Observation and Reflection

Emotions Commonly Associated with Potent Learning Experiences 

Frustration  

Pain  

Stress 

Anxiety 

Discomfort 

Uncertainty 

Fear 

Tension 

Excitement 

Challenge 

Growth 

Accomplishment 

Pride 

Reward 

Appreciation 

Success

Concrete Experiences (CE)

Observations and Reflections

(OR)

Abstract Concepts

(AC)  

Testing IN the Topic

(TI)

Testing OUT of the Topic

(TO)

Tell a story about a time when you learned something important about your topic.

What are your reflections about your experience? What thought process led to the principle your learned?

Explain in the third person (they) what you learned that people, generally, should do to be successful in your topic.

Tell about a specific time you successfully used the concept you learned IN the topic area.

Tell about a specific time you successfully used the concept OUTSIDE the topic area.

Often a negative experience.

? A specific point in time.

? What did I do wrong?

? Include details.

? Answer who, what, when and where.

? First and third person pronouns  I, me, my, he, she, they, are appropriate. NEVER use “you”.

? Introduce CE’s 2,3,4 with transitional phrase:

“Another experience I had was…”

“I had the opportunity to learn more about (my topic)…”

Examining the experience.

?What went wrong?

?How could I have handled the situation differently?

?Is a pattern developing?

?When did I realize that I had learned something?

?What did I learn? (This will become your Abstract Concept).

?Reader will be able to see mental processing.

?Use transitional phrases: “As I thought about the experience…”

“I learned that…”

“I realized that I needed to…”

?First and third person pronouns are appropriate. NEVER use “you”.

The learning you achieved; the principles which are important to this topic.

You are the expert giving advice.

?First sentence is the Abstract Concept.

?State the concept, and tell why it is important to your topic.

?Develop the concept by giving additional reasons as to why it is important. 

?Tell what might happen if people do not use the concept.

?Insert a quotation from an expert with citation to validate your Concept.

?Repeat the concept in different terms in final sentence or two.

Use third person pronouns only. Never use “you” unless quoting.

A positive, successful use of the concept IN the topic area.

?A specific point in time.

? “I changed my behavior based on what I learned about (the Abstract Concept).”

?Use transitional phrase “I used what I learned about (concept).”

?All Pronouns, except “you”, are appropriate.

A positive, successful use of the concept

OUT of the topic

?A specific point in time. 

?Do NOT mention topic.

“I was able to apply the Concept of (state the Concept) in (an area outside the topic).”

?All pronouns, except “you” are appropriate.