Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 43 views

    Learning Journals: What Is A Learning Journal?

    Uploaded by

    Vishwa Mohan Kumar
    A learning journal is a collection of notes, observations, and thoughts built up over time during a period of study or fieldwork. Its purpose is to enhance learning through writing and reflecting on experiences. Journals can be structured in different ways depending on the subject. Reflective learning involves thinking critically before, during, and after an experience to develop a deeper understanding. Keeping a learning journal promotes reflective learning by focusing on personal responses and new ideas to improve understanding and skills over time.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Learning Journals: What Is A Learning Journal?

    Uploaded by

    Vishwa Mohan Kumar
    43 views4 pages
    A learning journal is a collection of notes, observations, and thoughts built up over time during a period of study or fieldwork. Its purpose is to enhance learning through writing and reflecting on experiences. Journals can be structured in different ways depending on the subject. Reflective learning involves thinking critically before, during, and after an experience to develop a deeper understanding. Keeping a learning journal promotes reflective learning by focusing on personal responses and new ideas to improve understanding and skills over time.

    Original Title

    learningjournals

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    A learning journal is a collection of notes, observations, and thoughts built up over time during a period of study or fieldwork. Its purpose is to enhance learning through writing and reflecting on experiences. Journals can be structured in different ways depending on the subject. Reflective learning involves thinking critically before, during, and after an experience to develop a deeper understanding. Keeping a learning journal promotes reflective learning by focusing on personal responses and new ideas to improve understanding and skills over time.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    43 views4 pages

    Learning Journals: What Is A Learning Journal?

    Uploaded by

    Vishwa Mohan Kumar
    A learning journal is a collection of notes, observations, and thoughts built up over time during a period of study or fieldwork. Its purpose is to enhance learning through writing and reflecting on experiences. Journals can be structured in different ways depending on the subject. Reflective learning involves thinking critically before, during, and after an experience to develop a deeper understanding. Keeping a learning journal promotes reflective learning by focusing on personal responses and new ideas to improve understanding and skills over time.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 4

    Contents

    Learning Journals
    What is a learning journal?
    What is a learning journal?
    >>1
    A learning journal is a collection of notes, observations,
    thoughts and other relevant materials built-up over a period of
    Structuring your learning
    time and usually accompanies a period of study, a placement
    experience or fieldwork. Its purpose is to enhance your learning journal >>1
    through the very process of writing and thinking about your
    learning experiences. Your learning journal is personal to you
    Why use a learning
    and will reflect your personality and experiences.
    journal? >>1
    Structuring your learning journal
    What is reflective
    A learning journal may be called several different things: a
    learning? >>2
    learning log, a fieldwork diary or personal development planner,
    for example. Different subject areas may ask you to focus on
    different aspects of your experiences and may also have a Diagram of the process
    different format. A journal could be a notebook, an electronic
    of reflective learning >>2
    document or sometimes can be recorded verbally on a tape. You
    will need to check which format is required with your module
    tutor. Benefits of developing
    your skills in reflective
    learning >>3

    Why use a learning journal: The content of your

    ƒ To provide a ‘live picture’ of your growing learning journal >>3


    understanding of a subject or experience
    ƒ To demonstrate how your learning is developing
    What should you write
    ƒ To keep a record of your thoughts and ideas
    throughout your experiences of learning about? >>3
    ƒ To help you identify your strengths, weaknesses
    and preferences in learning
    Sources of further

    Essentially, a learning journal helps you to be information >>4


    reflective about your learning, this means that your
    learning journal should not be a purely descriptive
    account of what you did etc but an opportunity to
    communicate your thinking process: how and why you
    did what you did, and what you now think about what
    you did.

    Study skills advice sheet – University of Worcester, revised August 2007.


    What is reflective learning?
    Reflective learning is a learned process that requires time and practice.
    It is also an active process: involving thinking through issues yourself, asking
    questions and seeking out relevant information to aid your understanding.
    Reflective learning works best when you think about what you are doing before,
    during and after your learning experience. Reflective learning is therefore not only
    about recognising something new (new learning), it is also about seeing reality in a
    new way.

    Reflection is an important skill to develop, and requires you to think about how you
    personally are relating to what is happening on your course, during your
    assignment, or in your placement. The following diagram illustrates the process of
    reflective learning.

    Process of reflective learning

    What do I think about this


    issue/ topic/ experience?

    ƒ Explore my understanding,
    perceptions and ideas
    ƒ Question my assumptions
    ƒ Identify anything confusing or
    difficult to understand
    ƒ What more do I need to know
    to help my understanding?

    Develop and refine Identify, locate and


    my ideas & beliefs interpret relevant
    information & resources

    How can I use this


    experience to improve my
    learning, thinking and
    working?
    e.g. What would I do
    differently next time?

    Study skills advice sheet – University of Worcester, revised August 2007.


    The benefits of developing your skills in reflective learning

    Reflective learners are more likely to develop a deeper understanding of their


    subject and to achieve higher grades as a result. Reflective learners tend to:

    ƒ Be motivated, know what they are trying to achieve and why


    ƒ Be pro-active in extending their understanding of new topics and subjects
    ƒ Use their existing knowledge to help them to develop their understanding
    of new ideas
    ƒ Understand new concepts by relating them to their previous experiences
    ƒ Understand that additional research and reading widely will improve their
    understanding
    ƒ Develop their learning and thinking by building on the critical evaluation
    of their previous learning experiences
    ƒ Be self-aware, able to identify, explain and address their own strengths
    and weaknesses

    Content of your learning journal

    A learning journal should focus on your own personal responses, reactions and
    reflections to new ideas or new ways of thinking about a subject that have been
    introduced to you through:

    ƒ Lectures, seminars and workshops


    ƒ Research and reading including any visual research: e.g. television, film
    etc
    ƒ Conversations and discussions with other students or tutors
    ƒ Significant experiences that have happened in the work place, on
    placements or field trips

    What should you write about?

    The most important thing is to make time for your writing – regularly set aside
    some time to think, and then write down your thoughts. Try to focus on using the
    journal to help you to communicate:

    ƒ What you think about issues raised on your course/ placement etc
    ƒ Any flashes of inspiration you have had
    ƒ What you understand so far
    ƒ What you find puzzling, difficult or contradictory
    ƒ How you can reach a better understanding of the above
    ƒ What do you need to know more about, and how can you go about
    finding out more?
    ƒ What resources have helped you to understand and/or been interesting
    to use?
    ƒ How do you feel about the way you have approached the issue/topic so
    far?
    ƒ What new knowledge, skills or understanding have you gained during the
    process of writing your learning journal?

    Study skills advice sheet – University of Worcester, revised August 2007.


    Further information
    Finally, writing a learning journal gives you the opportunity
    to consider the following issues regarding your long-term
    This Study Advice Sheet has been development:
    produced by Student Services at
    UW. ƒ Have you changed your opinions or values during the
    We support student learning across
    process/experience?
    the University through the ƒ How can you improve your learning, thinking and
    publication of materials such as working in the future?
    these. ƒ Have you identified the next step(s) for your further
    Other study advice sheets that you development?
    may find useful include:

    Essay writing Sources of further information


    Learning at university
    ƒ The following titles are available in the Peirson Library
    Making oral presentations to help you find out more about learning journals:
    Minimising stress
    Organising yourself Ghaye, T. & Lillyman, S., 1997. Learning journals and
    Plagiarism & referencing critical incidents: reflective practice for health care
    professional. Dinton: Quay.
    Reading efficiently
    Revision and exam skills Moon, Jennifer., 1999. Learning Journals: a handbook
    Study at a distance for academics, students and professional
    Taking notes development. London: Kogan Page.
    What does the question mean?
    More generic guidance on reflection and critical
    Working in groups
    thinking is available in the three titles by Stella
    Writing reports Cottrell (all available in the Peirson Library):
    All study advice sheets are available
    to view and download on the o Critical thinking skills
    following website: o Skills for success
    o Study skills handbook
    www.worcester.ac.uk/studyskills

    or you can follow the links from ƒ You can also search for ‘reflective learning’ in the
    your SOLE page. keyword search on the library catalogue for additional
    relevant titles.
    You may also find it useful to check
    out the ‘Moving On’ pack,
    accessible from the link on your ƒ Talk to your module tutor for further advice about
    SOLE page. any specific requirements for your course
    ‘Moving On’ is a study skills
    package specifically designed to ƒ There may be relevant guidance in your student
    help you prepare for Higher handbook, depending on your subject area.
    Education & to become a successful
    student. ƒ The Student Qualities Profile provides a framework
    Contact: [email protected] for you to record your self-evaluation, reflection,
    skills development, action planning, target setting
    and achievements through all your learning at
    Worcester.

    Study skills advice sheet – University of Worcester, revised August 2007.

    You might also like