Facilitating Reflection

A Manual for Leaders and Educators  

Written and Compiled by
Julie Reed & Christopher Koliba

> Table of Contents

  1. Understanding Reflection
  2. Facilitating Reflection
  3. Getting Started
  4. The Reflection Circle
  5. Activities
  6. Additional Forms of Reflection
  7. Acknowledgements

About Reflection

"Reflection" is a vital component of service-learning. This manual was designed for educators and leaders of service groups who have an interest and a commitment to provide reflection opportunities for students and community partners alike. College professors, K-12 teachers, community organization leaders, and leaders of service organizations have all found, "Facilitating Reflection: A Manual for Leaders and Educators," a useful supplement to their work.

This manual was written during the summer of 1995. The primary author, Julie Reed, was interning at the Georgetown University Volunteer and Public Service Center at the time. I had asked her to pull together a compendium of reflection activities that would be useful for educators and leaders of service groups. None of the ideas represented in this manual are original. We borrowed examples from a variety of sources, which you will find in the "Acknowledgements" section at the end of the manual.

Special thanks go out to Sharon Morgenthaler, and the Georgetown University Office of Volunteer and Public Service, for their permission to finally post this manual on the Internet. Any comments about the manual should be sent to: Christopher.Koliba@uvm.edu

Christopher Koliba, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
John Dewey Project on Progressive Education

A Student's Thoughts on Facilitating Reflection

As a student leader, a future educator and a member of my community interested in community service and service learning, I found this manual to be a helpful guide to understanding and implementing reflection. Reflection is possibly the most important part of service and definitely essential to any type of Service-Learning. The information here helped me think about what role I want reflection to play in my life but also it gave me the tools to integrate meaningful reflection into the work I do with others. This tool of reflection is like a gift that I am now able to present to all people I work with. I have learned the value of it and how to apply it. Reflection is a treasure that I now possess and will value for time to come.

- Sierra Melcher, 2000-2001 Director of University of Vermont Citizen Awareness and Training for Students (CATS)

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