Fwd: a reflection issue

I think for me the issue is always having the service as an integral part
of the learning of content and/or expanding that content. I am not sure
the intention and purpose of the students working with young children as
you suggest in the example. An example from dentistry would be that
students would work with kids in the schools and would be required to
also be thinking of what it was like to be a latency age child. What are
they like, what do they talk about, like, dislike, issues, dress, are you
aware of larger issues, divorce, poverty, poor nutrition, poor eating
habits, and on. The idea would be to expand the basic issues of
understanding the patients you might be working with, or how would your
experience help you understand working with kids in your dental office,
how could you make it a better experience for them, what possible issues
do you see in terms of dental care???? and on...

My students are social work students. They spend time in West Virginia
repairing homes for Appalachian Service Project. They are learning about
small rural communities in terms of social, political, economic, culture,
and human bonds. The service provides a chance to meet and talk with a
wide range of persons living in a small rural community. They come
prepared with academic questions about small, rural community life that
guides their observations and interactions. The reflections are in part
guided by these guideposts. I find that students are able to look more
closely at what is taking place and many more and unique insights about
themselves and the community come out during reflection.

I think is the preparation that is important for reflection to work
successfully. And, more importantly, for the service itself to be
meaningful to the students.

Hope this helps.

Bob Blundo
Department of Social Work
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Wilmington, NC 28403
910-962-3438
blundor@uncwil.edu
> Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 10:28:14
> -0500
> From: "Pederson, Cindy" <CPederson@CSBSJU.EDU>
> Subject: a reflection issue
> Sender: service-learning-owner@csf.colorado.edu
> To: service-learning@csf.colorado.edu
> Thread-Topic: a reflection issue
> Thread-Index: AcIzJtXbyO9pv58JEdazcAACpQFIdQ==
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> Original-recipient: rfc822;blundor@uncwil.edu
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>  FILETIME=[BA130E20:01C23326]
>
> Dear ListServ,
>
>  
>
> I have an issue in reflection that I would like
> some feedback on.  Many of the issues are logistical in nature and I
> feel we can over come.  Not in the context of a just society but
> rather, I feel like I m just playing with the children or I m just a
> babysitter or I just don t feel like I m making a valuable contribution
> .
>
>  
>
> Any suggestions or input is helpful.  I
> feel like I have responded well in those situations to students- asking
> them how they would like to be valued, why they are involved or chose
> that organization to begin with, how they can find value in any service
> task, etc- but I m still believing we can take it further.  
>
>  
>
> Sincerely,
>
>  
>
> Cindy Pederson
>
> Service Learning Coordinator
>
> College of Saint Benedict/Saint John s
> University