Tips on Keeping a Reflective Journal
Journaling is a useful way to keep track of what you are learning and the kind of service you are providing to the community. It can also help provide insight into what you are experiencing and how you are feeling about it.
Your journal can take many different forms. However, a few ingredients are essential.
- Before your first visit to the agency (other than the interview for approval to work there), write down your thoughts, feelings, concerns, questions and preconceived notions about the agency and the population you will be serving. This will help you see if your thoughts and feelings change throughout your time there.
- Do not edit as you write. Instead, write your thoughts freely, without regard for syntax, spelling or punctuation. Editing can be done later, if you wish. The point is not to stop the flow of your thoughts.
- Remember to observe confidentiality and use pseudonyms when referring to clients.
- Other requirements of journal writing are candor and keen use of your senses and observational skills. Not only will your writing be more interesting as you develop your senses and observational powers, but your learning from your experiences will be enhanced as well.
- Write an OBJECTIVE ACCOUNT of the daily events that occur. Try to remember everything that happens but just write the facts. Don’t make inferences. Keep this part of your journal to only a few lines.
- Next, describe your feelings and perceptions, questions and ideas about what happened during the day. This is your SUBJECTIVE ACCOUNT of the day, and should constitute the bulk of your journaling.
- You will find the journal less of a chore if you take a few minutes at the end of each day of service, to review your learning objectives and reflect upon your experiences of the day.
Remember, it is important that you NOT think of your journal as a work log in which you itemize and record events, task and statistics.
Your journal is a reflective and analytical activity which allows you to grapple with problems and frustrations as well as identify your accomplishments and other positive learning experiences. The journal is your means of regularly charting your growth and development both academically and personally.
Reflective Questions for Your Service Learning Journal
- What’s the best thing that happened today/this week?
- What’s the most difficult/satisfying part of your work? Why?
- What do you think is your most valuable/valued contribution?
- Did you receive any compliments/criticisms? What did you learn from this?
- Tell about a person there who you find interesting/challenging to be with.
- How do people there treat you? How do they see your role? Is this congruent/in conflict with how you see your role?
- Tell about something you learned as a result of a disappointment or failure (Remember “failure” is a personal growth opportunity.)
- Think back on a moment when you felt especially happy or satisfied in your placement. What does that tell you about yourself?
- Is there some situation that you had problems with that you would want to talk to your site supervisor about?
- How did you feel today? Did you just feel like you were doing your service because you had to? What charged you up?
- How is all this relevant to the readings, discussions and lectures in your class?