S3/MS3 Biweekly Journal

Reflection is an essential part of conducting research. This summer we are asking you to write and submit a journal entry in which you will reflect on your experiences in the S3rogram. The following questions are intended to give a sense of your perspective and prior experiences on conducting research and completing creative projects. For this first jouralentry, we ask that you please respond to all of the following prompts below. S3/MS3 Biweekly Journals should be submitted on the Friday of even-numbered weeks during the summer. The journals are only reviewed by Dr. Callahan, OURS faculty Fellow, and Dr. Mendoza.

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Scholar Information

Do you have a second mentor? *

Journal Update


Project Update: Please respond to all of the following prompts.   

  • Have you made progress toward your project goal or question in the last fortnight?  
    • If so, what allowed you to make progress?  
    • What kind of activities did you engage in that helped you make progress?  
  • Problems and obstacles are a normal part of projects. Did you encounter any?  
    • If so, what made them problems?  
    • How did you go about solving them?  
    • What would have helped you overcome them?  
  • What might you have done differently if you had known two weeks ago what you know now?  

Big Picture: The following prompts ask you to step back and reflect on your project as a whole (please choose ONE to respond to):

  • Has your project goal or question changed? If so, why, and what has it changed to?  
  • Have you found or learned anything unexpected? Explain.  
  • Has anything you've learned shifted the focus or aims of your project? How?  
  • How have you chosen the approach or methods that you are using for your project? 

Connections to Self and Interests: The following prompts ask you to reflect on how your S3 experiences connect to your interests and to your perspective on learning through research or creative projects.  (Please choose ONE to respond to):

  • What are the connections between your project activities and your other studies?  
  • Can you see ways in which you could apply what you have learned to other activities, within or outside of your life at GVSU? How?  
  • What have you learned about your project topic, discipline, or research more generally?  
  • What have you learned about yourself from doing this project?  
  • Has your view of research changed because of your S3 experiences? Explain how. 

Human Verification *



Page last modified May 13, 2024