In the learning process, there is one important thing that is sometimes forgotten even though it should be done consistently, namely: reflection. The main concept of reflection is to look back at the learning process that has been carried out in more detail.
Understanding Reflection in Learning
The term reflection is used in several fields and has various meanings depending on the type of field. One of them is the use in the field of education, especially learning in the classroom between teachers and students.
If you look at the KBBI, the definition of reflection is a reflection or reflection as a form of response to something that comes from outside. In other words, reflection is a picture that comes from someone about something that is experienced or obtained in his life.
When related to the field of education, reflection refers to the feedback given by students to the teacher after successfully completing the learning process within a certain period of time.
The meaning of ‘feedback’ is tantamount to the reflection of the assessment that comes from students and leads to the teacher.
In addition, reflection can be interpreted as an activity that aims to provide assessment and input so that the teaching and learning process runs better in the future.
A more detailed understanding of reflection is a deep thought that involves contemplating what has been done, why it was done, how it was carried out and what results were obtained.
It looks complicated and difficult indeed, but reflection is an important activity in learning even in life in general in order to produce something better and useful.
4 Objectives of Reflection in Learning
Reflection is an activity that is carried out after teaching and learning activities are completed. The main objectives of the implementation of reflection include:
1. Knowing Student Responses to Learning
Through reflection activities, students can write down their impressions after participating in the learning process with the teacher concerned. In this case, students are required to be open and honest so that the impression given is not artificial and comes from students’ feelings directly.
Teachers also should not force and intimidate students so that they only write a good impression. That way, the teacher will know how students respond honestly to the learning that has been given.
2. Knowing Student Needs in Detail
Furthermore, the purpose of reflection is that the teacher can find out what students need. Because in a reflection, students will write down everything they need and expect related to teaching and learning activities in class.
Therefore, reflection is also referred to as a student’s medium to pour out his heart openly to the teacher. As a result, the teacher will also capture what students expect and need, both in terms of teaching methods, materials, supporting tools and other things.
3. Identifying Student Interests
The results of the learning reflection will allow the teacher to recognize the interests of the students. Although there are students who do not express it directly, the teacher can certainly find out after analyzing and concluding the information obtained.
4. Mapping the Strengths and Weaknesses of Students
Another purpose of reflection is that the teacher is able to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the students he teaches. Because during reflection, students explain the impressions, messages and obstacles they face when studying certain materials.
Based on these data, of course the teacher understands which students provide positive and enthusiastic feedback and which students provide more feedback in the form of complaints.
Not intending to be a laughing stock, instead the strengths and weaknesses that the teacher finds will later become material for finding the best solution.
By mapping this, the teacher will find it easier to develop strategies to deal with students, explain materials and other processes needed in learning.
5. Improving the Quality of Education
The big goal of reflection is the increasing quality of education. Because from the results of reflection, teachers will be motivated to improve the quality of themselves, learning methods and other things that can support the quality of students.
Benefits of Reflection for Teachers and Students
Reflection provides benefits not only for teachers but also students because these activities involve two parties. For teachers and students, the uses of reflection are:
1. Benefits for Teachers
- Measuring the level of success of the methods, techniques, strategies, approaches and learning models that have been applied
- Determine the new learning models, methods and strategies that will be applied in accordance with the reflections that have been done
- Prepare the necessary learning support tools
- Making learning steps more precise
- Grouping students based on certain categories
- Determine the weight of the material to be given
- Mapping student characters
- Knowing how the competitiveness between students
- Realizing and recognizing which material should be emphasized more
- Identify which competencies need to be further strengthened
2. Benefits for Students
- Train to play back memories about what materials and activities have been done during learning
- Getting students used to doing self-introspection after studying various materials and what they got from the lesson
- Provide space for students to express what they think about the learning process and how the teacher explains it
- Provide opportunities for students to know themselves and understand what is expected related to the learning process
Learning Reflection Principle
There are 6 things that become the basic principles of the implementation of reflection, namely:
1. Honest
By being honest, the results of reflection will be more accurate so that they can be used as material for improving the learning process.
2. Critical
In reflecting, both students and teachers must be critical so that the information provided is quite in-depth and not half-measured. The analysis process must also be carried out sharply in order to obtain practical and effective solutions.
3. Freedom
Reflection must be based on the principle of freedom because there should be no intimidation and coercion.
4. Thorough
Indeed, reflection is an activity carried out to see and assess the learning process as a whole. Although it is usually carried out at the end of the lesson, reflection can also be carried out during the learning process.
5. Quality Oriented
Reflection must be done with the aim of improving the quality of learning so that it must be done seriously.
6. Sustainable
The principle of sustainability refers to the results of reflection that are actually acted upon to produce a good solution. Then, the solution is expected to continue to be applied during the learning process.
Techniques and Stages of Reflecting
Reflection is a structured activity so that there must be stages to be carried out. Before discussing further, please note that there are several techniques to choose from, including:
- Direct reflection is done by means of question and answer and face-to-face discussions with students about the learning that has been obtained. Teachers can also ask for assessments and suggestions from other sources in the school environment;
- Indirect reflection is done by using paper as a medium to get assessments, suggestions, impressions and other information to students related to the learning process. In addition, the distribution of questionnaires is also a good alternative;
- Reflection using video is done by utilizing video as a tool to record the learning process in the classroom. Later, the teacher will play back the video recording and observe everything that happens in the classroom;
- Reflection using journals is carried out during learning. The teacher notes what deficiencies exist during teaching and learning activities in class. That way, teachers will find it easier to find solutions to fix them.
You don’t have to use only one technique. Teachers may combine several techniques at once in order to get more accurate and comprehensive reflection results.
The steps for doing reflection are:
- First, the teacher distributes a piece of paper to each student;
- Second, students fill in the identity column which includes full name, class and student identification number;
- Next, students write expressions of gratitude as a form of appreciation and respect for the teacher;
- Fourth, students explain the impression they feel after going through the learning process honestly and openly;
- Fifth, students describe what messages they want to convey to teachers related to teaching and learning activities;
- Then, students write down what they want, hope and need in the learning process going forward;
- Furthermore, students provide information whether the results of the reflection may be published or not;
- Finally, the teacher will collect the results of reflection, observe, analyze and follow up.
The reflection step can also be applied to the direct technique. In addition to asking for information about students’ impressions, messages, hopes, wants and needs, the teacher can actually extract more information if they ask directly.
It’s just that the teacher must not be coercive and must create a relaxed atmosphere so that students really answer every question openly and as is.
Carrying out reflection is an important requirement for teachers to improve the quality of learning. Reflection is usually done after the learning process is complete but can also be done on the sidelines of learning by asking some questions to students.
Every teacher who does reflection must have good sensitivity and analysis to understand the information provided by students. Likewise, when doing direct reflection, a teacher is required to be good at seeing the situation so that the purpose of reflection can be achieved.
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