Self Reflective Analysis

Through this experience I have learned many new things about myself. I have learned in detail who I am as a learner, a teacher and as a participant in my community. Through the use of the material addressed in modules two, six and eight, I am able to conduct a critical analysis of myself and what I have learned in the course that is relevant to my academic and professional career.

Module two touched on many important topics; however what I took away most from this module was the discussion of the three lenses. Within this module, and throughout the course, I learned that applying multiple perspectives to one experience enhances my understanding of the experience. I was able to do this best by applying each of these lenses while partaking in

my service learning setting, and following my setting within my journals. The articles in this module provided insight to why it is important to approach something after looking at it through multiple lenses. Kronick et al (2011), provided examples of students using multiple perspectives when approaching a situation in order to arrive to the best possible solution. I found this lesson to be one of the most important lessons I learned about myself, as I can carry this on into my entire life, and not just my academics and career. Looking at any situation from multiple perspectives provides me with greater insight and helps me achieve stronger solutions. Before entering this course, I often would look at situation from a singular perspective, and this would lead me to weaker solutions. Now knowing that I succeed better when taking multiple perspectives into action, I will be more successful in my academic and professional career. In terms of my professional career, I feel applying the three lenses while teaching will prove to be very beneficial in helping me improve my own teaching methods and my future classroom.
Module six provided me with a detailed analysis of what I need to know in order to be successful in my service learning setting.

What I feel I really learned in this module that I will carry on with me for the rest of my academic career is the importance of reflection and journaling. I learned that I am a more successful learner when I reflect on my experiences and use multiple strategies to do so. Journaling is a key component in successful reflection and it is important to structure the journal so that critical reflection is demonstrated (Eyler, 2002). As I completed my journals, I was able to break down my thoughts and build connections between my own knowledge and the knowledge I gained while at my service learning setting. This strategy enhanced my learning and taught me an important lesson about myself, being that I need to write down my thoughts in order to build connections. The module introduced the DEAL model, which also enhanced my reflection process and as the module discussed, deepened the connections I was making within my journals. The module recommended using this model for each lens, which I found aligned my thoughts and gave me a multi-perspective outlook on my experience. The articles provided in this module really enhanced the instructional narrative provided on self-reflection. Eyler (2002), demonstrated that service learning is more successful when students engage in journaling and reflection. I found this to be very true through the course as I learned that it contributed to my understanding of the course and myself. The importance of reflective practice to myself as a learner is a lesson I will take away from this course for the remainder of my academic

career.
I found that module eight was where I learned the most about myself. I feel this was because I had never experienced leaving a classroom of students before, where I had grown so many connections and relationship. I learned that I struggle to leave behind something that I feel I have not finished with. What I mean by this is that there were so many students I had worked with that I saw improving over the course of my time there, and I was not prepared to stop contributing to their growth as a student. I felt as if my teacher and the students depended on my to help around the class and work one on one with the students who needed it, and I did not want to stop making these contributions. The articles and module readings helped me come to terms with this and assisted in a successful end to my time in my service learning setting. Although I felt reluctant to end my time in my setting, I learned within the readings that it is important to tie up all the loose ends in order to have a successful ending in my service-learning setting (Sweitzer & King, 2014). The module and articles also addressed that it is normal to find it difficult and emotional as you conclude your placement, and this reassured me that what I was feeling was normal. Sweitzer and King stated, “the calendar says the intern- ship is almost over, but you may feel as though you have just gotten started” and I feel this statement resonates with me the most in regards to what I learned about myself in this module (2014, p.399). In summary, I learned that I struggle ending my time in a service-learning setting, but by successfully concluding my time I feel gain more from the experience. I can take this lesson on into my future professional career as I will constantly get classes with new students, or need to leave schools, so I must remember the importance of successfully concluding my time in these situations.
The lessons that I learned are merely the basis of what I learned about myself throughout this course. I did not intend to gain so much insight on myself and learn lessons that I will carry on with my throughout my academic and professional career. With the help of the modules and course readings, I was able to learn many important lessons amongst these three. These being that applying multiple perspectives to my experience enhance my understanding of it, I am a more successful learner when I reflect on my experiences and finally, I may be reluctant to complete my time in a setting but I must successfully conclude my experience.