Learning Reflection
"Learning without reflection is a waste. Reflection without learning is dangerous."
~ Confucius
Reflection is a powerful competence that helps you learn how to learn more effectively. It is applicable in multiple domains.
​
Through reflection, you can describe your past mistakes by recalling how you fell prey to them. Avoid repeating the old mistakes in a new learning situation. Failures in time management, for example, are typical mistakes you might make previously and yet you could overcome them in the present by alerting yourself to them reflectively. You can change your bad habits and become a high achiever through reflection.
​
You can reflect on your previous success in learning. Adapt and apply it to enhance your present learning.
You can review your learning needs through reflections. Think about what can best meet your learning needs and try to fulfill them. You can share your thoughts and questions with your peers and teachers concerning how to fulfill your learning needs.
​
You can look forward and design an effective learning plan for a subject. Adopt ongoing reflections to adjust, evaluate and improve the plan in the process. You can refer to the L2L "RESOURCES" under the section "MORE" on the top menu bar. Many good suggestions can be found there regarding the use of reflections to upgrade your L2L ability.
You can unravel your authentic professional aspirations by reflecting on your interests and abilities in relation to the subject you study. Tap into the resources of the subject to prepare for your future profession and make your dream come true.
Extended tasks and questions
​
1. Reflect on the most challenging aspect of the subject. Ask your teacher how to
excel in the subject. Notice what a high achiever in your class would do during and
after class. Emulate and adjust the practice that best suits you.
​
2. What might make you diffident in performing well in the subject? Write it down.
Look for extra resources to meet your learning needs. The key point is that you
have to change your learning habits and unravel effective study skills, either
through reading skill-based books or discussing the matter with your peers and
teachers.
​
3. Check out MOOCs or useful YouTube videos (and start with those recommended
on this website) that help you discover new insights into learning strategies and
cultivate good learning habits.
​
4. Reflection is a powerful competence to make you an effective learner and even a
better person. Watch the video of Steve Jobs' speech delivered at Stanford
University in 2005, where he uses reflections to tell 3 stories that explain how and
why he is so successful. Can you likewise use reflections to tell 3 stories about how
you overcame challenges to learning in the past?
​