Reflection is a critical part of learning and is necessary for transfer to occur. When we have an experience, our mind must make sense of that information. This is where the learning occurs. Reflection does not have to wait until the learning experience ends. The reflective process is continuous and flowing to allow for the transfer of learning to occur.
The Power of Reflection for Teaching & Leading Being reflective in your teaching practices will help you make positive changes in your personal and professional growth.
The Learning Cycle Most learning happens after the "doing." When we reflect on what we learned, draw conclusions and plan for our next experience, we grow. Reflection is how we expand our learning. (see http://www.eapfoundation.com/studyskills/learningcycle/)
Articles Supporting Reflection as an Effective Educational Practice
Boud, D., Keogh, R., & Walker, D. (Eds.). (2013). Reflection: Turning Experience into Learning. Philadelphia: Routledge.
Brookfield, S. (2017). Becoming a Critically Reflective Teacher. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons.
Dewey, J. (1933). How We Think. New York, NY: D. C. Heath. Google Scholar
Elzarka, S., Beltran, V., Decker, J., Matzaganian, M., & Walker, N. T. (2015). The Value of Metacognition and Reflectivity in Computer-Based Learning Environments. In Rosen, Y., Ferrara, S., & M. Mosharraf (Eds.) Handbook of Research on Technology Tools for Real-World Skill Development, 105-136.
Pappas, P. (2010). A Taxonomy of Reflection: Critical Thinking for Students, Teachers, and Principals (Part 1). http://www.peterpappas.com/2010/taxonomy-reflection-critical-thinking-students-teachers-principals-.html (link no longer available)
Richardson, G., & Maltby, H. (1995). Reflection‐on‐practice: Enhancing student learning. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 22(2), 235- 242.
Ritchie, A. (2017). Using ePortfolios as a tool for learning and reflecting with middle school students (Doctoral dissertation, electronic version published by Vancouver Island University).
Wilson, J. & Jan, L. W. Smart Thinking: Developing Reflection and Metacognition. Curriculum Corp. http://www.curriculumpress.edu.au/sample/pages/9781863666787.pdf (link no longer available)