Reflection

See: the Bibliography database includes a dedicated scrion on reflection.

There are reflective elements in most ePortfolios, for some it is their primary purpose.

Some key points:

• Reflection as making meaning from experience - and learning from it
  
• ePortfolios often provide a structure and 'space' for reflection ('scafolding')
  
• Educators often see reflection as a key element for 'Deep' / 'Transformative Learning'
  
• Reflection on action vs. reflection in action (Schon, 1983)
  
• Reflection for action (Eraut, 1995): important for PDP
  
• Reflection is a complex process involving both intellectual and emotional elements (Dewey, 1933)
  
• Many people find reflection 'difficult'
  
• People who are 'natural' reflectors do not necassarily record their reflections
  
• Private reflection vs. facilitated or group reflection
  
• Does assessment change the nature and honesty of reflection?
  

Two good starting points for learning about reflection:

Moon J.Guide for Busy Academics No.4. Learning through reflection. HE Academy, York, 2005

Smith, M. K. (1999) 'Reflection: What constitutes reflection - and what significance does it have for educators? The contributions of Dewey, Schön and Boud et. al. assessed.', the encyclopedia of informal education, www.infed.org/biblio/b-reflect.htm (accessed 3rd July 2006).

Two developmental models of reflection relevant to portfolio learning

Model based on Hatton and Smith,1995

Descriptive:

Describing events without reasons

Descriptive reflection:

Describing events and providing reasons (mostly personal opinion)

Dialogic reflection:

Mulling over reasons and exploring alternatives - internal dialog

Critical reflection:

Sophistocated reflection, taking account of social and political context

(Hatton and Smith, 1995)

Jenny Moon's Model of learning

Noticing:

Basic seeing and memorising

Making sense:

Coherent reproduction but not related to previous learning

Making meaning:

Integrated and well linked ideas

Working with meaning:

Relating new material with previous learning

Transformative learning:

Strong restructuring of ideas and ability to evaluate the process of learning