Learning through Reflection What exactly is it? Reflective learning usually entails looking back at something, such as a former experience or idea, and critically assessing it. Reflection can help students learn from their prior experiences and transform surface learning into deep learning by examining both good and failed aspects of an experience. Reflective learning, in addition to assisting students in developing more self-awareness, assists students in identifying gaps in their learning and opportunities for development. According to Boud et al. (1985), systematic reflection is the key to learning from experience, and reflection as such can be a difficult aspect of the learning process. "Reflection is a sign of profound learning, and when teaching and learning activities like reflection are lacking... Only surface learning is possible." (Biggs 1999, cited in King 2002) "Reflection leads to growth of the individual - morally, personally, psychologically, and emotionally, as well as cognitively" . Branch and Paranjape (2002) (p. 1187)