What is Reflection and Why it is Important?

How reflection enhances learning

There are a number of ways in which reflection enhances learning. These include:

• it deepens the understanding of the learner’s understanding of concepts or processes
• it provides opportunities for the learner to connect information and/or theory to their experience, other contexts, and/or connect it with what learnt before or in other classes
• it allows articulation of thoughts
• It allows learners to recognize the limitation of their work and be critical about it
• It provides meaning to an experience when the reflection is linked to a particular experience
• It promotes metacognition – thinking about thinking and strengthening learning skills
• It allows faculty to qualitatively assess the impact of an activity or experience

While there are many different ways in which reflection is defined in the literature, a comprehensive definition is the one of Rogers (2001) who consider reflection “as a cognitive and affective process or activity that (1) requires active engagement on the part of the individual; (2) is triggered by an unusual or perplexing situation or experience; (3) involves examining one’s responses, beliefs, and premises in light of the situation at hand; and (4) results in integration of the new understanding into one’s experience.”

A couple of useful academic literature and grey literature on reflections are below:

Academic literature on reflection – If you are interested in a summary of the academic debate on reflection, please read: Rogers, R. R. (2001). Reflection in Higher Education: A Concept Analysis. Innovative Higher Education, 26(1), 37–57.

The following website organizes academic literature on the impact of reflection on learning outcomes classified by discipline.

Non-academic literature on reflection – If you want one website that provides a lot of information about reflection and its importance, go here.

A video on core components of reflection:  this video is meant to be for students, and it is good to get quickly up to speed about the core components of reflection.

Useful Resources to Prepare Reflection Prompts and Reflection Activities

Starting point to prepare a reflective assignment:  why do it and what to get out of it?

Like any other assignments, reflective assignments need to have a clear purpose that is communicated to the students. You could use this form to help structure your thinking.

While reflection is central to community-engaged and experiential learning activities, there are many reflective activities that can be done when learning does NOT have an experiential component outside the classroom. Indeed, reflection can be incorporated into anyone’s teaching practice.  

What to take into account when planning a reflective assignment?

When thinking about reflective assignments, there are a number of things to consider:

1. WHEN should a reflective activity or assignment happen? – before, during, or after an activity/a class/an experience. See this document to look at what can be asked at different moments.

2. What are the GOALS of reflection?

Two interesting classifications are the following:

1. 1. The type of knowledge classification: 1) previous knowledge (used before students engage in an activity or topic), 2) cognition, 3) meta-cognition, 4) competency, and 5) personal growth and change.

1. 1. The 6 Rs of reflection – 1) reporting, 2) responding, 3) relating, 4) reasoning, 5) reconstructing and 6) repackaging (prompts and challenges summarized/adapted or taken from this article.

Specific activities organized by some of the R categories are here.

3. What is the OUTPUT of these reflective activities?

For examples of writing prompts and writing activities (besides those already shared):This resource and this other resource are especially useful for different types of journal writing.For examples of mind-maps and photo captions reflective activities, look here.For examples of community murals, look here.Portfolios are other examples of more visual reflective activities, though they can also just be based on writing. Three useful links on portfolios include:

• • • For a visual option, see here.
    • For a website/portfolio description, see here.
    • For a portfolio mostly based on writing, see here.

4. Whether you want the reflective activities to be INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP BASED. These reflective activities are mostly group based, and not always involving writing. While they are described in the context of community engaged learning projects, but can be used in other contexts

Reflection Rubrics

Reflection is generally accepted as a critical component of learning from experience but more limited research has been conducted to address the issue of how to assess reflection. There is definitely way to assess reflection but also agree that not all reflection needs to be assessed or graded. Some examples of rubrics are here, here, and here. This website provides useful suggestions for assignments/activities that are experiential in nature.

Rubrics for Journal Assessment

There are a number here, here, and here. See if you find them helpful

For Students: How to Embrace a Reflective Assignment

This is a useful document to provide students with the difference between normal academic assignments and reflective assignments.

Examples of Reflective Activities or Products of Reflective Activities in the Yale-NUS community

Coming soon!

The following books are available at the Yale-NUS library for faculty who want to read more about how to enliven their classrooms and make their teaching effective.

From Distracted by James M. Lang – Sample Device Contract

Yale-NUS Keynote (Teaching Distracted Minds: Old Challenges, New Contexts) by James M. Lang – PPT Slides

Yale-NUS Keynote (Teaching Distracted Minds: Old Challenges, New Contexts) by James M. Lang – Session Recording

A successful first class sets the tone for all future classes. Three things that can make this happen are:

• Learning to correctly pronounce students’ names to create an inclusive environment in a diverse classroom
• Making good use of the first few minutes
• Clarifying course expectations
• Getting a sense of where students are

1. Learning to correctly pronounce students’ names to create an inclusive environment in a diverse classroom

In various intercultural surveys of students, some students have highlighted that they feel that some faculty members cannot pronounce their names and therefore do not call on them. Although we are sure that many faculty members have their own, effective ways of learning names, we thought we would provide support with this simple method that some people may find helpful. Using these card is not required. If you need more name cards, they can found in the stationery supplies cabinet in the respective RCs and CTL office. If you have more than you need, you can return them. We would be glad to hear if you have found this helpful so please share your feedback with the Dean of Faculty’s office or the CTL.

Learning students’ names signals your interest in their performance and encourage student motivation and class participation. You can ask students to include preferred pronunciation and how they prefer to be addressed as well. Some students may choose to display which pronouns they prefer to be addressed by: some people prefer the conventional “he” or “she,” (his/her) but some may have adopted alternatives like “they,” “them” and “theirs” as personal pronouns.

2. Making good use of the first few minutes

As we all know, first impressions are important. Don’t let a poor introductory session tune your students out. Here are some tips for getting your class hooked from the very first session:

Give the course a face.

The first few minutes are a great opportunity to secure student interest. Students need to feel your personality and enthusiasm about the class, to associate the course with a real person who is curious, excitable, and passionate like themselves.

Keep it warm and cool.

A useful way for you to introduce yourself is to weave in a balanced number of warm points—things that show how your experiences or personality will inform this course—as well as cool points—things that are more serious, setting the expectation and tones for the class.

Something curious and something personal.

You may share with students how something personal relates to their intellectual curiosities, and have students share how they anticipate engaging with the materials of the course would relate to their living experience. This might encourage a deepening of learning goals with desired personal outcomes, which would in turn facilitate not just a better attitude towards the class, but also retention as they apply what they know to how they live.

3. Clarifying course expectations

This involves bringing students through the overview of the course, what they can expect to learn, and the kinds of topics they look forward to engaging with. It is also a great time to ask for feedback and a general sense of how the class is feeling towards the course. If changes are necessary, it is still early enough to make adjustments to the syllabus. Considering student feedback also makes them feel more involved in their own learning. If you decide to make adjustments as per the feedback obtained, make sure to let your students know what you’ve changed.

4. Getting a sense of where students are

College students enter the classroom with their own ideas of how things work. It will be helpful to test the waters and see where they are in terms of the subject matter at hand. A kickoff test will help you understand more about your class. This test can include factual elements to see how students differ in terms of content exposure. You can also take this time to learn about how your students perceive certain issues, as well as their motivations for taking the course.

For more information, you can read through this article written for Carnegie Mellon University, which examines the impact of students’ prior knowledge, intellectual development, cultural background and general experiences on learning.

How to Flip your Class

The ‘flipped classroom’ is probably a term you have encountered before. Although traditionally this is a style of teaching in which pre-recorded lectures and materials are uploaded before class, with the class time itself being used for discussions, you will find that many variations of this classic strategy have been created since. Below, you will find a comprehensive list of resources to help you learn how to flip your class. The online manuals will guide you in getting started, whilst the online tools and platforms provide valuable resources for making your flipped classrooms effective and interactive.

If you would like to know more about how flipped classrooms developed as a strategy, we have a prepared a summary of resources that can provide you that information on its origins.

Online guides and manuals

Quick start guide: This quick, 1-minute (or less) start guide offers you an overview of the steps to ‘flipping’ a classroom in a lightning-fast glance.

Step-by-step video manual: This virtual manual on the website of the University of Texas at Austin is a gem. What you will love most about this are the accompanying videos that accompany each step, which not only explain, but offer recorded footage what each step is laying out, featuring actual instructors who have adopted the flipped classroom model in their courses.

Detailed ‘How-To’ manual: University of Queensland’s comprehensive manual, with links at crucial points to help you figure how exactly to make your flipped classroom happen.

Tips and advice

6 expert tips for flipping the classroom: Offers targeted advice and strategies to make the best of the flipped classroom experience.

5 best practices for the flipped classroom: This offers some strategies for conducting the ‘flip’. It also offers you thinking questions and/or reminders to have at the back of your head so that you stay true to the purpose of a flipped classroom and make full use of it.

9 video tips for a better flipped classroom: Similar to the link above, this online article gives you more tips on creating engaging content for flipped classrooms.

Free tools and platforms

7 free flipped classroom creation applications: Free applications for you to create audio and visual content for your flipped classrooms, some even allow interactions between users!

New research in educational literature has validated lecture-free and inquiry-based learning at all levels, particular in science courses. In addition, initiatives to combine “case studies” and content from multiple disciplines have helped increase the relevance and impact of science courses.

Eric Mazur, Harvard University Physics. Eric Mazur pioneered collaborative learning in large lectures, with peer instruction and with new technologies to dynamically assign partners to solve in-class physics problems. His work has been extensively validated and assessed. A wide range of resources can be found at his website.

Carl Wieman Science Education Initiative, University of British Columbia. Carl Wieman, a Nobel Laureate in Physics, has developed great resources for assessing and implementing new techniques in science teaching. He continues his work as a member of the Presidential Committee on Advanced Science and Technology (PCAST), and more recently as a newly appointed Director of a Science Education Initiative at Stanford University.

Physics Education Research at the University of Colorado. The UC Boulder group is very active in experimenting with new instructional technologies and new ways of teaching physics at all levels. One of their members, Noah Finkelstein, is also a member of the PCAST committee.

NASA Center for Astronomy Education – Astronomy 101. This resource clearinghouse is home to a number of excellent lesson plans and educational papers that promote lecture-free learning, and in-class activities that are based on the latest research on exoplanets, dark matter, and other exciting topics.

Diane O’Dowd, HHMI Professor of Biology, UC Irvine. Diane O’Dowd has been developing lecture-free learning strategies for large classes at UC Irvine, as well as new techniques in mentoring research students, both undergraduate and graduate.

Harvey Mudd College Computer Science programme. At Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, the computer science class CS5/6 is required of all students, and is based on the Python language. Harvey Mudd College has been recognised as a leader in bringing women into computer science, and is now providing a biology-based course known as CS6 that blends computer science with problems in biology and environmental science. Find out more about on the HMC computer science course through the New York Times article.

Annie Murphy Paul on why College Lectures are Unfair. Annie Murphy Paul is a book author, magazine journalist, consultant and speaker who helps people understand how we learn and how we can do it better. Annie writes that a growing body of evidence suggests that the lecture is not generic or neutral, but a specific cultural form that favors some people while discriminating against others, including women, minorities and low-income and first-generation college students.

Ralph Bouquet Interviews David Waddington on Games and Teaching. David Waddington, a professor at Concordia University in Canada, investigated how Fate of The World (2011), a climate change simulation game, could impact people’s opinions about climate change. This articles argues that as games continue to become a more prominent part of K-12 classrooms, it’s imperative that we take advantage of their full potential to both augment content knowledge in science.

Last updated: 30 December 2020.

Below, you will find a few useful links for leading discussions, setting the space and climate, and communicating effectively.

Helpful guidelines for leading discussions

Facilitation Techniques: This downloadable PDF file offers some general guidelines and tips for leading discussions.

Effective classroom discussions: This document outlines what counts as a discussion, how to create expectations for student participation, clarify student/teacher roles and foster participation from students.

Setting the space and climate

Align seating arrangements with teaching objectives: Seating arrangements can have a tremendous impact on student participation. You will find that different arrangements have their respective benefits. This can help you plan your classes more effectively.

Communication

Characteristics of effective listening: This article compares the difference between an effective, interested listener and an uninterested, ineffective one.

Techniques for responding: Building off listening skills, this resource provides ways for professors to respond to student enquiries, giving helpful suggestions and framing strategies in point-form no longer than two lines.

Tactics to asking effective questions: Lists types of questions that can be asked to students so as to encourage thoughtful and sustained discussion.

Strategies for good conversation: 10 strategies for having good mentor-mentee conversations, useful for one-on-one meetings between professors and students, during office hours and even in class.

Last updated: 30 December 2020.

To learn more about how CTL can help you out for the rest of the semester, read our Beginning of Semester Welcome.

For ideas on how to manage the first weeks of class and start strong, read our Tips and Tricks for the First Weeks of Class.

Introduction

In our current information environment, misleading news, questionable producers of information, and inaccurate information are widespread. While these issues are not new, they are bolstered by easy dissemination and access in the digital environment. Thus, it is important that students develop skills and habits to examine and analyse information sources critically in order to evaluate, select, utilize, and build upon reliable resources for research, study, personal interests, and decision making.

In the context of diversity and inclusion, such information literacy abilities can help students recognize “how and why some individuals or groups of individuals may be underrepresented or systematically marginalized within the systems that produce and disseminate information” (Association of College and Research Libraries, 2015, p. 6). Information literacy not only enables students to select reliable and relevant sources, it empowers them to make informed choices regarding the types of information sources and various authorities that they consult. Information literacy also encourages “critical reflection on the nature of information itself, its technical infrastructure, and its social, cultural and even philosophical context and impact” (Shapiro & Hughes, 1996, p. 3).In equipping students with information literacy, we can highlight to them how the underlying structures and production of information sources, as well as the selection and promotion of them, may favour certain authorities, or voices, over others.

A large part of this critical evaluation of information sources consists of assessing the authority of the creator of an information source; other considerations include the producer and purpose of the source. “Authority,” as the term is used here, is not a legal, political, or social authority, but authority established by expertise, experience, education, and other conditions. Authority can be contextual; a person who is an authority in one discipline or circumstance may not be recognized as an authority in a different area. “Information resources reflect their creators’ expertise and credibility, and are evaluated based on the information need and the context in which the information will be used” (Association of College and Research Libraries, 2015, p. 4). When working with information sources, seeking out authorities with diverse backgrounds and viewpoints can enhance students’ research as well as their own perspectives. For example, accounts by people who have experienced an event (primary sources) may greatly enrich research that is informed only by secondary scholarly works. Understanding what constitutes an authority, why a person may be considered an authority on a topic (e.g. through scholarship and academic achievements or by other means), and how authority varies in different contexts are essential aspects of information literacy.

How can the Library and faculty collaborate to foster these skills, habits, and reflection?

Faculty may address these aspects of information literacy as part of their teaching activities, and the Library can work with them to help them incorporate elements       of  information literacy into their syllabi and coursework in several ways.   One way   is through collaborating on designing assignments. These assignments can address evaluating information sources, how information sources are produced, and how to recognize bias in sources. Librarians can work with faculty to incorporate these elements of information literacy into existing assignments as well.

Librarians teach tailor-made workshops integrated into courses. Faculty and librarians can establish learning outcomes together for these workshops and link workshops to   a course assignment, which makes learning more meaningful to students. These workshops may focus on identifying and applying criteria for evaluating information and examining authorities in a specific context, for example a research question or topic. Workshops may also highlight digital tools and platforms that students can use in order to explore information sources, and authorities relevant to their topics and interests. These tools and platforms are often embedded in subscription databases to which the Library enables access. Librarians also give instruction on the effective use of these tools. Librarians can highlight:

• The information cycle and how various information sources are produced; how to locate different types of relevant sources.
• Advanced search strategies to use in order to find sources, and authorities, that students may not discover otherwise.
• Citation searching and relationships between authors and papers.

Subject librarians provide individual research consultations to students and can meet with them to explore issues relating to information sources and authorities in the specific context of students’ research projects. Faculty can list contact information for subject librarians in their syllabi and can also include individual research consultations with them in their syllabi. These individual research consultations may be timed strategically, perhaps at a certain troublesome stage of the research process.

Moving Forward

Central to information evaluation is the understanding of  how authority may differ  in various contexts as well as how voices may be marginalized when information is produced, disseminated, and shared (Association of College and Research Libraries, 2015, p. 6). By encouraging critical examinations of authority and teaching students about the underlying structures of information, we can help students to think critically about information and to select highquality, pertinent sources from various authorities. Students who cultivate the habits of critically analysing and evaluating information sources will be well equipped to determine the reliability, perspectives, and usefulness of information sources that they select and use in their research, study, and for their personal interests and decision making. Faculty and librarians can continue to collaborate to further these aspects of learning and to integrate information literacy into assignments, the curriculum, and insure that it is part of a Yale-NUS College education.

Works cited

Association of College and Research Libraries. (2015). Framework for information literacy for higher education. Retrieved from: http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ ala.org.acrl/files/content/issues/infolit/Framework_ILHE.pdf

Shapiro, J. J., & Hughes, S. K. (1996). Information literacy as a liberal art?. Educom Review, 31, 31-35.

Content contributed by Bethany Wilkes, College Librarian, Yale-NUS College.