INFS 2005
Accounting Information Systems
Reflection Guidelines
What is a
reflection?
• Reflection is about careful
thought. It is a process of
exploring and examining
ourselves, our perspectives,
attributes, experiences and
actions/interactions.
• It’s all about you…
• The ability to reflect on what you
have heard and learned and
explain your understanding of
what has been delivered, to
clarify your thoughts that you
have understood correctly.
Reflection in
the context of
this course
Requires a broad range of self-
review, inclusive of:
• Topics covered in the course;
• Tutorial activities;
• Key concepts from the course
• Contexts of theory and ideas;
• Discussions you have had in
class and with your peers;
• Your thinking processes
involved in preparing for
assignments;
• Your preparation before class;
• Your approach to class
engagement; and
• Your post-class activities
The reflection
process
1. What was your previous
knowledge and source of
knowledge? (For example, your
perception of AIS?)
2. Your reaction to the learning
experience (connection between
previous knowledge and new
knowledge)
3. Your reflection on learning and the
extent of change (Is your learning
experience representing significant
change? Why/why not?)
4. Why is your new insights
significant (so what?)
Writing a reflection
The 3Rs (Retell, Relate, Reflect)
• Retell: Providing a clear and accurate description
of the experience – what happened and why is it
important?
• Relate: Relate concepts and theories discussed
in the course to own experience or the observed
phenomenon - How does the learning experience
link to your previous understanding and new
knowledge?
• Reflect: Interpretation of relevant experience by
reflecting on how experience links to methods
and theory - Have the learning experience
changed the way you approach this issue?
To do well…
• Write in the first person, this is about
you and your own experience in this
course
• Describe and interpret your personal
experience
• Link the reflection back to the tutorial
activities. (If you cannot make it to
the tutorial activity, you could
substitute relevant life experiences,
knowing that the tutorial exercises
are more impactful and valued in the
grading)
• Link your experiences to concepts
that you have learnt throughout the
course.
Areas to avoid…
• Avoid writing this as a research essay.
This is a new style of work, and you
need to practice the technique. It may
be tempting to try to answer the
challenge as a short essay on the
tutorial topic, it is just not going to be
rewarding to go down that path.
• Avoid trying to use academic sources
defensively. The work is about your
experience, so you want to document
and explain your contribution to the
reflection. You can use these sources in
relation to your experience.
Further resources
• Reflective Essays - ANU Academic Skills
and Learning Centre