Jennifer Dove: Writing a Reflection Paper
What is reflection? Putting knowledge in context. Internal dialogue. Reflection in the program is putting what we are learning and who we are into context, the bigger picture.

When you start the program you are probably unconsciously competent, and the program helps you become consciously competent. You can know what you’re doing and what it’s grounded in and can share it with people you work with.

Reflection is making meaning and putting the new information into context. Connecting it to what we already know, why we’re doing what we’re doing, and thinking about how it’s grounded in theory and philosophy and present day authorities in the field. Yesterday we did some searching to find out how the Glasers’ work is grounded in theory and other people’s work.

Reflection started in the program with our application. Next it’s the vision statement in our IDP. Then your portfolio will have reflection papers for each competency. You will take what you are currently doing. Who are current authorities in that field that support your work? What are other people doing and how does your work connect to other work. Then in your dissertation, it’s grounded in philosophy and theory.  You have a conceptual theoretical framework for your work.  How is your work connected to the world? It’s not good enough that you think it. Who else supports it?

Jennifer will share the handout with us via thumbdrive if we’re interested.

One way is: Your competency is in the middle and then you add philosophy, theorists, my beliefs, and my practices.  In Jennifer’s regional group they discussed these philosophies and theories that support the competency. Philosophy is the foundation. Then theory is built on that and it’s something you can test.

Talk with your advisor to get really clear on what your advisor’s requirements are for your IDP and for reflection papers. Your knowledge base and how your artifacts are connected to the theory is more important than the artifacts themselves.

The knowledge base should show up in your reflection paper. Reflection is a thread that is woven throughout the entire program. How do you know that? Who says that? Who is connected to that? Says who? Based on what? How do you know?

You can ask the different professors, who do you need to know in each competency. Ask an expert in the area of “x” and ask them who do I need to know in these areas. Who are these people quoting? You’ll get to recognize names in each area, especially in the areas that support what you believe and how you work.

Henning mentioned the bibliography that matches the competencies (the old ones).

The synthesis paper at the very end of the program is where you pull all the pieces of the competencies together. It has who I have become in these competencies and how have I learned and how will I continue learning?

Less is more. Make it dense and succinct. It will help you in your dissertation defense. Only 15 minutes in the defense to be able to present your work. The more you say, the more you do it, you can be more succinct and precise.