Reflective Learning

Blogs as a reflective learning tool



Through reading this article I learnt how blogging will help me become more reflective throughout my course and how blogging is an excellent learning tool. I picked up some key points from this article. For example, Kolb (1988) suggested that experience alone does not provide a sufficient learning experience in many situations. These stages are

• Experiencing- immersing yourself in the task
• Reflection- what did you notice?
• Conceptualization- what does it mean?
• Planning- what will happen next? what do you want to change?

These stages must be followed in sequence for successful learning to take place. I also read about Gibbs (1988), he identifies a six step aid to reflective learning. This consists of

• Description- what happened?
• Feeling- what were you thinking and feeling?
• Evaluation- what was good and bad about the experience?
• Analysis- what sense can you make of the situation?
• Conclusion- what else could you have done?
• Action Plan- what would you do next time?

Gibbs(1988) states that these elements make up a cycle that can be applied over and over.


Reflective Learning



By reading this article it helped me to understand reflective learning in more depth and greater detail. It explained the aspects required to make the most of blogger as a learning journal and the benefits it has for me. These are some of the key points I picked up.

• Reflect on- what they are learning? how they are using/learning it? strengths and weaknesses, learning priorities, improve and build on and working towards short, medium and long term goals
• Consider- motivation, attitudes and ideas, skills needed for different components, any blocking in their learning and gaps in their knowledge.
• Importance- Thoughts and emotions, focus on development, independent learners, strategies to work towards and notes will become a record of your progress throughout your study.

From reading both articles I feel that I have a greater insight into some of the key aspects of reflective learning. I now feel more confident in applying this to my study.

Reflective Learning Brainstorm

Skydive Website Presentation

Evaluation
As a group we agreed on the topic skydiving. We each individually researched a different website and agreed on one which we all thought was the best for what we were presenting. The reason that we chose skydiving was that kirstie had done a skydive for charity. I feel that we delivered these aspects very well. We thoroughly look through the site so that if there were any questions we could answer them. I feel that we knew our way around the site. when delivering the presentation I think that we used the site to it's full advantage, explaining each part.We found a few areas of the website that could have been improved which we also made clear to the audience. I think we explained the website very well and gave our opinions. I feel that our site would be an eight out of ten for usefulness in our presentation.

About Me

My name is Yasmin Russell and I'm eighteen years old. I live in Tredegar, which is a small town in the Valleys. I am currently studying a BA(Hons) degree in educational studies at Swansea Metropolitan University. I am studying this course because I am hoping to go on to the PGCE in teacher training. To ensure that I get on to this course I have enrolled in college to do a maths GCSE course so that I can resit and get a 'B'. I will also be enrolling on an English GCSE course to resit and also get a 'B'. I have a strong desire to become a primary school teacher. The reason being that I thoroughly enjoy working with children and I would like to pass on my experiences of learning to them and inspire them to do well. I have completed numerous weeks of work experience in different Primary schools and this has strengthened my determination to become a teacher.
Apart from university I have many other interests. For example, going out and socialising with friends, going to abertwswg primary school and helping when I have any free time. I also enjoy meeting new people and gaining new experiences.
I feel that I am a very creative, hard working and confident individual, which I feel are key concepts to working with children. I really enjoy 'hands on' work and getting messy with arts and crafts. Arts and crafts is a passion of mine and is something that I wish to pass on as a primary school teacher.