Erin Martin

Professor Meyer

ED 243

24 April 2020

Riley Hospital for Children Lecture and Time with Mrs. Kristin Wikel Reflection Questions

1. What did you find surprising?

I truly enjoyed spending time listening to Mrs. Wikel discuss the educational
opportunities she helps give to children at Riley Hospital for Children. I learned so much from
her discussion. I was surprised by the partnership Riley has with the Children’s Museum. I think
it is such an amazing experience to bring in other organizations that can offer more educational
experiences beyond the teacher’s activities. I believe offering children the opportunity to engage
in robotics or dissecting a frog is valuable and meets their needs as learners. It empowers me that
Riley is helping children learn what they want or will enjoy learning, and it encourages me to
help make the best and enriching learning experience for my future students with learning needs.

2.  What did you like about the experience?

Something I liked about this experience is Mrs. Wikel’s “Connect to Purpose” story of
how she became involved in the field of special education. It was inspiring to listen to her story
of her dad’s adventure of immigrating to America and his experience with special education, not
receiving the accommodations he deserved as a non-English speaker. This causes me to
appreciate how much change has occurred in the field of special education and that children,
today, with exceptional learning needs, are receiving the differentiation, accommodations, and
modifications that help them receive an enriching education. This also inspires me to think of my
own “Connect to Purpose” story for deciding to be a part of the field of education, which
definitely involves my mom—a former educator; my love for helping people, especially
children; and my ability to connect to young children, which I discovered at a young age.

3.  Any big AHHHHs!!!

 Information I found interesting includes the amount of educators that work at Riley in the
different branches of the hospital and the volunteer opportunities in which an individual can
participate. One of the draws of attending Butler University’s College of Education for me was
its partnership with Riley Hospital for Children. Riley has been an important organization to my
family, treating my sister for leukemia and me for a displaced hip. Thus, when learning what
units the educators work in at the hospital, it inspired me in that I can work at Riley and impact
young children who are experiencing trauma in their young lives. I also became interested in the
volunteer opportunities that allows me to gain the experience of working in an education setting
in a hospital. They can help me determine if I prefer to simply volunteer or pursue becoming a
full-time educator in a medical environment.

3b.  Anything you did not like about the trip?   

There was nothing I did not like about the visit. The only thing better would have been
able to actually visit the hospital. I enjoyed learning about Mrs. Wikel’s experiences and how she
brings the field of education into a hospital setting—a location many individuals may not realize
include educational opportunities for children.

3c. Anything your professor could do differently?

I do not think my professor could have done anything differently based on the quarantine
circumstances. However, I believe future classes should continue to physically visit Riley
Hospital for Children to receive the great experience of seeing first-hand how patients’ education
is met in a hospital environment.

4.  Think we should go again?

I think ED 243 should listen to Mrs. Wikel again as it has been very informative and
inspirational to learn about a different type of education environment compared to a typical
classroom in a school. It also helps preservice teachers gain the knowledge that is used to decide
if they would like to work in an atypical education environment that has different events and
occurrences as those of a classroom in a school.
5.  Explain how it relates to this class in Ed. 243.  

This experience relates to ED 243 because Mrs. Wikel’s and her coworkers’ role at Riley
Hospital for Children relates to working with individuals with disabilities. ED 243 studies a
variety of disabilities, and by learning about a variety of aspects of these disabilities, educators,
including the teachers at Riley, know how to best help children to have an enriching learning
experience, regardless of the setting. Furthermore, Mrs. Wikel and her coworkers provide an
education that meets the learning needs and interests of students experiencing life-altering
events. Children who are in hospitals and are participating in Riley Hospital for Children’s
school program may receive accommodations and differentiation to help them learn while they
are away from their typical school setting and experiencing changes to their lifestyles.
Accommodations and differentiation are two topics studied in ED 243 and are required in the
course’s lesson planning assignments. Accommodations for specific disabilities are additionally
studied in ED 243, possibly disabilities students have at Riley Hospital for Children. Therefore,
Mrs. Wikel’s visit and the information she shared relates to the course ED 243. Mrs. Wikel’s
visit was truly educational, enjoyable, and inspiring. I look forward to volunteering at Riley in
the future to see its education program being conducted.