Program activities

Reflective journal

During the mentor program you are encouraged to keep a reflective journal starting from the first week of lectures. The journal combines written reflections with other forms of expression such as visual images and media releases.

The purpose of the journal is to introduce you to the practice of critical reflection about teaching and learning. Reflection is a significant element professional preparation and practice.

Developing your journal involves:

• reflecting on your own experiences as well as those of a previous generation, enabling you to connect with, and consider, the evolution of teaching and learning
• reflecting on the experiences that influenced your decision to become a teacher or social worker
• developing a critical approach to the education-research literature
• using multiple sources for reflection
• practising writing skills

Types of journal entries

• Personal school experiences – this could comprise your thoughts about yourself as a learner; the nature of teaching (the best and worst attributes of your various teachers and their impact on your learning); or other significant aspects of your schooling, for example, what was valued by your school (sport, music or academic achievement) and how this was demonstrated.
• The school experiences of someone of another generation – the memories of, for example, your parents, older friends or grandparents. Be guided by the reflection of the person you have chosen and comment on the differences between their experiences and your own.
• Popular culture – select a movie or television series and discuss how teaching, learning, students or teachers are portrayed. Comment critically on this portrayal, referring to your own experiences and the experiences of others.
• Newspaper articles – summarise print-media coverage of a contemporary education issue and comment critically about the articles by referring to material from lectures, tutorials, workshops or readings.
  
  

Poster competition

The poster competition is the year's final reflective activity and is designed to allow students to share – with one another as well as with faculty members – their feelings about their first year at university. This is a cooperative activity and everyone in the workshop will contribute to the poster. The dean and other faculty representatives will judge the competition at the end of Semester Two.