Reflection Strategies for Adult Learners

It has been a great week in the world of Professional Learning.  I have had the opportunity this week to work with 2 groups of great educators.  One group was a group of Instructional Resource Teachers and the other was with Middle Grades teachers from our K-8 Academy in our district.  With the Instructional Resource Teachers we were learning about coaching strategies and with the Middle Grades teachers we were learning about engagement strategies for students.  A big thing for me is that adult learners extend their learning and reflect on their learning.  Often, I am asked to come in for a one and done style workshop, so reflection is extremely important.  I will share two I used here:

March Moments 

March Moments is based on March Madness: This idea was born out my need to be topical and change themes in my workshops to reflect the season.  Well, we are getting ready to head into the thick of March Madness, so I decided that I would try some on-going reflection.  I created a bracket style reflection card, and introduced it at the beginning of the session.  I asked participants to reflect as we were going through the day.  The idea is that they will gather four ideas on the left they will start doing and 4 ideas on the right they will stop doing.  Then at the end, the participants will narrow down until they reach the final two-- one action they will stop and one they will start.  I tell the participants on the front end to think about two final ones they may be able to do before the end of the year in this case

Block Reflection:

This idea was born out of the fact that the purpose of my being with the middle grades teachers was to help with transitioning to  the 90 minute block schedule, hence the block.  The purpose of the block is to have participants at  the end think about 6 domains of their own practice and reflect on each side of the block.  When they are done, they cut out the block pattern, put it together and keep it with them for on-going reflection.

This block model asks participants to focus n 6 areas:

1. One idea you want to find out more about
2. One takeaway that will change your practice
3. One  thing that you will have to stop doing
4. Something you will start doing
5. One idea that you will collaborate with others on
6. One new strategy that you will incorporate into a plan.

Reflection is a key part of learning for adults, so these are just two ways that I have incorporated reflection for groups I have worked with this week.  Try to keep it fun and topical!