Minute Reflections
Minute Reflections are quick, written responses that encourage students to summarize, question, or reflect on their learning. This activity is simple to implement and provides immediate insight into students’ understanding and concerns.
How It Works
- Prompt: Provide students with an open-ended question or prompt, such as:
- “What was the most important concept you learned today?”
- “What questions do you still have about today’s material?”
- “Summarize the unit in one sentence.”
- Write: Give students 1-5 minutes to jot down their thoughts independently.
- Collect or Share: Optionally collect the reflections or invite a few students to share their responses with the class.
Example
In a history class discussing the Civil Rights Movement, the instructor asks, “What surprised you the most about today’s discussion of grassroots organizing?” Students write brief responses, which the instructor uses to guide the next lesson or clarify misunderstandings.
Why It’s Effective
- Promotes metacognition by prompting students to think about their learning process.
- Encourages all students to participate, including those who may be less vocal in discussions.
- Provides instructors with real-time feedback on what students are understanding and where they are struggling.
Adaptations
- Large Classes: Use an anonymous poll or shared document to collect responses. Summarize common themes in a follow-up email or the next class session.
- Online Synchronous: Ask students to write responses in the chat or on a collaborative whiteboard (e.g., Jamboard). Highlight key points for group discussion.
- Asynchronous: Include minute reflection prompts in online discussion boards or quizzes for students to complete after watching a recorded lecture or completing a module.
- STEM Focus: Ask students to list key steps in solving a problem or identify the most confusing aspect of a process.
- Creative Disciplines: Pose reflective prompts like, “Which aspect of this work most influenced your interpretation, and why?”
Minute Reflections are a versatile, low-stakes strategy that fosters active engagement and provides valuable insights into student learning.
Sources and Attribution
Primary Sources
This section is informed by and adapted from the following sources:
- University of Waterloo, Centre for Teaching Excellence. Active Learning Activities.
- Available at: Waterloo CTE
Use of AI in Section Development
This section was developed using a combination of existing research, expert-informed insights, and AI-assisted drafting. ChatGPT (OpenAI) was used to:
- Synthesize best practices for active learning strategies into a cohesive and accessible guide for instructors.
- Clarify approaches that promote student engagement, participation, and deeper learning.
- Enhance readability and coherence, ensuring that active learning techniques are both research-based and practically applicable in face-to-face and online classrooms.
While AI-assisted drafting provided a structured foundation, all final content was reviewed, revised, and contextualized to ensure accuracy, alignment with research, and pedagogical effectiveness. This section remains grounded in institutional best practices and respects Creative Commons licensing where applicable.
