Reflective essays, journals, and field notes

Much of the writing you do in education courses will encourage you to think about and analyze your own attitudes, beliefs, and experiences and how they inform your thoughts about teaching and learning.

In an introductory course, you may be asked to write an essay reflecting on your own education in the context of a theory that you are studying.

As a field observer or student teacher, you may be asked to keep a journal or notes in which you reflect on your interaction with students, teacher-student interactions, student-student interactions, diversity issues, or student progress. These reflections might then serve as the basis for an essay in which you connect your experiences to course content.

Sample reflective essay

Related topics:

Curriculum designs and lesson plans

Reviews of instructional materials

Case studies

Research papers

Self-evaluations

Portfolios