REACTION/REFLECTION PAPER
The purpose of this assignment is to help you consolidate your learning and begin the process of
implementing ideas developed during your study group experience. A five (5) page paper based on
both Parts I and II, no matter what type of credit has been chosen, must be submitted. This paper
should be a deep reflection on the content of the materials studied including the citation of the title
and source of any original research study or studies reviewed, discussion of specific concepts
learned, and your plan for the implementation of those concepts in the future.
Writing a Reaction/Reflection Paper: A Deeper Explanation
Before one begins to think about writing the paper, you need to have a clear understanding of the
issue or problem the study group was trying to address or in the case of a class what instructional
problem did the class address.
A reaction/reflection paper is usually about your opinion or interpretation of the piece/activity/study or
class. Reaction papers typically take a more argumentative standpoint. Reflection means a careful
consideration, meditation, rumination, deliberation, cogitation, study, or thinking about an idea. What
is required is that you demonstrate your understanding of whatever issue is at hand, not just the
content, and that you can respond to it in writing by connecting it to your own observation, previous
experience, or recent learning. This paper should be ---•
•
•
a deep reflection about the impact the content of the materials studied will have on your
professional practice, not a rewrite of the content
a discussion of specific concepts revealed and your personal thoughts about how they will or
will not impact practice and student learning
how you plan to use the concepts in the future with an explanation of why you will use them,
i.e. what problem will they address.
It is important that your reflection is deep and not just topical. What this means is that you will need to
provide evidence of how or why the concepts from the learning experience were new or different to
you. Statements such as “I feel”, or “I believe”, or “It became evident” should have data or comments
to support and explain why you feel or believe the way you do. Without such explanation these are
very superficial statements and therefore cause a “depth of reflection” issue for the paper. In addition,
reflection around the impact on your future professional practice needs to be included in your paper.
Again, depth is important. Include discussion of why you will or will not change your practice based on
your studies.
Directions: This is an individual assignment not a group project. Please add a cover page with
participant name, study group title, and AEA course number. See team leader for this information.
The cover page does not count toward the five-page requirement. Following is a description of the
content requirements and how the paper will be evaluated.
Cover page:
• Participant name
• Study group title
• AEA course number
Part I: Highlight and discuss briefly five concepts learned about in your study group. Identify
five (5) concepts from your study that you found most valuable. For each of the five concepts you
choose to highlight, include the following information:
1. Identify the concept, including the title of original research study (if appropriate) and citation
of the source(s) of the study such as web sites, ERIC, publishing company, etc.
2. Describe how and why this concept is new or different from how you have thought or what
you have done before. (You may wish to use the following to begin your description,
elaborating on each point: Quotes/thoughts that really struck me...Here's why... This reminds
me of... I was wondering... Why do the authors'...What puzzles me is...)
3. Describe how you plan to implement this concept.
Part II: Provide an in-depth reflection/analysis of two of the five concepts identified in Part I.
Discuss two (2) of the five concepts identified in Part I. Choose one of the topics listed below for each
concept to guide your reflection/analysis:
• Relate the material presented in the study to your specific educational responsibilities.
• Compare this approach to education with other educational programs or philosophies.
• Compare this approach with the goals or standards of your school or district.
• Compare this approach with the goals, standards, or guidelines of a national educational
organization.
• Identify next steps needed in your district or school to prepare for use of this approach.
• Develop a theme, integrating other areas of the curriculum, emphasizing the learning
experience content.
• Develop a lesson plan based on concepts presented in the learning experience.
• Describe a start-up implementation of the program as applicable to your classroom.
• Describe assessment strategies related to this approach.
Rubric for Evaluation:
Elements
Graduate “A”
Recertification “P”
Graduate “B”
Recertification “P”
Part 1 (Do this for each
of the 5 concepts you
choose to discuss.)
1. Name the concept
that has become an
insight to you
2. Describe how and
why it is new or different
from how you have
thought or what you
have done before.
3. Describe how you
plan to implement this
concept.
Reflection and
description about the
concept that has
become an insight is
well presented with
depth and detailed
explanation. Impact on
individual teaching and
reflection about
personal practices is
well presented and
includes examples of
changes or reasons for
no change in future
supported with data.
Reflection and
description about the
concept and how they
could/will impact
teaching and learning is
weak (superficial/lacked
depth) and needs work.
Impact on current
teaching lacked depth
and showed little
personal reflection.
Implications for future
practice limited or also
weak.
Part II
Part II well done. Good
example of quality
professional work.
Part II good but could
have gone deeper.
Minimal example of
quality professional
work.
Responses to Part II are
non-existent. Very poor
example of quality
professional work.
No errors
Few errors that do not
affect the readability
Many errors that do
affect the readability
All included
All included
All included
(Discuss two (2) of the
five concepts identified
in Part I. Choose one of
the topics listed on the
previous page for each
concept to guide your
reflection/analysis.)
Mechanics
Spelling
Grammar
Punctuation
Correct use of Terms
Cover Sheet
Your Name
Study Group Name
District/School
Building
Email address and
phone number
Graduate “C”-“D”-“F”
Recertification “F”
No Credit
Overall the assignment
is very weak and
reflection non-existent.
No discussion of why
things were new or
different. Listed what
was studied but little or
no discussion with any
depth about impact on
current or future
practice. Discussion of
how it will be used in the
future is very shallow.
Submit your study group work:
Please send your individual Reaction/Reflection paper in the same envelope as the rest of your study
group’s papers along with the required meeting logs via the Keystone van Keystone AEA, Elkader, IA
addressed to one of the following.
Shirley Kirby or Kathy Hay
Keystone AEA - Elkader