According to Western Governors University (2020), “Experiential learning focuses on the idea

that the best way to learn things is by actually having experiences. Those experiences stick out in
your mind and help you retain information and remember facts. For teachers, creating
opportunities for students to have experiences based on the things they are learning about is key.
Teachers can help create environments where students can learn and have experiences at the
same time.” I will look examine the role of reflection.

Schwartz (2012) believes that students should be able to reflect on their own learning by
bringing “the theory to life” and gaining insight into themselves and their interactions with other
people in the world. “Learners do not just receive information only at the time it is given; they
absorb information in many different ways, often after the fact, through reflection. The most
powerful learning often happens when students self-monitor or reflect. Students may not always
be aware of what they are learning and experiencing. Teachers must raise students’
consciousness about underlying concepts and about their own reactions to these concepts.”
(Gerstein, 2022).

I strongly believe that it is important that students reflect on their own learning so that they can
understand the learning process. There are many benefits of reflection as proposed by Alrubail
(2015):

 Students are able to see the significance of their own learning process.
 Students are able to identify their strengths and weaknesses and what they need to alter.
 Students are provided with opportunities to design solutions and strategies in order to
improve their learning.
 When students reflect on their thoughts, feelings, and emotions they are motivated to
learn and enjoy the learning process.
 Students will understand *why* they need to learn particular concepts, theories, and
ideas.
 It enables students to become critical thinkers so that they can pause, reflect and know
"how" and "why" learning is happening at any given time. 
As an educator, I try to give my students opportunities to reflect on their own learning. For
example, I normally use an activity called Think-Pair-Share. Students are paired with another
child. They are asked an open-ended question and they get a minute or two to think about it.
They discuss the question for two to five minutes with their partner then each pair is asked to
share the thoughts and ideas they've gathered with the rest of the class.

I also use it in other subjects as outlined by Cowling (2022):

 Reading/Language Arts - When students finish reading a book, Think-Pair-Share can be

used to check their comprehension. Students are asked to discuss the five W’s (who,
what, when, where, and why) to comprehend all parts of the story. They also have
discussions about their favorite character and why. Sometimes they are asked questions
such as "What if the plot of the story is changed? What would happen if...?"
 Mathematics - The Think-Pair-Share strategy can be used with word problems. Children
normally find it difficult to understand certain concepts and this strategy can help them
work together to find the correct answer. They can work together to review the steps in
solving a problem.
 Science – This can be used with a wide variety of scientific topics. For instance, if
students are struggling to comprehend understand the process involved in plant growth,
they can have a discussion on how plants start as seeds and grow into the final product.
 Social Studies - This strategy can be used to spark conversations about the social studies
curriculum. Many areas of this subject connect to real-life so it can also help a teacher to
get to know her class. Teachers can ask questions such as "Why is it important for
families to work together?" or "How do you celebrate holidays in your family?" These
inquiries can be connected to the class curriculum, give information about students, and
help students to bond and learn about each other.

According to Cowling (2022), there are many benefits of utilizing Think-Pair-Share in the
classroom:

Students will feel safer and more relaxed when collaborating in small groups, instead of having
to speak in front of the entire class. This strategy provides them the opportunity of sharing their
thoughts in a comfortable manner. It fosters social skills and improves students' speaking and
listening skills. Students are able to learn from their partners when they brainstorm together.
Students can also expand their vocabulary and build on their prior knowledge when they learn
new words from their peers.

References

Alrubail, R. (2015). Scaffolding Student Reflections + Sample Questions.

https://www.edutopia.org/discussion/scaffolding-student-reflections-sample-questions

Cowling, T. (2022). How to Use the Think-Pair-Share Activity in Your Classroom?

https://www.wgu.edu/heyteach/article/how-think-pair-share-activity-can-improve-your-
classroom-discussions1704.html

Gerstein, J. (2022). Reflection in the Classroom.

https://www.teachthought.com/learning/helping-students-learn-reflect-learning/

Western Governors University, (2020). Experiential learning theory.

https://www.wgu.edu/blog/experiential-learning-theory2006.html#close