The Power of Reflection: Giving Students Time to Think Matters

We live in a fast-paced, modern world where time is often of the essence. So, we can easily forget that sometimes the best thing we can do is slow down and give ourselves time to think. And this is especially true for students, who are constantly bombarded with new information and expected to process and analyze it at lightning speed. But the truth is that giving students time to think is crucial for their learning and development.

Educators often focus on getting as much done in as little time as possible. But it is crucial to remember that learning involves much more than simply taking in information. It also entails internalizing, applying, and interpreting it. So giving students space to reflect is essential for their learning process. Students need time to think. It helps them learn better. When they have time to reflect, they connect ideas and remember information. It also develops their problem-solving skills.

Make Teaching More Effective

Giving students time to pause, reflect, and digest what they are learning is an essential curriculum strategy. And thinking does not necessarily have to be “boring” and quiet. Before being required to respond to your questions, it may be beneficial to discuss the answer with other students, share their initial thoughts, and test their knowledge.

The traditional learning pace may be too quick for many students. Either way, giving them time to take in and process the information is beneficial for understanding and remembering it. In the classroom, most activities are centered around the students. The main agenda, of course, is that they leave school knowing and understanding more than they did before they arrived. According to research, teachers should ensure students have time to consider and process relevant information and then act accordingly. Also, according to the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), may it be individual or group thinking, encouraging thinking time and reflecting fosters deeper thinking and provides meaning.

Having a chance and taking a moment benefits especially introverted students who need a little bit more time. In Harvard Graduate School of Education’s video, educators emphasize this fosters student engagement, empowerment, and participation. The students actively digest and apply the information rather than being mere passive recipients of the information. Such learning helps them improve long-term learning and retention.

Good Jumping-Off Point for Students Now and Later in Life

Teaching thinking benefits students’ class work and is also a part of learning how to communicate. Learning how to prepare to answer in the classroom is like a jumping-off point for learning how to respond to any question in students’ lives. And then, as thoughts or problem-solving techniques become more routine, the transgression from slow to quick thinking can eventually happen.

Additionally, giving students time to think and reflect can encourage creativity and critical thinking. When they are encouraged to reflect and come up with their own ideas, students become more independent and creative thinkers. And these are some of the more important soft skills. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) reports creativity is an essential human skill, maybe even an evolutionary imperative in our current technology-driven world.

Taking time to think before responding can also reduce anxiety and increase participation in classroom discussions. When you give students the space to process their thoughts, they feel more confident and less pressured to give an immediate answer.

Finally, providing students space to reflect promotes the growth of metacognition, another crucial life skill. Metacognition is the capacity to consider one’s own ideas and thinking, and is one of the most essential components of lifelong learning.

So, Giving Students Time to Think Is More Important Than One May Think

In conclusion, giving students time to think is not just making classwork nicer and more pleasant, but also a fundamental aspect of effective teaching and learning. It fosters more profound understanding, critical thinking, creativity, participation, and metacognition. As educators, it’s important that you prioritize and value this process in your teaching practices.

SOURCES

[1] Stahl, R. J. (1994). Using” Think-Time” and” Wait-Time” Skillfully in the Classroom. ERIC Digest.

[2] 10 Strategies and Practices That Can Help All Students Overcome Barriers

[3] Providing wait-time for students to process and gain confidence

[4] 5 Reasons Why It Is More Important Than Ever to Teach Creativity