Instructions to Create Your Engagement Reflection Journal

MODULE 1

Personal Purpose Statement

video iconYour engagement reflection journal assignment requires you to participate in five engagement activities related to your personal and academic goals.

NOTE:  It is important to complete the engagement activities throughout the semester in order to have enough time to draft, edit, and upload your final journal by the Module 8 due date. Most modules include recommended engagements that relate to the topic for that module.


Journal Requirements - Please read carefully!

Your Engagement Reflection Journal must include five entries. Each journal entry must include a multi-sentence response in which you

  • describe how the engagement activity helped you to learn something related to your personal/academic goals—or just added to your general knowledge about HCC,
  • explain how the engagement activity connected you to a helpful resource, helped you learn something about yourself, or made you aware of new opportunities, and
  • assess this experience regarding your participation. Would you participate in it again, even if not for credit? Why or why not?
  • Journal entries must not be general descriptions of vague events, but detailed paragraphs that are evidence of thoughtful reflection about the engagement events. 


Valid Engagement Activities

Almost any learning activity beyond the course curriculum can qualify, but consult with your instructor if your activity is different from those in the suggested list below.  Almost all engagement activities can be completed online and do not require a campus visit. 

  • Make an office appointment or have an email conversation with one of your professors to discuss a course concept.
  • Form and participate in a study group with a classmate(s). (This can be done via Canvas Groups or Canvas Chat.)
  • Interact with a guest speaker who visits your classroom (for a campus-based course)
  • Visit one of the campus Career Centers (Links to an external site.) or review the web site. You can speak with a career center officer about your interests, or explore the Career Center website and reflect upon how the resources provided on the site are of value to you while pursuing your education.
  • Schedule an appointment at your campus Academic Success Center (Links to an external site.) to receive tutoring, or use the online Smarthinking tutoring service to receive tutoring and feedback. (NOTE: You will use Smarthinking in Module 8. This can be used as an engagement.)
  • Meet an Academic Advisor via in person, email, or phone for education plan guidance (You will do this as part of this course!)
  • Meet with a campus librarian to learn more about researching careers, or search through the library resources (Links to an external site.) and reflect on how these resources can be of value to you as your complete your education. 
  • Attend a Student Government Association meeting or event on campus
  • Attend a cultural event on campus (art show, play, musical performance, etc.)
  • Interview (by phone, email, or in person) someone working in a career field to which you aspire
  • Join and participate in a student club on your home campus
  • Perform a community service
  • Perform a local campus service


Criteria for Points

Your final engagement journal will be evaluated using the Engagement Reflection Journal Rubric Download Engagement Reflection Journal Rubric.