Centre for Educational Development Republic Polytechnic

Reflection journals can help to increase the value of the learning experience by facilitating learners to make meaning out of the process they are engaged in. It enables the learners to relate the new material of learning to prior knowledge and hence a better understanding of the discipline. It also enhances the learner’s meta-cognitive awareness. The aim of this qualitative study is to examine the daily reflections of students enrolled in a Problem Based Learning-delivered programme at the Republic Polytechnic, Singapore. The reflection journal is introduced with the intention to enable the students to be more aware of their own learning. The data set is drawn from daily electronic journal entries. A sample of 10 students ’ entries were examined over 16 weeks. The themes evident are: · The student demonstrates an increasing awareness of his own learning. · There is a increasing complexity of the cognitive skills. The student demonstrates an enhanced ability to handle and process concepts. The evidence lends support to the importance of reflection in the learning process in a problem based learning environment and how it helps students make meaning and construct understanding of new knowledge