This study examined whether and how writing their own reflections in open online reflective journals (ORJs) can encourage and support online learners to engage in self formative assessment and meaningful reflections. The study findings show that the open ORJs encouraged self assessment and provided opportunities for students to openly articulate what and how they were learning while also receiving formative feedback. Through the opportunities to interact with others (teacher and peers) within individual reflective processes, dialogic feedback and meaning making emerged to offer a constructive link between internal and external feedback.