Assessing Written Reflection
Introduction
As the process of reflection can vary dramatically from individual to individual, grading the written reflections of students can be difficult to standardize. This chapter focuses on attitudes and resources that may be used when evaluating students’ written reflections.
Modes of Learning
In this module, students will use the following modes of learning:
- A short video
- An exercise in evaluating written reflection
This module will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module, participants will be able to…
- Evaluate the quality of a written reflection using a rubric
Key Terms & Concepts
- Reflection: A thoughtful and intentional analysis of an experience. Reflections examine the author’s knowledge and skills prior to an experience, how their understanding has changed as a result of that experience, and what their plan would be for similar experiences in the future.
Topic 1: Assessing Reflection
The following video will walk you through two rubrics that may be used to assess reflection, as well as an example of a written reflection that is evaluated using a rubric.
Here are links to the two rubrics outlined in the video.
- Brock University Critical Reflection Rubric
- University of Edinburgh Reflection Evaluation for Learners’ Enhanced Competencies Tool (REFLECT) Rubric (scroll to section called ‘Analytical rubric’)
Watch Assessing Reflection in full screen.
Reflection Example
Below is a text copy of the reflection example provided in the video:
Firstly, the most obvious thing that I discovered was the advantage of working as part of a group. I learned that good teamwork is the key to success in design activities when time and resources are limited. As everyone had their own point of view, many different ideas could be produced, and I found the energy of group participation made me feel more energetic about contributing something.
Secondly, I discovered that the choice of materials was not as important as the design when it comes to making standing structures. With the Impromptu Design activities, we used some simple materials such as straws, string, and balloons, but were still able to apply our understanding of stress and strain in order to build structures to specified constraints. I learned that every design has its weaknesses and strengths, and working with a group can help discover what they are. In future designs, I will ensure that every member of my team is heard, and that stress and strain analyses of our designs are done as early as possible.
References
Ambrose, S. A. (2013). Undergraduate engineering curriculum: The ultimate design challenge. The Bridge, 43(2), 16-23.
Ash, S. L., & Clayton, P. H. (2009). Generating, deepening, and documenting learning: The power of critical reflection in applied learning. Journal of Applied Learning in Higher Education, 1(1), 25-48.
Borton, T. (1970). Reach, touch, and teach (pp. 75-91). New York McGraw-Hill.
CPREE. (n.d.) What is Reflection? Consortium to Promote Reflection in Engineering Education (CPREE). http://cpree.uw.edu/what-is-reflection/
Dewey, J. (1966). Democracy and education: An introduction to the philosophy of education. The Free Press.
Driscoll, J. (1994). Reflective practice for practice. Senior Nurse, 14(1), 47-50.
Rolfe, G., Freshwater, D., & Jasper, M. (2001). Critical Reflection for Nursing and the Helping Professions: A User’s Guide. Palgrave.
Ryan, M. (2013). The pedagogical balancing act: Teaching reflection in higher education. Teaching in Higher Education, 18(2), 144-155.
Turns, J. A., Sattler, B., Yasuhara, K., Borgford-Parnell, J. L., & Atman, C. J. (2014). Integrating reflection into engineering education. [Paper Presentation]. 121st ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Indianapolis. https://depts.washington.edu/cpreeuw/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Integrating-Reflection-ASEE-2014.pdf
Additional Resources
For instructors or teaching assistants that would like to learn more about embedding reflection in curriculum, please visit the Instructor Reflection Toolkit.
