Reflect phase
Are your study strategies effective? Do you believe myths about learning?
Meet Tracy, who is about to face a deadline (an exam).
Complete Activity 2 below to see how she’s been preparing leading up to this deadline.
Now complete Activity 3 to see if you believe some common myths about learning.1
What are your feelings about the deadline you’re facing?
Complete Activity 4 below, which asks you to rate opposing words to help you take stock of your feelings about this deadline as you begin to prepare.2
What are your thoughts going into this deadline?
Complete Activity 5, where you will rate the various thoughts you may have as you approach this deadline.
Now that you’ve reflected on your feelings towards this course, let’s move on to discuss the concept of mindfulness. In the next couple of chapters, you will reflect on your present-time awareness and mindful qualities; both of which are necessary skills to self-regulated learning and will help you stay focused this semester.
REFERENCES
- “You Probably Believe Some Learning Myths: Take Our Quiz To Find Out.” NPR, 22 Mar. 2017, npr.org/sections/ed/2017/03/22/520843457/you-probably-believe-some-learning-myths-take-our-quiz-to-find-out.
- Xu, X.; Lewis, J. E. J. Chem. Educ. 2011, 88 (5), 561–568.
Reflection involves looking back on your past experiences to identify your strengths and areas you think you need to focus on, as well as identifying your learning beliefs and mindset when faced with challenges. Reflection can be used to help refine the goals you want to achieve.
A particular milestone in your semester or year that you are preparing for. The deadline could be an exam, assignment, competition, etc. The key idea is to identify specific timepoints using these deadlines so that you can check your progress toward your goals.
The ability to be aware of present-time and remain aware throughout your day-to-day experiences. Mindfulness is the ability to resist distraction and temptations, and to remain present and focused on the task at hand. This skill also allows you to control your emotions and respond in a skillful way to emotionally challenging situations, rather than react automatically without careful thinking or emotional control. The skills needed for mindfulness are developed through practice. You must start with simple activities to develop mindful awareness in a variety of situations. Meditation is a common activity to practice awareness and to focus on the present.
Present-time awareness involves letting go of all of the distractions that are an inherent part of life and instead focusing on what is happening in the present. To be aware of the present one must push away incoming thoughts about future worries or tasks and instead focus only on what is happening in the present. To develop this awareness you will practice mindful qualities throughout the module.
Self-regulated learning can be achieved through the SRL cycle. The SRL cycle allows you to take strategic control of how you approach your goals and be prepared and willing to face any challenges and seize any opportunities that might arise as you work to make your goals your reality. The SRL cycle consists of three phases: reflect, plan, and act. Ideally, you should repeat this cycle multiple times as you create goals and tackle challenges.
