Reflecting
on what you learned is one of the most
important goals of a service learning experience. You will develop your
critical thinking skills as well as your capacity to be resourceful as
you define, analyze, and interpret the new social experiences you have
had working at a service agency. Your reflection should discuss the way
that your placement helped you to learn and to grow both emotionally
and intellectually. As in the other stages of this project, develop an
organizational framework that helps you to explore and keep track of
your own thoughts and feelings about your project. [Note to Dowell's
students: this would be a reference to your SLWP Journals and other
"trajectory-tracking" devices you've employed throughout the semester.)
The questions ... below should help you to understand and clarify what
you have learned from your project.
1. How did this experience contrast with
your previous classroom and writing experiences?
This was a totally different
experience because of the fact that I was writing about something real
to me. In classes I've had in the past, the instructor assigns
something, the students research it, and then the students write about
it. This project was not entirely different in the fact that I did do
research. It was different, however, because my research was hands on
and interactive.
2. What did you learn about the importance of communicating with new
audiences while completing this project?
This assignment definitely taught me to write for a broader audience.
In all honesty, it taught me that using big words to try to impress my
instructors will not do me any good if I can't get my point across to
my entire audience, which was, in this case, much larger than I am used
to.
3. What did you learn about working
collaboratively? What insights have you developed about the value of
discussing experiences, ideas, and strategies? If you produced a
collaboratively written piece, what did you learn from this particular
aspect (of the class)?
I
would say this is the first time I absolutely needed to work
collaboratively with
others. I've had "group projects" in the past, which pretty
much
meant one or two students would do most of the work while the
others sat around. Sitting around was not an option in this project
though. It
was vital for every one of us to give our input and point of view so we
could get all of our points across clearly. I also learned that
while everyone certainly has weaknesses and things they struggle with,
they also have something good that they can offer to the rest of the
group.
4. What
did you learn about yourself - your personal values, your cultural
values, your gender assumptions, and your expectations and
responsibilities as a member of your campus and community and as a
citizen of our country?
I learned the importance of getting
involved, no matter how you are doing so. You have to stand up for
something or else you really aren't doing your part to help our culture
advance.
5. Did
your understanding of how you learn change through your service
experience? Why you value your education? What you expect from an
educational experience?
I would say my expectations are
definitely higher now, for myself as well as for my instructors. It is
now an issue of importance for me to take something away from the
classroom and be able to use it in real life situations. I'm not here
"just to get a degree".
6. What
did you learn about the social issues that the agency was working to
change and improve?
I learned that a very sad
minority of
eligible Americans is actually voting and I gained an increased
interest in increasing that number.
7. Did
the reading and writing you did for your class help you to understand
the issues and the people you were working with at your agency? In what
ways?
The assignments Tim gave
to us
helped me to realize why he, as well as the YouVote organization, is so
passionate about making a difference and trying to increase voter
awareness, education, and turnout.
8. Would
you choose to be involved in a study-service connection in the future?
Explain your decision.
I don't know if I would
do it again or
not if I had the choice but I do know I'm glad I had the
experience and I think it is something everyone can get value
from doing at
least once.
9. You
were required
to visit the Writing Center at least twice during the semester. How
many times did you actually go? What was discussed? (Please describe
what was discussed by using the Rubric.)
I actually went to the writing center
twice. Both times were mainly to discuss issues of formatting and
presentation (area II). I had a hard time early on in the
semester understanding how to properly use citations in my writing. I
feel like I have gotten much better at dealing with things of this
nature as I've continued putting effort into it.
10. You were required to speak with the instructor at least once
during the semester about your writing progress. How many times did you
actually go and what was discussed? (Please describe what was discussed
by using the Rubric.)
Professor
Dowell and me only had one "formal" meeting, which was scheduled ahead
of time. I did, however, drop in on multiple occasions with a quick
question or something which needed to be addressed. Among the things we
discussed are, transitions, introductions/conclusions, and various
grammar issues (areas II, III, and VI respectively).
12/05