Reflection is a great learning tool to incorporate into any course or program. It allows students to process what they are learning, reflect on the information, and apply the information to real-world scenarios.
Reflection is most effective when it involves the 4 Cs of Critical Reflection (Eyler and Giles), which engage the learner in critical reflection.
4 Cs of Critical Reflection
- Continuous reflection: Provide opportunities to reflect through an experience. Reflection should not just happen after an event.
- Connected: Connect between experiences, theories, academic content, and reflection.
- Challenging: Engage students to explore beyond their comfort zone and explore challenging questions.
- Contextualized: Ensure the reflection approach is appropriate for the learner.
Building Critical Reflection Through Journal Prompts
A great way to build skills toward critical reflection is by utilizing journal prompts, as shown throughout the new Counseling and Mental Health Services program. As students learn about relationships, mental health throughout the lifespan, neurodivergence, and other mental health topics, use of a journal prompt can help initiate reflective thinking, free-writing, and conscientious learning.
It’s easy to incorporate journal prompts in a variety of ways to create a classroom experience focused on reflection.
- Journal prompts can be an individual activity to help a learner prepare for the lesson and class discussion.
- Journals can be a way to initiate small group discussion through a pair and share approach.
- Journals can also help students prepare for a large class discussion on a project by identifying their thoughts and ideas on a topic before collaborating in a larger discussion.
Students can build confidence in their thinking and be more willing to share by journaling ahead of time.
Let’s explore an example of a journal prompt and how you might implement it to increase the 4Cs of reflection.
A Journal Prompt Example: Relationships
This journal prompt sparks thinking to help students prepare for learning about the Bowen Systems Theory, which explores the differentiation of self and includes other components that focus on how people function in families.
Journal Prompt:
- What is your sibling position in your family?
- Are you the oldest, middle, youngest, or only?
- Do you think it impacts your behavior? Your relationships with other family members?
- Why or why not?
Source: Chapter 3: Relationships in Counseling and Mental Health Services
- Continuous: This journal prompt might be completed prior to studying the Bowen Family Systems Theory.
- Connected: Utilizing the journal prompt in chapter three allows the student to think about their role in the family prior to exploring the Bowen Family Systems Theory. It is helping to connect their own experiences with the academic content of the course.
- Challenging: Reflection helps to engage students in group discussion. For some students, group discussion can be hard and uncomfortable. By reflecting prior to the discussion, it can help students feel prepared for tackling the challenges.
- Contextualized: The approach to critical reflection and group discussion are appropriate for a diverse range of learners and abilities.
Other Uses of Journal Prompts
Journal prompts are a critical component of reflection. They can also be a great teaching tool for effective classroom time and management. Below are additional uses for journal prompts.
- Journal prompts can be an effective bellringer to help students focus when starting class.
- Journal prompts can be exit tickets, a task to be completed prior to leaving the classroom to reflect on the information from the day.
- Journal prompts can be utilized daily as an approach to engage students in constant reflection.
- Journal prompts are a great approach to introduce new concepts.
- Journal prompts can help students brainstorm, work through difficult concepts, and develop improved writing skills.
As a parting thought, here one more example of a journal prompt.
Journal Prompt:
- What is client-counselor match?
- Why do you think it is important?
- What type of preference would you have for a client-counselor match?
- How would you use this journal prompt to build reflective learners?
Interested in more journal prompts? Download this handout to use in class today!
Free Previews of Counseling and Mental Health Services are available here. As you explore Counseling and Mental Health Services, pay attention to the journal prompts and how you will use them. Tag @GWPublisher with your own #personaljournalprompt on social media to share with your peers!
