1. Reflection in the IB Core
at St. Robert
L. Loffredi and J. Buckley
2016

2. We constantly reflect:
○ when we think … ‘but our thought
processes remain locked away
within us’ (Aristidou, 22)

3. Why does IB require reflection?(Aristidou, 22-23)
○ To Make Reflection Visible to
Others
● so teachers/examiners can see how
you think, solve problems, and are
impacted by your learning
○ As a Memory Prompt
○ To Provide Distance
● when you return to your written
reflections later you can see your ‘big
picture’ development over time and
draw conclusions

4. Primary Reflection
○ what you immediately write down
about what you learned, thought,
felt, did, or experienced
DON’T STOP HERE!

5. Secondary Reflection
- at a later date or time you look at
your primary reflection to identify the
significance of your reflections, and
how you might use it to guide your
future actions and learning.
- always leave space and time to
do this; Secondary Reflection is
the most important part of
reflection because it is where we
look at our learning

6. Three Types of Reflection
1. Affective
○ focuses on personal experience and
development
○ record your thoughts and feelings
○ present experiences, past milestones,
future actions
2. Critical
3. Process
CAS? TOK? OR EE?

7. Affective --> CAS!
○ dynamic means for self-knowing, learning and
decision-making.
○ 4 elements:
● Describing what happened: retell your
memorable moments, identify what was
important or influential, what went well or was
difficult, obstacles and successes.
● Express feelings: you articulate emotional
responses to your experiences
● Generating ideas: rethinking and re-
examining choices and actions increasing
awareness about self and situations
● Asking questions: Questions about people,
processes or issues prompt further thinking and
ongoing inquiry.

8. Three Types of Reflection
1. Affective
2. Critical
○ focused on thinking and learning
○ making connections with past
learning and finding patterns
○ application of present learning
with future use
○ past, present, and future
3. Process
CAS? TOK? OR EE?

9. Critical Reflection --> TOK
3 reflections for the PPF form for the TOK
Essay:
1. First Interaction - student critically reflects on available
prescribed titles and their connections to what they have
previously learned.
2. Second Interaction - student reflects on their critical
thinking of the prescribed title, which includes unpacking
and developing ideas. The student will do this by
drawing connections between their personal and shared
knowledge. The students will also draw connections
between what they learned in their DP subject areas as
real life situations to help explore their knowledge
questions.
3. Third Interaction - student critically reflects on whether
the application of their knowledge presented in the essay
has any implications for future use; student outlines the
assumptions of their arguments, as well.

10. Three Types of Reflection
1. Affective
2. Critical
3. Process
○ focused on strategies, process, and
procedures for problem-solving or creation
or inquiry
○ identifies unexpected, accidental
occurrences
○ about asking questions and evaluating
(value, usefulness, purpose)
CAS? TOK? OR EE?

11. Process Reflection --> EE

13. The Form is your good copy...
○ your primary process reflection may
not follow a logical pattern, “It is
therefore important to caption and
explain your processes” for your
supervisor (Aristidou, 25).
○ through secondary reflection on
problems you face and through
discussion in meetings with your
supervisor, you gain distance that
may lead to solutions not immediately
evident(Aristidou, 25).

14. Create a Researcher’s Reflection
Space (RRS)
○ it will help you do secondary
reflection which is what you will put
on your Reflection on Planning and
Progress form
○ provides evidence that you did your
essay and are meeting
expectations
○ we recommend you do this in the
e-portfolio of D2L

15. Researcher’s Reflection Space
(RRS)
Suggestions:
○ record your reflections
○ respond to readings (photos,
articles, blogs, etc.) (reading log)
○ note connections between your EE,
TOK, and other courses
○ mind maps
○ record emerging questions

16. Now --
Between today and March 31
○ begin your RRS (Researcher’s
Reflection Space) (reflect on the items below)
○ choose a subject, (or narrow down to a few
choices) (you will need to read subject Course
Companion if you choose a subject you are not studying)
○ read subject specific pages of the
EE guide (2013 version)
○ explore possible topics
○ find resources about possible topics
○ read (about your possible topics)
○ (maybe) find a mentor

17. Works Cited
Extended Essay Guide (Updated August
2013), International Baccalaureate
Organization, 2007, Cardiff.
Aristidou, Dinos. “Improving your
reflection.” IB Review Nov. 2015: 22-25.
Print.
Marsh & Fink, The Extended Essay Power
Point, Glenforest Resource Centre, Web.
Accessed June 6, 2014
http://schools.peelschools.org/sec/glenforest/ib/ibextendedessay/Pages/default.aspx