How might the use of reflection impact student achievement in a 9th-12th grade Art classroom?

Jackie Demarais


Seminar Title


How might the use of reflection impact student achievement in a 9th-12th grade Art classroom?


Concept/Strategy

Focus of the Research


Reflection


Grade Level

Research Was Applied


High School


Relevant Grade Level

Connections


High School


Discipline

Where Research Was Applied


Art


Additional Discipline Areas

I see Application to


All Disciplines


Invitation/Commercial


Are you a High School teacher who is tired of students not using their time wisely in class? I was too until I found reflection activities that created an environment which made students understand what was being expected of them and pay attention to what they did while in class. My main idea was to increase student achievement through reflection activities that make students aware of their time management and use of time to complete assignments to have success in class. I feel there is a little something for anyone who is looking to increase student achievement and/or would like to use reflection in the classroom. Any of these activities could be adjusted for any grade level but at face value are geared more towards Middle school and High school levels.


Abstract


How might the use of reflection impact student achievement in a 9th-12th grade Art classroom? My action research question is: How might the use of reflection increase student achievement in a 9th-12th grade Art classroom? My goal is to create an environment that students feel comfortable to create, supported, take ownership of their use of class time, and pass class. My research guided my direction to look into creating a type of environment that would allow students to reflect, communicate with peers and personalize. With research directing me, the classroom environment will be changed to a reflective environment through the use of technology, participation and accountability. I feel by focusing on a reflective environment student achievement will increase. I will assess how well reflection activities that are done throughout each class will increase students achievement. After researching reflective activities that I could do in the classroom to increase students achievement, I realized that to help students achieve reflection needs to come in different forms to meet students learning styles. Student will reflect through bell ringer activities, reflection sheets and grade rubric questions. Technology use in the classroom is done through creating visual documentation of day-to-day progress pictures posted on a digital grade rubric. Participation is required for every assignment, of course, but what the research guided my attention is to have students participate in documenting Learning Targets and Class Goals for the week on a document that I check at the end of each week. The belief behind this idea is to keep students understanding what is being expected of them and look at their progress at the end of the hour to realize if their use of time was sufficient enough to meet the days Learning Target and Class Goal. Goal setting for assignments will also be put in place to personalize assignments to motivate students. Accountability is being used in the classroom through students reflecting on their progress at the end of the hour each day and communicating with peers for support. As a result of identifying the need for students to be more successful in my classroom and utilizing reflection as a means for student achievement I’ve found reflection to meet all student’s learning needs. Reflection activities have engaged students while in class and offer support for growth. While working through each assignment, students will continually document their learning in a variety of ways while I will work to continue the search of what are the most effective forms of reflection that will make the most impact on student achievement.