Concordia College

Tools for Reflection

Reflection is an opportunity for participants to examine their experiences and sort through feelings, observations, and ideas to help students be intentional about their learning.  An effective reflection activity should:

•    Have an outcome in mind (i.e. a specific course goal, a specific concept, etc.).
•    Be appropriate for the group (age, culture, etc.).
•    Occur before, during, and as soon after the service experience as possible.
•    Be directly linked to the project or experience.
•    Dispel stereotypes, address negative experiences, increase appreciation for community needs, increase commitment to service.
•    Be varied for different learning styles, etc.
•    Be facilitated for maximum participation, creativity, and learning.

There are many creative ways to facilitate a quality reflection activity.  Below are a variety of resources that may be helpful while planning a reflection activity.

[Documents in Toolbox for  Reflection]

ELCA Helpsheet on Service-Learning in Congregations

Service-Learning for Vocation Grant Resources [http://student.cord.edu/dept/leadserv/toolbox.shtml]