Bernabe,
Excellent statement. These are all very good uses of reflective thinking. Thank you for your comments.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Reflective Thinking enables us to find solutions to problems more effectively by digging through experiences, visuals, insights, etc. that we have encountered. It also enables us to pick and choose and pin-point the best possible scenario to solve a problem. More importantly, it teaches us that there could be more than just one way to solve a problem, there is always a better, and more efficient way to do things, we just have to figure it out...
Keith,
Yes, this may sometimes be the case. Additionally, the reflective experience may confirm the current path and provide enhancement to future components.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
To review and perhaps revise the path to the solution.
Dianne,
You are implementing a very sound metacognitive approach to continuous improvement of your teaching. One of the marks of a master teacher. Thanks for sharing your insights.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Linh ,
This is a terrific means of moving the students' learning to higher cognitive levels (Bloom's Taxonomy - analysis, synthesis, evaluation). Nice work.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I completely agree. I get surveys from students after each term to help me reflect on how to provide better instruction. I've even completely changed the format of my lectures for one of my classes because I saw early on fromthe test results that what I was currently doing was not effective for this class.
Reflective thinking is very useful to my hygiene students. For instance, in relation to ergonomics, I want the students to be in a position where they are able to keep their elbows close to their body, keep their wrists straight, and move their hand/wrist as one continuous unit to rock back and forth in order to engage a stroke with their instrument. If a student has a bent wrist, I will ask her why her wrist is bent? This requires reflective thinking as to how the patient is positioned, in which position she should be sitting in, if she moves slightly will her wrist straighten out, or if she moves her instrument in a different positon. The student has to "sit back" for a minute to see the surrounding as a whole and what she can do to remedy the bent wrist.
Maria,
Yes, this is an accurate representation of the foundational tenets. Well stated.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
In relation to problem solving, reflective thinking allows the thinker to see more than just "surface". It allows people to see all the aspects of the problem and also what can be done in order to solve the issue.
Maria Luisa,
Yes, when the opportunity to reflect is presented, it can provide solid answers for current and future challenges. Very good.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I concur with your idea. Need to take time, step back and reflect.
Patricia,
Yes. Additionally, time to assimilate the information you already have is a valuable component in many circumstances.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Information you may not have had access to can be found and utilized to make a decision.
Carol,
This is another very good insight. Continuous improvement of the learning experience for the student entails great deal of reflection, evaluation and instructional realignment. Thank you for sharing.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I believe that a teacher can use reflective thinking every time a class takes an exam and does not do well or at the end of a class lecture or end of a course to review the positive and negative aspects of the test, lecture or course. Looking and reflecting on how to get a better response from the students or how the information can be portrayed in a different way to stimulate more student participattion. Each and every class should have some kind of learning but what can the instructor do to make it more useful and appropriate for every student taking the course. I believe this is a major goal of a good instructor
EDWARD,
Yes, depth of understanding is a primary benefit of reflective thinking. Very good.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Reflective thinking allows one to further break down the critical thinking of a certain topic, kind of like taking apart a car engine. Then piecing it together the right way. It actually help develope a sense of deep understanding of a certain topic
Jeff,
Keeping an open mind and a broad perspective can sometimes make concentration and focus on a single situation more difficult. However, those who best handle this conundrum often have more innovative solutions. Good post.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Chris,
I like that perspective.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
