by Tricia Thompson, Manager of Volunteer Leader Training, HandsOn Network

At HandsOn Network, we know that volunteer reflection at the end of a service project leads to deeper commitment.

Here’s an easy way to think through facilitating an opportunity for reflection at the end of a project you’re leading…

Consider a volunteer project you have implemented in the past, or one you are planning to implement in the future.

Using that project as an example, think of questions you might ask your volunteers in each of the reflection categories:

“The What” (Objective / Cognitive)

• What happened?
• What did you see, hear, smell, touch, say…
• What did you do?

(Tip: Refrain from evaluating or interpreting what people say)

“The Gut” (Affective Reflection)

• What feelings came up for you during the experience?
• When were you surprised? Frustrated? Pleased? Affirmed? Disappointed? Angry?
• What in your history feels similar to this experience?

“So What?” (Analysis & Interpretation)

• When have you seen something similar before?
• What assumptions did you find you have?
• What has lead to the need for your community work?
• What needs of yours does this experience meet?
• How does this relate to larger contexts, theories, and ideas?
• What is important about what you have learned?
• What difference does that make to you, to the community?
• What do you understand differently now?

“Now What?” (Application & Decisional)

• Now what will you do with what you have learned?
• How will you apply what you have learned to your future work in the community?
• What has our group/class learned?
• What are the implications of what we have done together?
• What can you do to learn more about this issue? To get further involved?

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What do you think?

What questions would you add?

What suggestions do you have?