WEEKLY REFLECTION GUIDELINES

The Concept:

To assist you with analyzing your learning process in practicum, you must complete a series of WeeklyProcess / Reflections based on the Integrative Processing Model developed by Pam Kiser. This model asks the student in the field to reflect on experiences and record information using the following format:

  • Describe an experience you have been a part of or observed
  • Reflect and record your own reaction to the experience
  • Identify relevant theory and knowledge that helps make sense of the experience
  • Examine dissonance, ways you have looked at the experience to see if there are any points of conflict.
  • Articulate learning; identify specifics that you have learned from this experience.

Part One – Experience

Describe an experience you have been part of or observed. What were key events or features of the experience? Did something stand out to you, such as an event involving a client/customer or co-worker or an agency issue that came up? (This could be a positive or a negative situation, or even both.)

  • Describe what happened
  • Describe where it happened (in group, at intake, in individual session, at staff meeting, etc.) and when
  • Identify who was involved (without using client names)
  • Describe how you were involved (observer only, active participant, team member, etc.)

Part Two - Reflection

Reflect and record your own reactions to the experience. (Include positive and negative feelings, thoughts, attitudes, etc. Did anything surprise you? If you were surprised, describe why.)

  • How does this experience affect your own values?
  • What emotions or thoughts did this experience trigger in you?
  • How does this experience reveal your attitudes, biases, or preferences?

Part Three: Identify Relevant Theory and Knowledge

(Relating experience to relevant knowledge)

  • Recall coursework or reading you have done that is relevant to this experience.
  • What principles, concepts, theories, skills or information have you learned which related to this experience.
  • Seek out or recall and record ideas that can help you make sense of the experience in a variety of ways. Think about past experiences that may lend additional information to explaining this particular experience.

Part Four:Examining Dissonance (Discord)

(Recognizing inconsistency or discomfort)

  • What, if anything, causes you to feel discomfort in this experience?
  • What conflicting thoughts and feelings do you have about this experience? These conflicts may be between or among competing theories; between what the theory says should happen and what actually did; between what you believe and what the agency seems to value; or between any two or more aspects of the experience.
  • What disagreement is there between what you think you “should” feel or think and what you do feel or think?
  • Can this point of dissonance be reconciled?” If so, how? If not, why not?

Part Five:Articulating Learning

  • What are the major lessons you learned from this experience?
  • What did you learn about yourself as a Human Service Worker? About others? About your world?
  • What knowledge, wisdom or insights did you gain?
  • What skills did you acquire?

Part Six:Applying Experience to Future Learning

  • What gaps do you recognize in your knowledge and/or skills related to this experience?
  • How should you proceed in your learning to possibly fill those gaps?
  • How might you modify your own approach, methods, or behavior as you encounter similar experiences in the future?

Part Seven:Supervisor Meeting Summary

  • Summarize the material covered in the meeting between you and your agency supervisor. Information in this section may or may not pertain to your reflection topic. Include discussion, information you gained and any planning resulting from this meeting.
  • Include discussion, information you gained and any planning resulting from this meeting.