Use Reflect in Class Notebook
Self-assessment for learning
By providing opportunities for students to reflect on their learning educators not only inform the trajectory of their teaching, but also increase students’ agency in learning. Students can practice asking for help and develop a growth mindset through honestly evaluating their effort, motivation, and progress. It's vital that students have a safe space to develop these skills, as it takes plenty of practice!
Using the OneNote Class Notebook toolbar, educators can easily insert a Reflect for learning poll that is contextualized right on the Class Notebook page. These can be used as quick and easy pre- and post-assessments, or as “exit slips” to help inform the next lesson.
Learn how to add a Reflect check-in to a Class Notebook page.
How does Reflect in Class Notebook connect to the CASEL core competencies?
Self-awareness
- Honest reflection of where a student is in the learning process can help them to identify next steps. It can be challenging to admit we don't know something, but it's a valuable learning and relationship skill.
Self-management
- When students self-assess their motivation, understanding, or confidence, they're providing you with valuable data about who needs support while also setting the scene to practice self-discipline, self-motivation, initiative, and organizational skills.
- By recognizing their own needs, students can begin planning to support themselves. For example, if they've identified that they don't get "Photosynthesis" yet, they could do some research or ask for additional support.
- Your modeling of this thinking will be important to its effectiveness. Reviewing student responses, then talking to the class about what you would do if you were feeling unsure about a topic can help students begin to connect initiative to self-reflection.
Social awareness
- One aspect of social awareness is recognizing diverse social norms. Each student has a different set of lived experiences and academic background to draw from when learning new things. The question "Do you feel like you had enough background knowledge to be successful in ______________?" is designed to help educators identify which students may need scaffolding to understand a foreign concept.
Relationship skills
- Reflect check-ins in Class Notebook provide a space for students to seek support as needed, without having to do so conspicuously.
- Communicating one's needs effectively is a skill that goes beyond the classroom into students' lives and careers. Providing the opportunity to practice honestly sharing their needs helps to strengthen that communication muscle.
Responsible decision-making
- The question "How do you feel about the level of effort you put into _______________?" requires students to reflect on their role in promoting their own success.