Name
Workshop: Reflect to Grow: Innovating and Integrating Reflective Learning into Undergraduate Agriculture Classrooms
Date & Time
Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Rachel Biderman Laura Greenhaw OP McCubbins Jessica Benson
Description
Reflective learning is an integral part of Kolb’s experiential learning model. It provides many benefits to students in higher education settings, including the development of critical thinking skills, supporting life-long learning practices, and cultivating student's self-awareness, leading to a deeper understanding of where they fit in society. Additionally, empowerment gained through reflection may contribute to students’ general well-being, which positively impacts academic success and achievement. Research indicates that allowing students to choose their reflection activities enhances their satisfaction. This approach aligns assignments with their preferred learning styles and methods of self-expression, resulting in higher engagement and a stronger sense of ownership in the learning process. Instructors may not provide opportunities for reflection due to a lack of knowledge about the various reflection choices and opportunities that exist. This workshop advances participants' knowledge about the importance of reflection in agricultural courses, emphasizes the role of student satisfaction in reflective activities, and equips them with strategies that foster critical thinking, self-awareness, and professional growth. Additionally, participants will receive reflection resources, including examples of various reflective modalities, best practices for facilitating reflection, and strategies for embedding reflective activities into their classrooms. Our multi-institutional team will lead participants through an experiential learning activity. Participants will then choose a reflection activity to engage in. Facilitated discussion will guide participants to share challenges they encounter while facilitating reflection, explore and share innovative approaches to reflection, and develop a plan to incorporate reflection activities into their classrooms to accompany experiential learning activities. By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to 1) explain the role reflection plays in experiential learning in agricultural undergraduate courses, 2) describe the impact of student satisfaction in reflection activities, 3) distinguish between different modalities of reflection, and 4) apply a variety of reflective activities in their classroom.
Session Type
Workshop