Student and teacher reflection
A continuous part of blended learning is pausing to reflect on the process and the progress of learning for the individual, a group of learners, and the entire class. Teacher and students monitor what is working and what areas need to change.
Teachers close the blended learning arc with a group discussion (small group of students or entire class). Before the group discussion, teachers analyze the student work data, including evidence from assignments, independent work, collaborative work, and 1:1 check-ins, looking for trends and information that synthesizes the progress students made. The focus of the teacher and student reflection is to review and be mindful of the learning process students went through, their struggles, and their milestones. Asking questions to students such as:
- What was a challenge for you during this learning arc?
- In what ways did you feel in flow with your work?
- What would you do differently?
- What do you want to learn next?
Teachers and students can also use tools such as Flip or Microsoft Forms to record their reflections to have an artifact to help the teacher and student look back at their metacognition and their learning.
Teachers have an additional role after they have closed the blended learning arc. They prepare and launch a new blended learning arc that takes into account what the students have done, their progress, and reflections. Teachers rethink and possibly even redesign the next blended learning arc to guide students through learning that will build on the skills the students just acquired and support areas where the student can improve.