COOPERATIVE EDUCATION

JOURNAL OR SUMMARY PAPER

You have an opportunity to earn academic credit for your paid or volunteer experience because you will learn from that experience. The depth of your learning can be enhanced if you take the time to think about what you want to gain from the experience, and you will do this when you write Learning Objectives. Another important way to deepen your learning is to think analytically about and reflect upon the experiences that you have. This will be accomplished by writing about those experiences.

Select one of these activities:

1. Journal: 10 weekly entries of at least 2 paragraphs in length. Late-starting students should submit more than one entry per week or do the Summary Paper.

2. Summary Paper: Four page minimum.

Use the following questions to develop your journal or paper. #1 must be included in the first journal entry and in the paper.

1. Write your job description. Include skills needed: technical, communication, administrative or supervisory.

2. What were your first impressions?

3. What is different than you expected?

4. What were you able to accomplish?

5. What were the effects of what you did? How do you feel about your role?

6. How does what you did (or observed) relate to your coursework?

7. What are the biggest problems faced by your organization in meeting the needs of people served? (This could be a social service issue, or a business objective.)

8. Describe the current state of the organization or business you work for. Does it exist in a stable or an unstable environment? For example, is funding a problem, or is competition intense?

9. Explain a misunderstanding, disagreement or conflict you observed, or were involved in. Who were the key players and what was their role? What points of view did the differing people hold? What attitudes, feelings or values did they express? What was the end result? What could be done to avoid or resolve such a conflict in the future?

10. Describe how this experience will influence your future, either as a citizen or as an employee in a similar environment.

11. Look at the Learning Objectives that you wrote and comment on your accomplishments or barriers to achieving those goals.

ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO REINFORCE LEARNING IS TO TELL SOMEONE WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED. HERE’S YOUR CHANCE!

The journal or summary is due BEFORE Finals Week. You may submit your assignment in hard copy or via e-mail. All homework must be typed or word-processed.