Suggestions for a Student Service-Learning Journal
You will find that your satisfaction with your service-learning
project depends in part
on how much you can reflect on your service and
can share your thoughts with others. Here
are suggested topics to write about in a journal
or paper and to discuss with other people
inside and outside of class.
1. As you are getting started: First Impressions.
What are your thoughts about starting your service-learning
project? How are you
feeling? What do you expect it to be like? What
do you hope it will be like? Why are you
doing it? What questions are you asking yourself
about future jobs or careers?
What are your first impressions and observations
of the agency? Chaos or order?
Attention or neglect? Activity or boredom? Write
some detailed descriptions of places, people,
conversations. What stereotypes do you think you
have of the kind of people your agency
works with?
What do you do on a typical day there? What is the
best thing that happened there for
you this week? 'Me worst? The most challenging?
2. After you have beeh at the agency a while: Reflecting
and Connecting.
First impressions change. What is * really going
on at the agency? What are its
functions and problems? What can you learn about
who runs the agency, what its history is,
how it is funded?
How do people see you there? As a staff member?
a student? a friend? What do they
say to you that has surprised you? What compliments
and criticisms have you received, and
how did you react?
What conflicts, disagreements, friction, or lack
of unity do you see at the agency?
What are its causes? What conflicts are you yourself
experiencing there?
If you were in charge, how would you run the agency
differently?
What information, concepts, or skills from your
college courses are relevant at.the
agency? Is the service activity clarifying any of
your academic material? Or does it contradict
and complicate it?
When you are half way through your period of service,
summarize for yourself what
you have learned from it so far and think about
what goals you want to set for the rest of the
service period.
3. As you are finishing: Producing and Evaluating.
Think about a final product or event that will*
mark the completion of your service.
Students learn from their service in different ways,
so talk to your professor about how you
believe you can best document or demonstrate what
you have learned. Find a way to say good-
bye to the people at the agency, to talk and listen
to them about what you have been doing
there.
Write about how service has contributed to your
personal growth. in any of the
following areas: career exploration, spiritual fulfillment,
intellectual growth, civic
responsibility, self-knowledge, political consciousness,
leadership development.