Supporting young children as they engage in reflective practices in the virtual classroom: Conditions, challenges and perspectives during the pandemic of the 21st Century

ABSTRACT This qualitative study investigates conditions for online reflective sessions, the challenges faced and the perceptions of young children when classes moved online. 18 children ages 10–11 participated in the study; they attended 9 online reflection sessions over Zoom and an exit interview. The study concluded that challenges faced when conducting online reflection sessions were the common technical problems – the instability of the network connections and limitations of an online platform. The conditions necessary for reflective sessions include creating appropriate and effective questions to facilitate the process, provision of pictures to prompt discussions and ensuring that the contexts for discussions should be relatable to young children’s experiences. The children had overall positive experiences and considered online reflections as enjoyable learning opportunities. This study provides ideas for supportive and effective conditions for online reflection sessions to promote and motivate meaningful reflections amongst young children.