Active Learning (15 mins)
Reflection and Reflective Dialogue
The Reflective Dialogue component of active learning includes having students reflect on the meaning of their learning experience individually or with others. The reflection can take many different forms from that of a journal to a series of minute papers to a debrief conversation with a peer. The key is that they are prompted to answer questions such as:
- What am I learning?
- What is the value of what I am learning?
- How am I learning?
- What else do I need to learn?
This sort of regular, structured reflection provides opportunities for those "ah-ha" moments when connections between concepts are made, alternative perspectives are clarified, and metacognition is improved. Regular reflection also encourages students to notice how much of what they do involves and is grounded in tacit knowledge. Having them verbalize and share their understandings can turn up underlying misconceptions that can be hindering their learning without them being consciously aware of the problem.
Taken from: Designing and Teaching for Impact in Online Courses from Indiana University and is openly licensed under Creative Commons.