"How do we really know if someone's reflection goes deep enough? I've been diving into some research, and guess what? I find a good tool for measuring the depth of reflection. Today, let's chat about this one called the 5R model. It was brought to us by Bain in 2002. It's got five scales, each one taking us deeper than the last:

Scale 1: Reporting. This is like laying it all out on the table. Just say what went down, what you learned, what caught your eye. Think of it like when you used to jot down stuff in your diary, just listing things out. But hey, even that can be a bit tricky. I mean, for complex stuff, it's all about hitting the 5 Ws and 2 Hs - who, what, when, where, why, how, and to what extent. The scariest part? When students spin tales that never even happened! Like, they talk about what they should've done or planned to do... but they've done nothing.

Scale 2: Responding. Now, this is where you reflect on all that reporting from scale 1. How did it make you feel? Any emotional rollercoasters?

Scale 3: Relating. Time to connect the dots! Take what you reported earlier and link it to past experiences, knowledge, or observations. It's like weaving a story.

Scale 4: Reasoning. Brace yourself, 'cause it's critical thinking time! Start digging into the assumptions, evaluating the outcomes, and uncovering the hidden biases. And hey, don't forget to weigh other options too!

Scale 5: Reconstructing. Finally, it's all about the big picture. What insights did your reflection bring? Any lessons learned, goals set, or actions planned for the future?

Now, here's the deal: the 5R model is like you’r ruler for reflection. It's also your compass, pointing you in the right direction.

But, it's not flawless. It misses the mark on tying in with moral compass.

So, when shouldn't you use it?

Well, when there's a fire to put out, when you're closed off or not being real with yourself, when there are some mental hurdles to clear, when trust with others isn't quite there yet, or when you're dealing with stuff way beyond your zone.