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Part 2: Reflection Assignment

Mark allocation: 10%

Due date: Week 12 on day of your class (midnight)

Word limit: 1000 words

The second part of this assignment is a reflection on your experiences since you completed part one. You will need to make direct reference to

1. Part one of this assignment (helpful questions might be – but not limited to – why did you choose the topic, what did you learn about your topic, would your answer still be the same at the end of the course?)
2. the cultural mindset
3. your cultural metaphor poster (as presented in class in week 11).

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What is Reflective Practice?

Reflective practice is a process of thinking about new experiences with a view of learning from them. It is a form of personal response to new experiences, situations, events or information.

This process involves recording your observations and thinking deeply about your feelings and responses to situations. It also enables you to increase your understanding and to gain new insights about yourself, others and situations. A result of these new insights may lead to a change of thinking or behaviour. Part 2: Reflection Assignment

The formal citation of sources is not required, but specific reference to your own experiences must be made.

How to Write Reflectively

There are many things to consider when writing a reflective piece. To enhance the process you should try to;

• understand what beliefs, values, perceptions, knowledge you have
• examine your perceptions, experiences, ideas and observations of the new experience and how they relate to you pre-conceived ideas
• describe what you found challenging, confusing, inspiring, difficult, interesting and analyse why
• provide comparison and connections between your prior assumptions and knowledge, and your new knowledge and experience and draw conclusions from these comparisons
• explain what you need to explore next in terms of thoughts and actions
• include both description (what, when, who) and analysis (how, why, what if…)

There is no one way to write a Reflective journal. You may use essay, report or journal format.

Useful Questions for Reflection

Before commencing upon your reflection, ask yourself some of the following questions. These questions can assist in your reflective journal, thinking and/or discussion with your teacher or peers.

• What were you initial beliefs, values, perceptions and knowledge before the course commenced?
• Did your pre-conceived views change? If so, explain how and why.
• What were your learning goals for this course? What did you anticipate learning?
• Did you achieve these goals? If so why, and if not, why not?
• What were significant experiences for you?
• How did you respond at the time? Why?
• How could you improve on the way you responded/behaved?
• How did you feel about these experiences?
• How did you deal with challenges or problems?
• What would you do differently next time?
• What sense can you make of this experience in the light of your past experience?
• Has this changed the way in which you will do things or view things in the future?

Note: it is acceptable to pose questions in your reflection to which you may not necessary have the answers.

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Based on Part One and the subsequent classes on Global Mindset and Metaphors you will then write a 1000 word paper about your experience. Kolb’s learning cycle will be used as a framework.

(source: Kolb DA 1984, Experiential Learning experience as a source of learning and development, Prentice Hall, New Jersey.)

1. Concrete experience – Part One of the assignment, class notes and Metaphor poster

The experience of the first assignment and the subsequent learning activities form the basis of your reflection.

2. Reflective observation – Summarize what happened

You should now be able to comment on your own experiences. Discuss the what, when, how, where and why of what you have experienced this semester in relation to the first part of this assignment. You may comment on your experiences beyond the semester but it should form the core of your discussion. Part 2: Reflection Assignment

3. Abstract conceptualization – Analyse what this means

The next part is to analyze what you have found. Reflective practice is a process of thinking about new experiences with a view of learning. It is a form of personal response to new experiences, situations, events or information. What new knowledge do you have in response to this exercise? And what does this information mean?  You are expected to reflect at a deep level for this step and not just explain what you do. You need to link this to your own life.

4. Active experimentation – new action

The final stage is to discuss what you plan to do with this new knowledge. A result of these new insights may lead to a change of thinking or behavior. In what ways? Set yourself some specific (SMART) goals.

The formal citation of sources is not required, but specific reference to your own experiences must be made. You will not pass this assignment if you only describe what you use and how. You must go ‘deeper’ and analyze why you feel the way you do.

Assessment criteria

You will be assessed on whether you have met the following criteria:

1. Demonstrated understanding of learning cycle/reflection model.
2. Ability to explain and analyze your own experiences in relation to part one of the assignment
3. Ability to explain and analyze your own experiences in relation to the cultural mindset
4. Ability to explain and analyze your own experiences in relation to your cultural metaphor poster
5. Evidence of changed thinking and/or goal setting due to new understanding of behavior.
6. Reflection and analysis of own experiences demonstrating independent thinking and expressing meaningful insights.
7. Integration of course material.
8. Ability to present (in writing) a clear and logically structured paper
9. Word limit
10. Attached the original assignment (part 1) and a copy of the metaphor poster (photo of poster is acceptable).

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