It was in her previous life as manager of Engineering Co-op and Career Services that Lynn Stewart first understood the value of reflection in engineering education.

“We could see that when co-op students took a step back and really thought about their experiences and what they were doing, there was a significant impact on their career development and professional growth. If you look at the models of experiential learning, one of the key points is reflection. And it’s been my experience that where learning actually occurs is during that reflection phase.”

When the notion of the Learning Portfolio, an online tool that helps students plan, record and reflect on their learning experiences, emerged from the Student Experience Task Force, Stewart, now director of outreach and community engagement in McMaster’s Faculty of Engineering, immediately saw the potential benefits for students.

Stewart applied for and received a Forward with Integrity grant to look at ways of integrating the Learning Portfolio into engineering education at McMaster.

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