The Mirror, Microscope, Binoculars (Cooper, 1997) framework helps students to frame their reflections from different perspectives. These lenses can be used either to engage students directly by framing a writing assignment around each, for example, or they could be used by the instructor to think more broadly about how to address each area with reflection activities.
Explore the perspectives
Ask your students these following prompts to frame their perspectives in different ways
Mirror
- How did you, as individuals, act in the experience?
- How did you work within the team?
- Reflect on your values, assumptions and biases, and how they were influenced, challenged, or successful in your project.
Microscope
- Reflect on the CEL project itself, including how it benefitted the community you worked in and the members of that community.
- What impacts did your project have?
- How has your experiential learning confirmed or contrasted your classroom learning?
- Would you do anything differently if you were to do the project over again?
Binoculars
- Identifying any areas where you could further enhance your learning and continue your development as a critical thinker.
- Consider social issues on a larger scale by thinking more holistically about the outcomes of your project within a wider context.
