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Reflective learning

Reflective learning is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Reflective learning rather than just read about it. In short: Reflective learning is a form of education in which the student reflects upon their learning experiences. A theory about reflective learning cites it as an intentional and complex process that recognizes the role of social context and experience.

Key takeaways

  • Reflective learning belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Reflective learning to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Reflective learning from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Reflective learning is a form of education in which the student reflects upon their learning experiences. A theory about reflective learning cites it as an intentional and complex process that recognizes the role of social context and experience. The goals of the process are the clarification and the creation of meaning in terms of self, which then lead to a changed conceptual perspective.

Development Reflective learning is a development of the concept of experiential learning as propounded by John Dewey, who wrote Experience and Education in 1938. Later theorists include David Kolb, David Boud ("reflection in learning"), and Donald Schön. In a professional context, this is known as reflective practice, wherein the use of the reflective process allows a practitioner to understand their experiences differently and take action accordingly.

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Reflective learning

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Reflective learning claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Reflective learning before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Reflective learning ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Reflective learning

In research
Reflective learning appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Reflective learning in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Reflective learning is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Education stubs, Experiential learning, Learning methods, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Reflective learning outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Reflective learning in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Reflective learning means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Reflective learning out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Reflective learning in simple terms?

Reflective learning is a form of education in which the student reflects upon their learning experiences. A theory about reflective learning cites it as an intentional and complex process that recognizes the role of social context and experience.

Why does Reflective learning matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Reflective learning?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Reflective learning.

Tags

  • Education stubs
  • Experiential learning
  • Learning methods
  • Learning theory (education)

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