Reflections

What is Reflective Writing and Why is it Important?

• What is reflective writing? How do you do it? What are others ways you can reflect?
• What is the purpose of reflection assignments? What about reflection in general?
• What do you really like and /or really find valuable about reflection?
• What are some things that you don't like and/or find challenging about reflection?

During our 10 week program each of us will gather a multitude of experiences and insights through classes, labs, authentic field experiences, and learning community conversations around meals. Because of the accelerated nature of our program and the integrated nature of studying food systems, each week will be filled-to-the-brim with experiences that cut across multiple courses and challenge you to consider how your own sets of skills and values fit with your developing insights. Reflective writing is one tool we use to help you build your own scaffolding to understand your experiences within the larger framework of Agroecology while also taking a step back to evaluate and interrogate your own thoughts, feelings, and emerging ideas while you internalize your learning.

At the beginning of each week you will be given a prompt that you will reflect on throughout the week. Some weeks you will be given a fairly "general" prompt. During these weeks you have free reign to process and focus the week's experiences in a way that is most meaningful to you according to the below rubric. Other weeks we will have guided reflections that lead us to think deeply around a certain topic or perspective. In either case you are encouraged to keep a small reflection journal to use daily as you process new experiences and perspectives. Your formal reflection is to be handed in as a Google Doc via the website "homework portal" no later than 12 noon each Saturday. Reflections are usually about 1 page typed and are graded via the following 6 rubric topics:

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• Content Recall
  • "Can you remember and effectively relate relevant experiences from your week?"
• Content Synthesis
  • "Can you take multiple experiences/reflections from your week and coherently weave them together around a central topic or topics?"
• Content Retrospection
  • "Can you bring in past life experiences or experiences from previous weeks in ASI and reinterpret them in light of new learning from your week?"
• Self-Identification of Future Growth Areas
  • "Can you identify areas where additional learning is needed & can you devise realistic plans to pursue these learning experiences? "
• Views & Values
  • "Can you identify times this past week when you have noticed personal or corporate values being used in decision making in the food system? Can you articulate how your own views and values interact and/or have shifted as a result of your experiences this week?"
• Call to Action
  • "Can you articulate how your learning this week can be translated into specific actions that reflect your personal views and values?"

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Grading

• All reflections are worth 30 points each.
• There are 9 graded reflection assignments throughout the semester and 1 manifesto assignment (only checked for completeness); there are 300 reflection points throughout the semester spread across all classes
• Each course has two reflection assignments count towards the final grade except Ecology of Ag Systems - it has three

• Each reflection is graded according to each of the 6 rubric topics
  • 0 = not present
  • 1 = unclear if present or present & severely underdeveloped
  • 2 = present but underdeveloped
  • 3 = present, mildly underdeveloped (close to adequacy)
  • 4 = present, adequately developed
  • 5 = present, exceptionally developed

Helpful Hints

• When writing your reflection remember the “Four Ps:” is your writing here purposeful, personal, perceptive & polished?
• Reflect every day in your private notebook to keep ideas fresh so you have plenty of material to write your weekly reflection
• Write pieces of your weekly reflection throughout the week, you can always go back through Friday evening or Saturday morning and reconfigure your entry for submission
• Continue to come to your instructors to ask for clarifications, especially early on

Weekly Prompts

1. Week 1
   • Ecology of Ag Systems - Principles of Agroecology I - Please reflect on the 3 principles of Agroecology (Cycles, Diversity, Participation). Where have you seen elements of them in the past? Where have you seen them displayed this week? Are they important for society? Are they important to you? What aspects of Agroecology do you want to learn more about and how will you get there?
2. Week 2
   • Animal Husbandry - General Weekly Reflection: Reflect on any aspect(s) of your week you would like. Remember to satisfy the rubric with your weekly reflection.
3. Week 3
   • Crop & Soil Management - General Weekly Reflection: Reflect on any aspect(s) of your week you would like. Remember to satisfy the rubric with your weekly reflection.
4. Week 4
   • Food Systems - General Weekly Reflection: Reflect on any aspect(s) of your week you would like. Remember to satisfy the rubric with your weekly reflection.
5. Week 5
   • Ecology of Ag Systems - General Weekly Reflection: Reflect on any aspect(s) of your week you would like. Remember to satisfy the rubric with your weekly reflection.
6. Week 6
   • NO REFLECTION - FALLOW DAYS
7. Week 7
   • Crop & Soil Management - Reflect on two scientific/ecological concepts or phenomena you see unfolding in the Education Garden and how these are important to your scientific learning. Also, reflect on how aspects of your experience of working / being in the garden are teaching you about your personality, spiritual beliefs/values, curiosities, or who you want to become. Please satisfy the rubric with your reflection.
8. Week 8
   • Ecology of Ag Systems - Principles of Agroecology II - Please reflect on the 3 principles of Agroecology (Cycles, Diversity, Participation). Where have you seen elements of them in the past (including all of ASI!)? Where have you seen them displayed this week? Are they important for society? Are they important to you? What aspects of Agroecology do you want to learn more about and how will you get there?
9. Week 9
   • Animal Husbandry - Poultry Project : What is your personal philosophy on eating animals and raising animals for consumption? Think about your personal morals, ethics, and spiritual beliefs. Include your experience raise broiler chickens from chicks, butchering one chicken yourself, and then sharing them as a meal together.

10. Week 10

• Manifesto Reflection Activity (no graded reflection assignment is due the final week) - completeness grade goes towards Food Systems

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What does it Mean to Write a Manifesto?

Tuesday July 2nd, 2 to 3 pm, Introduction to the Manifesto

Monday July 29th, 1 to 3 pm, Writing the Manifesto

Thursday August 1st, 3:30 to 4:30 pm, Manifesto Share-out