What is reflection and how does it help learning?

What is reflection on learning?
It is when you write about your day and memorise it. It's thinking back on what you've done. Some people would say it's like a diary or a journal. It's not always writing and can be done by talking with others.

How can it help learning?
If you make a mistake and your write about it, you don't go back and make the same mistake again.
Some people like doing reflections because it is an easy way of thinking about what you've learned.
It creates a record of learning which can be reused.
It reinforces your points.
It can be used to retrace what you've done and teach someone else.

What are some questions that might help with reflection?

1. What did I learn today?
2. Is it true, is it good and is it useful? Why/why not?
3. How did I feel about it and why... (why should you consider emotions/feelings in learning?)
4. What is the point (or purpose) in learning this?
5. What are my next steps in learning?

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Designing a lesson

Today we had to brainstorm all the elements that comprise a really exciting lesson. The purpose of this is so that students can learn how to design a learning experience for others in the team.

Initially we will be using our ideas to create a lesson in maths based on our strengths, as identified in asTTle maths late last term.

Here are some of the initial ideas:

-being able to explain something confidently (Olivia)

-using technology and things (Helena)

-it pushes you and it's above your level so you have to try hard and think about it (Reuben)

-you know what you are going to teach and if you finish you kind of have a back up plan of what you're going to do next (Olivia)

-making it relevant so you know when you might use it (Helena)

-using real life things and examples makes it more fun (Jenny)

-everyone listens and takes part in it which makes it more fun (Tyler)

-good teachers are interested in what you are learning and in helping you (Reuben)

-not too many unnecessary rules (Meg)

-good explanations so you know what you are doing completely (Anna)

-the teacher being interested in your learning with the subject (Nathan)

-not just bookwork all the time, for example building or other things to give it variety (Jenny)

-being able to freely express ones opinion (Meg)

The next question we reflected on was: what order do things go in during a great lesson and what happens at each step?

Beyond that, students will design a lesson based on their asTTle strengths to target someone else's next step learning.

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