Adjusting Expectations

Over the course of the semester how have your expectations for your placement site experienced changed?

What can you expect to accomplish in the final month at your placement sites?

Week Six: Clarifying your goals

Now that you've all be in your placements for a bit and are starting to figure out different ways to work effectively with your students I want you to consider the following questions:

What are your personal goals for the remainder of the semester at your placement site?

How, if at all, do these goals align with the overall goals of your partner organization?

(It's OK if they don't)

Do you currently have what you need to accomplish these goals?

(If not, where can you get the support you need?)

Week Five: Refining Your Approach

What new techniques/approaches have you adopted to 'succeed' at your placement sites since the semester began?

How do you know if they are working?

Week 4 Question

Now that everyone is starting to really get into your placement sites, I want you to consider the following series of questions. You may post this week or during the Spring Break if you will be attending your placement sites over the break.

What is your role with your partner organization?

How does your participation at their site advance their institutional mission?

Do you know what the mission is?

Are there multiple organizations you're serving?

What are your goals for this experience?

How do you keep track of your own goals for personal growth within this context?

Week Three: Supervision and Effectiveness

Describe your interaction and/or collaboration with your supervisor at your placement site. Do you have the direction and support you need to be effective?

What do you think it would mean to be 'effective' in your placement?

Week Two: Where and Who

Describe what it is like going to your placement site, and the environment you encounter while you're there. Where is your placement site, what do you have to do to get there, are there any special things you have to do to get into the site itself, how does the environment you're influence your time at the site?

Describe the population you work with; how old are they, where are they from (if you know), what are some of the defining characteristics about the people you encounter at your site, both supervisors and students?

First Week Encounters

What was one thing that you found yourself unprepared for during your first week at your placement site?

What steps can you take in subsequent weeks to better manage yourself in your placement site experience?