ABSTRACT
All students engaged in field-based learning should write a reflective essay about their experience. The focus of the reflection will change, depending on the goal of the learning. In service-based learning, the student might reflect on what was learned, how the learning changed the student, and how the student was able to use the learning to begin to effect change in his or her environment. For a study abroad program, the reflection might include what the student learned, how the learning changed the student’s thinking, and how the learning helped the student accept membership in the overseas community. The pattern is similar for laboratories, internships, and agency placements: an inventory of the learning, based on the journal or log; a statement about personal growth; and a statement about the student’s contribution to the collaborative effort.
