A focus on reflection.
Helen guided us through a reflection on our reflection and process in writing this culminating module one essay. Key takeaways from our conversation include:
The Areas Of Learning essays look further back, whereas this Reflective Essay is really reflecting on your learning in this module -- the now. Be sure to differentiate that. Reflect on: What have you learned in the past 12 weeks? Reflect on theorists and literature. What do you want to communicate, what has been meaningful to you?
It is also easy to take the reflection we are doing and think, 'Where do I want to go with this reflection…' and be eager to want to jump to the next step, what happens next? But it is important in this essay, and consequently in our current learning, to hold back and focus on the present.
We spent a good time sharing with one another this concept of how failure and vulnerability is productive. These are the moments we reflect on and learn from the most. Being successful doesn't often involve reflection and learning. Success doesn’t teach you anything. It reiterates what you already know. Success should be defined as learning from being uncomfortable and challenged, although it may not feel great in the moment.
Sometimes we do not feel as though we are equipped with the necessary knowledge to succeed. It is important to approach learning in this module with intention. Do not let information come to me, but take the front seat and be authentic as a learner. How am I receiving this information, and how am I internalizing it? Taking ownership!
To conclude, Helen posed a helpful exercise to guide us in writing our reflection essay:
What are three bullet points you can list of helpful things from this module that you can extract and communicate to others (what was meaningful to you, what are you getting from the blogs, Skype calls, handbooks, texts/literature, reflecting on own practice):
