Scaffolded reflection as a tool for surfacing complex learning in undergraduate research projects

Howitt, S. and Wilson, A. (2016) Scaffolded reflection as a tool for surfacing complex learning in undergraduate research projects. CUResearch Quarterly, 36(4), pp. 33-38.

Abstract

Undergraduate research experiences (UREs) are often designed so that the student undertakes a small research project and presents it in a professional format. While this develops skills in research and presentation, it may also focus student attention on the output of the research--the results or findings. Students therefore may undervalue learning about the process of research, even though such learning is usually highly valued by their supervisors. This article describes an intervention aiming to direct students' attention to the research process by incorporating structured reflection into their experiences. Our intervention involved the implementation at three contrasting universities in Australia of a private blogging system, in which students responded to prompts about their research. The questions were designed to focus students' thinking on the nature and practice of research and on their own learning. The research experiences included stand-alone, immersive projects, as well as scaffolded experiences embedded in conventional coursework in science, arts, and social sciences. We found that the blogs could be used to elicit evidence of particularly complex learning outcomes such as critical, independent, and creative thinking, and improved understanding of the nature of the students' disciplines. We also describe some of the practical aspects of the system's implementation and use, including challenges such as maintenance and levels of openness. We conclude that, although somewhat complex to introduce, the process of structured reflection adds significant value to UREs.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Wilson, Dr Anna
• Authors: Howitt, S., and Wilson, A.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education
• Journal Name: CUResearch Quarterly
• Publisher: Council on Undergraduate Research
• ISSN: 1072-5830
• ISSN (Online): 1072-5830