Dive Deeper: Deep Reflection 101

Why should I do this?

1. Deep reflection is an important part of the learning process.
2. Your academic performance will improve.
3. Deep reflection is like going to the gym for your brain, the more you go, the easier it is, and the stronger your brain gets.

When should I do this?

1. After an exam or midterm
2. When I get an assignment back
3. After working in a group
4. When I experience a challenge

Deep Reflection Cycle

Presented in a Cycle

1. Describe: questions to ask yourself

• What happened?
• Who was there?
• What did they do?
• What did I do?
• When did it happen?

2. Explore: questions to ask yourself

• Why did this happen?
• Did I make assumptions?
• What errors did I make?
• What did I do well?
• Has this happened before?

3. Solve: questions to ask yourself

• What can I do differently next time?
• How can I improve?
• Do I need outside help?
• If so, where do I get it?
• What steps can I implement?

4. Apply: Steps for improvement

• Implement steps for improvement
• Use outside help if needed

Expert tip

Deep reflection is an ongoing process; you may need to go back through the stages in a different order to achieve results that work for you.