Teaching reflection in service-learning: disciplinary differences in conception and practice

Abstract

ABSTRACTFaculty from diverse disciplines are involved in teaching service-learning where reflection is an essential component. This qualitative study explores disciplinary differences in understanding reflection and use of reflective pedagogy. We interviewed faculty (N = 24) from 18 departments to examine differences in how they conceive and practice reflective pedagogy in service-learning courses. We found that disciplinary differences are a factor in how faculty conceive and practice reflection. Faculty from health and social care disciplines demonstrated an advantage compared to colleagues from other fields. Further, we found that how faculty conceive reflection is a factor in reflective practice. Conceptualizations of reflection, which are more student-referent or learner-focused, correlate with the more intense and effective practice of reflective pedagogy.KEYWORDS: Reflectiondisciplinary differencesservice-learninghealth & social carebusiness & humanitiesapplied sciences & engineering AcknowledgmentsWe would like to thank Sarah Chung and Eugene Cheung for their help with the interviews and data collection.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Notes1. We refer readers to Camus et al. (Citation2021) for details about the research process and findings of our earlier study.Additional informationFundingThe work was supported by the Service-Learning and Leadership Office of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong University Grants Committee [Grant PolyU4/T&L/16–19].Notes on contributorsRina Marie CamusRina Marie Camus was Senior Service-Learning Officer at the Service-Learning & Leadership Office of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She is currently Senior Service-Learning Lead at the Centre for Innovative Service-Learning of Hong Kong Baptist University.Grace NgaiGrace Ngai is the head of the Service-Learning & Leadership Office and Associate Professor in the Department of Computing of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.Kam Por KwanKam Por Kwan is a Professorial Project Fellow at the Service-Learning & Leadership Office of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.Ka Hing LauKa Hing Lau was Project Associate at the Service-Learning & Leadership Office of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He is currently Assistant Manager at the Centre for Innovative Service-Learning and the General Education Office of Hong Kong Baptist University.Stephen ChanStephen Chan was founding head and currently consultant at the Service-Learning & Leadership Office of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.