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reflecting on (reflecting on (reflecting on...)) reciprocating with engaging in (engaging in (engaging in...))

Although this InfEd article on reflection was last updated nine years ago, it remains useful in its concise assessment of the ideas of some of the key contributors who have studied the matter: Dewey, Schön and Boud et. al. It attempts to briefly answer two questions: "What constitutes reflection?" and "What significance does it have for educators?"

From my perspective, without active and timely reflection on what one is experiencing in an engagement with something(s) or someone(s), one cannot understand critically how a current experience relates to a past one in one's mindful world of experiences--likely an unintentional recall which restores its memorability--nor project these valuable, twin activities into one's future. Unfortunately, once our beliefs are established, we rarely challenge their validity, even when faced with contradictory evidence, and reflection, the reciprocal of engagement, and engagement itself--both distinguishably active in authentic learning (like a bi-headed Janus)--are diminished, if not actually dissuaded, to the detriment of robust personal efficacy and development.

Tags: efficacy, engagement, experience, learning, reflection

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