Many thanks to Erica Walls for sharing this sample reflection assignment. It is from her Spring 2021 course, HSSJ 1177: Organizing for Social Justice
Individual Reflection
According to Butin (2010), a significant part of service learning is reflection: analyzing the service activities “in such a way as to gain further understanding of course content, a broader appreciation of the discipline, and an enhanced sense of civic responsibility” (p. 4-5). Thus, reflection can enable students to better understand themselves, the population they are serving, the social issue involved, and the relationship between the service and the academic content of the course (Indiana University 2020).
Assignment
Take some time to reflect on the work you have completed for your community engagement project. Reflection is not merely describing what you have done, but analyzing what it means.
Submit 1-2 paragraphs on Givepulse, based on one or more of the following reflection types:
- Organization-focused reflection
- Do you consider yourself an insider, outsider, or both in relation to the organization’s beneficiaries? Why?
- Do you think the organization’s beneficiaries consider you an insider, outsider, or both? Why?
- How does your perspective (re: insider, outsider, or both) impact your work with the organization?
- Self-focused reflection
- What, if any, personal qualities (e.g., leadership, communication skills, empathy, etc.) have you developed through service-learning?
- In what ways are (or were) your service-learning difficult or challenging?
- What resources (within or outside yourself) have helped you push forward?
- Course-focused reflection
- How does the service experience relate to course material?
- Did/does the experience contradict or reinforce course learning?
- What has the service project taught you that could only be learned through experience?
- Overall reflection
- What has been your greatest “aha” about the service-learning experience?
- What contribution(s) can you make to public understanding of this social issue based on your service-learning experience?
- What have you learned that can help you successfully complete this project and/or improve your local community?
Guidelines
- 1-2 paragraphs
- Upload to Givepulse by the deadline
- Complete sentences, please.
- 20 points possible
