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Effective Reflection Strategies for Students

Reflection is a tool to gain insight and progress forward. It involves challenging assumptions about oneself by asking probing questions and considering different perspectives. Effective reflection breaks down experiences, considering both strengths and weaknesses across different aspects. Insights from reflection should then be related to other contexts and used to take concrete actions to work towards goals through an ongoing reflective cycle.

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8 views1 page

Effective Reflection Strategies for Students

Reflection is a tool to gain insight and progress forward. It involves challenging assumptions about oneself by asking probing questions and considering different perspectives. Effective reflection breaks down experiences, considering both strengths and weaknesses across different aspects. Insights from reflection should then be related to other contexts and used to take concrete actions to work towards goals through an ongoing reflective cycle.

Uploaded by

uwalrosq
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Tips for effective reflection

Reflection is a tool for gaining insight into ourselves and helping us move forward
Challenge your assumptions about yourself: (both positive and negative)
Ask yourself probing questions, for example:
• Why do I think this about myself?
• To what extent / under what circumstances is it true?
• What evidence do I have to support this view?
• But what if…?

Break things down: you will probably be better at some parts or aspects of something than at
others. For example:
Steps in a process
• How do I go about doing this task?
• What strategies do I use at different points? How effective are they? Why?
• What might I do differently?
Facets of a role (e.g. your part in a group project)
• What aspects of this do I do well? Why?
• What aspects of this do I enjoy /dislike? Why?
• What aspects do I find challenging? What can I do to meet these challenges?

Distance yourself and look at things from different perspectives


How might other relevant people see your and your actions /progress?
• Peers you are working with
• Academics who teach you (particularly useful for thinking about feedback)
• A prospective employer

Relate what you find out to other contexts: This can help you to identify skills and attributes that you can
use elsewhere and to prioritise areas for further development. For example:

Other areas of your learning and academic work


Outside interests and activities
Employability and future directions

Take action: Reflection is often an on-going cycle


Use the results of your refection to plan concrete steps that will move you towards your goals
Put them into action – then reflect again...

University of Edinburgh ● IAD [Link]/iad/undergraduates

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