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 course each of us will gather a multitude of experiences and insights through classes, labs, authentic field experiences, and conversations. Because of the integrated nature of studying restoration, each week will be filled-to-the-brim with experiences that cut across multiple disciplines 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 Restoration while also taking a step back to evaluate and interrogate your own thoughts, feelings, and emerging ideas while you internalize your learning.
Each week you have a prompt (see below) that you will reflect on throughout the week. These are what's called guided reflections - they lead us to think deeply around a certain topic or perspective while providing opportunity to synthesize multiple experiences (present and past). You are encouraged to keep a small reflection journal to use daily for jotting down notes as you process new experiences and perspectives. Reflections are usually about 1 page typed (single space) and are graded via the following 3 rubric topics:
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Content Recall & Synthesis [70%]
"Can you take multiple experiences/reflections from your readings, lab, and lecture as well as your previous experiences and coherently & effectively weave them together around a central topic or topics?"
Views & Values [20%]
"Can you identify and articulate what you have observed regarding the role of personal or corporate/community values in decision making surrounding a central topic or topics? Can you provide evidence of your own interrogation of how your personal views and values interact and/or have shifted as a result of your experiences around this central topic?"
Call to Action & Growth [10%]
"How can you translate the insight you have gained through reflection into specific actions (no matter how big or small) that reflect your personal views and values? Or what are aspects of this topic you would like to know more about and how might you gain those insights?
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All reflections are worth
All reflections are due by .
Each of the three rubric topics are graded as follows:
below 60% = not present
60% to 69% = unclear if present or present & severely underdeveloped
70% to 79% = present but underdeveloped
80% to 89% = present, adequately developed
90% to 100% = present, exceptionally developed
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 right after an experience. You can always go back through and reconfigure your entry for submission
Continue to come to your instructors to ask for clarifications, especially early on