Individual Reflective Journal Assignment – 1st term 2014

Rels 300 / Nurs 330 – Individual Reflective Journal Assignment – 1 st term Why write a reflective journal?Students learn more when they actively engage with the course content, learning processes, and their own understandings. The act of reflective journaling will provide you with an opportunity to understand the stages in your own learning; identify your own strengths and weaknesses as a learner; adopt learning strategies which work best for you; overcome blocks or difficulties in your learning; and appreciate the importance of self-assessment in evaluating the quality and outcomes of your learning. (adapted from Reflective Learning Journal, http://www.polyu.edu.hk/learn-to-learn/teacher/_contents/matfiles/G17/journex5.doc )

How do reflective journals relate to our course objectives?As you develop knowledge and conceptual competence regarding health care ethics, reflective journaling will assist you in ensuring sure that you understand ethical principles, responsibilities, contexts, and so on in a comprehensive manner.

Reflective journaling supports your capacity for moral consciousness (instead of moral blindness or moral complacency), your awareness of the diversity of possible choices and value perspectives, your ability to respect and appreciate the moral commitments and beliefs of others, and self-awareness of your own moral values, perspectives, beliefs and choices.

Your aptitude for personal and professional moral agency, insight and accountability depends on capacities to detect and address bias, discrimination and lack of empathy. Reflective journaling can assist with this task.

Finally, reflective journaling provides an opportunity to contemplate and learn from your own experiences of moral uncertainty, ambiguity, dissent, and moral distress.

Don’t know what to talk about? Try one of these prompts:When I look at these [ethical guidelines/ethical choices/ethical duties], they seem to [conflict with/undermine/agree with/challenge] my [nursing/personal] duties or choices in a similar situation. For example, …

As I work through this [reading/case study], I feel [confused/angry/hopeful/fearful/happy] because…

With regard to the material we are learning, I feel that I have a [good/average/poor] understanding of the topics & issues being presented. I feel confident about…; I feel sure about [some things], but not so sure about [other things]; I feel totally confused about… In order to [test/increase] my [understanding/comprehension] I plan to…

I definitely want to learn more about…

I am intrigued by…; I just don’t get why…;

One thing I really disagree with in our [readings/discussions/class] is…

I used to think that…; I’m beginning to wonder if…; I’m starting to question my view that…; I wonder if I’ve been wrong to think that…; I still think that…

Today, I feel [prepared/unprepared] for class; I feel [excited/anxious/bored] by our topics today; I wish we could…; I hope we deal with…; I’m most interested in…

I bring a valuable perspective to our learning about [ . . . ] because…

My goals in this [unit of study/term/course] are to…

How will my reflective journal be evaluated?I will be looking for evidence of personal awareness in your own learning experiences:

What are you learning? How do you learn best? Why are you learning some things more easily than others? What impedes your learning?

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Individual Reflective Journal Assignment – 1st term 2014

In what way is your personal and/or professional development enhanced by your learning in this class? Will your attitudes or behaviours be shaped by your learning? In what ways?

What obstacles might stand in your way as you increase your capacity for authentic moral agency?

How much does it matter to you if you reach your learning potential with regard to health care ethics? What does this tell you about yourself?

When will we do the journal?We will write entries during class time on these dates: 11 sep; 18 sep; 25 sep; 2 oct; 23 oct; 30 oct; 6 nov; 13 nov. Each journal entry should be approximately 1 page of handwriting. If you miss a class, you may email me your journal entry for that day. You may leave your book with me between classes. You may request feedback from me once during this time. Part way through the 8 weeks, you will have an opportunity to discuss your experiences of journal keeping with a small peer group of students.

On November 20th, you may wish to take your journal home to assist you in writing your summative reflection to be handed in on November 27th. All 8 journal entries should now be complete; please hand them in with your summative reflection. This assignment is worth 20% of your 1st term mark.

General Tips & Suggestions:Imagine that you are writing a letter/note/email to a friend; write in the first person, i.e. “I’ve been thinking about…”

express your own ideas, opinions, questions, concerns

feel free to share clinical or personal experiences if they provide helpful examples

you may include your own diagrams, maps, pictures, etc., if they connect with your reflections

Summative Reflection PaperThe 8 reflections and responses in your journal will form the basis for your Personal Reflection Paper. It should demonstrate critical thinking about conceptual competence; moral consciousness, perception and perspectives; and moral insight and accountability. Your summative reflection paper should be about 6 to 8 pages (1500 to 2000 words).

The following “Additional Questions for Reflection” may help you get started. You do not have to answer any or all of these questions – use them only if you find them helpful.

Additional Questions for Reflection

1. What core values, attitudes, or beliefs emerged as you worked through the self–reflection activities? Were there any surprises?

2. How might your central values influence you as a helping person?3. What major qualities or strengths do you have that will be an asset to you as a health care

provider/teacher/other professional?4. What weaknesses or unresolved issues might interfere with your work as a health care

provider/teacher/other professional?5. Do limitations in your life experience or particular prejudices hinder your ability to understand and

relate to certain clients? How might you overcome your personal limitations?6. Given your culture and worldview, what value conflicts would you most likely encounter as a

health care provider/teacher/other professional? How will you resolve those conflicts?

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