{"id":5874,"date":"2023-04-25T11:05:18","date_gmt":"2023-04-25T18:05:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogschapman.wpenginepowered.com\/academics\/2023\/04\/25\/reflecting-learning-and-growing\/"},"modified":"2023-04-25T11:05:18","modified_gmt":"2023-04-25T18:05:18","slug":"reflecting-learning-and-growing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/academics\/2023\/04\/25\/reflecting-learning-and-growing\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflecting, Learning, and Growing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you have trouble getting your students to think about what they are learning and why they are learning it? Read on to see how private journals in Canvas can support student reflection.<\/span><\/p>\n

Neuroeducation applies the scientific method to curricula design and teaching strategies to better understand learning based on evidence of how our brains operate. One evidence-based activity to help students understand what they are learning and why they are learning the material is journal writing. Journal writing allows students to express their thoughts and ideas, boosts critical thinking skills, and increases fluency and creative expression in language usage (Homik, M. & Melis, E., 2006; <\/span>Pressley et al., 2007<\/span>). Sousa (2022) advises students to recall prior knowledge through metacognitive practice (<\/span>the awareness one has of one\u2019s own thinking processes) <\/span>and reflect on their understanding of the learning objective. Journal writing is a highly effective strategy to promote positive transfer (when past learning helps the learner deal with new learning) and increases retention by using an activity at the end of a lesson (closure activity).<\/span><\/p>\n

Application in the classroom<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Private journals can be done at the end of<\/span> each class session<\/b> or <\/span>once a week<\/b>, allowing 5-10 minutes to complete their entries. Guidance or prompts may be needed to help students link personal learning with course content.\u00a0<\/span>Sousa (2022) suggests asking students to post their responses to these questions for reflective journal entries:<\/span><\/p>\n