ePortfolio+Reflections

=**The Art of Reflecting** =


 * ===Reflections should elicit deep and meaningful conversations around the work and metacognitive process (making sense, self-analysis, and reflection...thinking about how you think). They should consider broader implications and takeaways from experiences. When you take the time to to post a reflection on an artifact showcased in your ePortfolio, you demonstrate your reasoning and critical thinking abilities. You show deeper levels of communication, creative, and leadership abilities. Your reflection shows a higher order of thinking on your part and helps you make connections between learning and growth experiences in your life. Ask yourself one or two of these reflection prompts about your assignment, course, project, program, or exercise:===
 * 1) ====** What did you learn? **====
 * 2) ====What about this assignment or program was most useful to you?====
 * 3) ====What would you recommend to others about getting involved in this project or program? What suggestions would you offer?====
 * 4) ====** What area in your life was strengthened or improved by project or program? **====
 * 5) ====** List the ways you have grown as a result of this assignment, course or program? **====
 * 6) ====What problems did you encounter? What risks did you take?====
 * 7) ====** How has your thinking shifted throughout the process of the assignment, course or program? What caused this shift in thinking? **====
 * 8) ====What experiences in this program or assignment of this course demonstrated your strengths and talents and why?====
 * 9) ====** If you had to do it all over again, would you? Why? **====

===These oft-used phrases below are characterized as "taboo phrases" because they provide a very superficial and cliched approach to reflections that may be wordy but reveal little about what was actually learned. If employed, these phrases should be coupled with evidence that illustrates how a particular project challenged one's creative abilities.=== ||
 * === Taboo Phrases About Individual Learning Tasks / Activities === ||
 * * ===="very productive and effective"====
 * ===="insightful"====
 * ===="interesting"====
 * ===="creative"====
 * ===="put my creativity to the test" and other cliches like it====
 * ===="tried very hard"====
 * ===="which I though was great"====
 * ===="I learned so much.."====
 * ===="...learn a lot..."====
 * ===="so much"====
 * ===="I learned that things don't always happen the way you plan them"====
 * ===="not that much I can say I wish had gone differently"====
 * ===="we needed more time"==== || * ===="I learned how to think.." / "I learned how to design..."====
 * ===="I wish I had put more time into.."====
 * ===="much more encouraging"====
 * ===="think outside the box" and cliches like it====
 * ===="work more efficiently"====
 * ===="allowed us to look at design in a new way"====
 * ====paraphrasing the words on the assignment sheet====
 * ====in general, avoid cliches or common sentences in responses====
 * ====excuses (for illness, business, or whatever) don't need to be in reflection====
 * ===="went pretty well"====
 * ===="most important thing I learned along the way"====
 * ===="running pretty smoothly"==== ||
 * === Taboo Phrases About Group Work === ||
 * * ===="everyone worked hard to meet"====
 * ===="different perspectives and ideas"====
 * ===="workload was divided equally"====
 * ===="everyone played an integral role" / "everyone had and equal voice"====
 * ===="communicate well with your group"====
 * ===="work effectively in a group"====
 * ===="improve on working together"====
 * ===="I liked working with a team"==== || * ===="discussed our plans thoroughly"====
 * ===="open-minded"====
 * ===="achieved our goals"====
 * ===="everyone worked well together"====
 * ===="listen to others"====
 * ===="I feel our group did a good job of..."====
 * ===="two heads are better than one" or any cliche like it.==== ||