Examples of Reflection
Change Agent Reflection (Level Two): WEAK EXAMPLE
In this project I interviewed my aunt who is from the Philippines. She was able to help me understand more about her culture and what it was like to be a minority in the USA. This helped me to find what I could do to make others feel more comfortable.
Change Agent Reflection (Level Two): STRONG EXAMPLE
I've mentioned my sign language class in nearly all of my papers. I really can't explain or put into words the impact that class had on my life. This was definitely an eye opening experience that changed me for the better. During that class, we had to write an opinion paper titled, "The Medical Profession is Finally Learning about the Deaf Culture." It was difficult to write about this particular subject because it's hard to determine the needs of the deaf community, when you have never experienced being deaf. Once our assignments were turned in, our teacher explained complications and needs of the deaf community in the healthcare setting. She explained the need for appropriate and competent interpreters and using the telecommunication systems. After learning this information, it made me think about the clinical sites I go to and how and/or whether they are prepared to accommodate deaf patients; so I took the initiative to ask the last two clinical sites I attended, what was their plan or if they even had one. One site had nothing and the other site had a card with words written out that said, "Hold your breath when you see the lights go off." The card was a start, but it would only work for certain examinations and if the patient(s) were unable to read the card, our communication is yet hampered. This shows that some places don't think about the diverse populations that they could serve.
It's better to be prepared rather than to wait for a situation to occur and you are unprepared. By this time, I would rate myself as advanced; I took an appropriate initiative to effect change by creating a voice for others. Because of the experience I've gained, I questioned the protocols at several facilities and learned that these places were not as prepared as they could have been to serve a diversified community. Changes were made because initiative was taken to engage change. My goal is to make sure that the place I work for is prepared and equipped to handle a diverse population of patients.
Reflections must be thoughtful, thorough, and reflective of the student's attention to the designated goal and/or objective. Guides are available on the ePortfolio Access site for assistance with the skills of critical reflection. Reflections are not summaries of the experiences, nor are they personal journals. Reflections are to demonstrate students' ability to analyze their learning from a variety of sources and to articulate for an audience the process of learning. A complete and satisfactory portfolio is a graduation requirement for all undergraduate students.
Reference:
Zubizarreta, J. (2004). The learning portfolio: Reflective practice for improving student learning. Bolton, MA: Anker Publishing.