KIN 342 Guest Speaker Reflections updated Nov 7, 2022

KIN 342 Guest Speaker Reflections updated Nov 7, 2022

Throughout the semester, community members were invited to present on their own lived experiences (personal and professional), complementing material discussed in class. You are asked to write five reflections (up to 3 pages per reflection, single or double-spaced). Prepare a written response to five presentations, by being reflective and reflexive. This does not mean simply summarizing what you heard, but reflecting on your own beliefs and assumptions. Your reflection should represent how the presentation resonated with you. To assist in your writing, you might ask yourself:

What assumptions did I have about the presentation prior to class? Were my assumptions reinforced or challenged?

What did I agree with? What surprised me? What made me glad, sad, mad, confused, etc.?

How might my personal life and/or [future] professional practice be influenced by what I heard?

How/why do I think differently now about disability?

Here are some tips:

Select the speakers you found most interesting, the most challenging, controversial, memorable, or meaningful.

It might help to consider how speakers (even instructor lectures) complemented - or contradicted - one and other. For example, the presentation on FASD may complement a point from the Cognitive Disability Strategy presentation on funding. You could write about both presentations in one submission, identifying what resonated with you most about each talk, comparing and contrasting ideas. If you write [well] about two speakers in one reflection, it will be counted as two reflections.

Some students have found it helpful to write a letter to their future self(e.g., open this letter in 3-4 years once you are practicing physiotherapy to remind you of what Glenda said about acquired brain injury). Take a more creative route, if you like.

Formatting

All reflections should be submitted in one word document. Do not upload a separate document for each reflection.

Imagine you are writing a series of [very] short essays. Each essay will begin with its own title. (E.g., FASD & CDS Funding, Sask Brain Injury Association, Stories From Community by Serena and David.

Using the example above, the three essays would count as five reflections because you wrote about (1) FASD, (2) CDS, (3) SBIA, (4) Serenas story, (5) Davids Story.

Remember that you are only required to write up to three pages (spacing of your choice). There is no minimum length requirement.

No title page is required. You can put your student name in the header along with the title: KIN 342 F2022 Speaker Reflections

A few notes about being reflective and reflexive

Being reflective means that you have considered the details shared by the speaker. For example, in your submission you might want to write about what was interesting to you, what you learned, what surprised you, and what the take-home message was. Also feel free to write about what upset you, what you disagreed with, and what you think needs to be changed in terms of services, etc.

Being reflexive is more complex; it means that you are thinking deeper about what was shared. Reflexivity involves a critical self-reflection on ones own assumptions, value systems, and actions, as well as impacts of those onto others (Yi & Lee, 2018, p. 32). When we are reflexive, we reflect on ourselves, and acknowledge our own beliefs and ways of thinking. Consider how the stories of lived experience shared by the speaker(s) helped you think about your own lived experiences, and/or current/anticipated professional practice? If you found your own ideology challenged by the speaker[s], explain how and why. For example, how did a presentation on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder shift what you think about people (and families) living with FASD? Reflexivity creates space to initiate self-reflection on ones assumptions, attitudes, behaviours, and intentions, and consider how their being might influence or impact those in their circle (Yi & Lee, 2018). In other words, consider how have you been affected by the presentations, and in turn, how will you now affect others.

Yi, K. J., & Lee, Y. H. (2018). Community-Based Experiential Learning: A Way of Reflexive, Transformative, and Relational Pedagogy in Physical and Health Education Teacher Education (PHETE).

Research in Dance and Physical Education, 2(1), 29-38.

Heres what will be considered when your reflections are graded:

Attention

to the Details Does your reflection indicate, clearly, that you were present for the lecture? Is the speakers name correct? Are the details correct? Does the reflection read as though you were mindfully present?

Thoughtful Consideration Did you indicate what you learned, what was interesting, and what was impactful for you? Will it be apparent to the reader why the speaker was so meaningful for you and why you chose to write about the speakers presentation? Did you write about the speaker and their experiences in a respectful, dignifying manner?

Self-Reflection Did you share your own assumptions about the topic? Did you address how your assumptions/beliefs/attitude shifted after hearing the presentation? What challenged you why?

Current/Anticipated Practice How did the speaker inform you about professional practice? Did they help you think about terminology/language? Ableism? Accessibility? Lived experience? Dignity?

Spelling & Grammar Is there evidence that the submission was proofread? Does the writing reflect that of a 3rd/4th year university student?