands-on were The activities that were hands-on were easier and more fun than those where easier and more fun than those where writing was needed.writing was needed.

What the Teachers Think…What the Teachers Think…

The reflection activities where students got The reflection activities where students got to do something other than writing proved to do something other than writing proved most popular, and therefore got the best most popular, and therefore got the best results.results.

In the future students will be encouraged to In the future students will be encouraged to use reflection activities at a given time in the use reflection activities at a given time in the day to help them reflect on their learning day to help them reflect on their learning and think about their next steps.and think about their next steps.

ConclusionConclusion

We have really enjoyed taking part in this We have really enjoyed taking part in this Action Research Project.Action Research Project.

The children have responded well to all The children have responded well to all aspects of reflection, and as teachers we aspects of reflection, and as teachers we have been able to explore different ways of have been able to explore different ways of using it in our classroom programme.using it in our classroom programme.

We will continue using various elements of We will continue using various elements of reflection with our students.reflection with our students.