Reflection Definition of Terms
8 their self-awareness. Thus, she describes that reflection has an important role in
students learning since it relates the new learning material and prior knowledge and enhances self-awareness.
Furthermore, Jensen 2009 conducted similar research in using reflective journal to improve students’ self-awareness. The research was conducted in
Aalborg University Denmark. The participants of this research were foreign students. In connecting students’ experiences toward the subject, the students
were demanded to make a personal portfolio in a form of reflective journal where they could reflect their experiences on the subject. In the research, Jensen
examined students’ reflective journal and found that most of the students are aware of what they have learned and 60 of the students showed improvement in
their learning capability. Next, previous research done by Walker as cited in Boud et al. 1985
approves that reflection in written form helped people who would be exercising leadership to raise their level of awareness. Therefore, they became more aware in
recognizing situation which might lead them to deeper insights. In addition, Gibson 2012 in his journal entitled Reflect-select-defend: A model for student
teacher reflection, he finds that the highest learning gain is in awareness include strengths, weaknesses, and priorities for future development. The awareness of
understanding feeling in a learning situation can be the basis of reflection. It might lead to a deeper appreciation of the learning process and of the learners way of
experiencing.
9 Those studies show that reflection helps students in their learning
especially in improving students’ self-awareness. Thus, a study on reflection is beneficial to be conducted in order to use it in Indonesia context, more
specifically at ELESP of Sanata Dharma University.