As I reflect on the value of reflection, I immediately think about my leadership course at RRU, which I took a decade ago. As part of the learning resources, I read Margaret J. Wheatley’s Leadership and the New Science (Wheatley, 2006). There, I discovered insights on reflection that resonated and led me on a reflective journey to look back and question my actions.
Now, flash forward to my MALAT program blogs reflecting on this past year. I undeniably have discovered favourite scholars like Dr. George Veletsianos, Dr. Terry Anderson, and Dr. Martin Weller to name a few. In my previous course with Dr. Anne-Marie Scott, she introduced me to the research of Dr. David Boud whom I have become an admirer of his rethinking of feedback for learning (Boud & Molloy, 2013). When reviewing the unit 3 readings, I discovered Dr. Boud again. Moreover, Boud, Keogh, and Walker’s (1985) model was explained as a reflective one where emotions can influence how students perceive their actions while identifying areas for improvement (Wilfrid Laurier University, n.d.). This model aligns well with the Cognitive Apprenticeship learning theory (Tomsett, 2021) I used in my latest assignment. A self-reflection activity was developed where automotive students reflect on their practice using their evaluation rubric. As a result, they connect their prior knowledge and their new learning, and they identify areas for improvement.
Now, reflecting on how I got to this point of developing activities, the design thinking process (Boller & Fletcher, 2022) played a massive part in the outcome of my assignment. Kudos to Dr. Jenni Hayman for incorporating Moodle discussion posts as part of the process, which allowed me to gain input quickly from her and my classmates. I plan to incorporate this quick response feedback design in my future projects with colleagues as I find it valuable. In addition, the empathy stage, where I took the extra time for one-on-one interviews, was vital for gathering my needs assessment (McGoldrick & Tobey, 2016). Once the participants’ needs were gathered, I could continue meeting them in focus group meetings while my prototype was being developed. Upon reflection, I intend to replicate this approach as I am thrilled with the outcome.
To conclude, my journey of reflection and learning has been enriched by the insights and guidance of various scholars and educators, as aforementioned. I feel gratitude to join this new Ed Tech network. Furthermore, by exploring reflective models and applying design thinking principles, I have gained a deeper understanding of the value of reflection even further for my MALAT studies. For instance, in the Open Learn (n.d.) course, the suggestion of being a reflective learner using audio recordings is a strategic technique. I am typically a notetaker; however, I am eager to try this method instead. As my next steps in the MALAT program, I want to continue incorporating new reflective practices and collaborative approaches, drawing on the lessons learned, and experiences gained along this reflective journey.
References
Boller, S., & Fletcher, L. (2022). Design thinking for training and development. ATD Press.
Boud, D., & Molloy, E. (2013). Rethinking models of feedback for learning: The challenge of design. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 38(6), 698–712. https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2012.691462
McGoldrick, B., & Tobey, D. (2016). Needs assessment basics (2nd ed.). ATD Press.
Margaret J. Wheatley Quote: “Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful” (n.d.). https://quotefancy.com/quote/1504541/Margaret-J-Wheatley-Without-reflection-we-go-blindly-on-our-way-creating-more-unintended
Open Learn. (n.d.). Succeeding in post-graduate study: Session 2 – reflective thinking, reflective learning and academic writing. https://www.open.edu/openlearn/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=51386§ion=6
Russell, M. (August 18, 2013). Podcast by Dr. George Veletsianos ~ my back to the future reflection. https://malat-webspace.royalroads.ca/rru0286/podcast-by-dr-george-veletsianos-my-back-to-the-future-reflection/
Russell, M. (September 17, 2023). Dr. Terry Anderson ~ inspirational leader in ed tech. https://malat-webspace.royalroads.ca/rru0286/dr-terry-anderson-inspirational-leader-in-ed-tech/
Russell, M. (September 23, 2023). History of ed tech (part II – 2002 to 2011). https://malat-webspace.royalroads.ca/rru0286/history-of-ed-tech-part-ii-2002-to-2011/
Tomsett, J. (2021). Collins et al.’s cognitive apprenticeship in action. John Catt Educational Limited.
Wheatley, M. J. (2006). Leadership and the new science: Discovering order in a chaotic world. (3rd ed). Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
Wilfrid Laurier University (n.d.). Reflective writing. Write online. https://writeonline.ca/reflective-essay.php?content=section2
Jenni Hayman
Hi Marni, thank you for taking the time to reflect on your learning journey over several years! I have found it often takes many years and a new task to confirm just how important something was that I learned and retained from long ago. I have found that most effective learning is reusable for future contexts. There is a lot I have forgotten of course 😉 I’m pleased that the discussion forums have been useful for you, I do recommend them especially for online courses, but also for technology-enriched learning, offering an alternative to f2f classroom conversation where some learners can dominate the room. No matter the discipline or learning experience, taking a small breath for reflection before moving on to more learning is probably a good idea. You have done a great project for this course and I’m pleased to have learned more about you and your contexts.