Hi there!
Today I would like to reflect upon the importance of using learning journals in the classroom. First of all, I consider it
relevant to define what a journal is. “Audience Dialogue,” which is a
consultancy, formed in 1999 by Dennis List states that “A reflective journal is
a steadily growing document that the learner writes to record the progress of
his/her learning.” Don’t you think it is highly significant for your students
to keep a record of their everyday experiences in the classroom? Don’t you
think it is beneficial for you, the teacher, to know how your students feel,
how they face their learning process? Well, all those things, among others, are
possible by keeping a journal. It is when we write that we realise how much we
have learned and what things need to be readjusted. Besides, when we write, we transmit
much more than words; we show who we are and what we think. We, and only we, are
the owners of what we write. Keeping a learning journal enables learners to be
honest with themselves and with others. What’s more, if teachers encourage
students to write down their thoughts using their own words, it will help them
clarify those ideas in their mind. Following Jennifer Moon’s ideas in “Assessment
– Learning Journals and Logs” (2010), “(learning journals) seem to be helpful
in personalising and deepening the quality of leaning (…)”. That is another thing
to bear in mind. Learners have the possibility of modifying the journal as they
like, giving it their own style. I believe that is quite stimulating since you
create the environment you need to write.
To finish,
I invite you to read a very nice answer to the question “Why we write journals?”:
“In writing a journal we take something from inside ourselves and we set it
out: it is a means of discovering who we are, that we exist, that we change and
grow.” (Wolf, 1989)
Let’s
promote reflection. Let’s allow students to express themselves. Let’s allow
ourselves to learn from them.
If you
are interested in reading the articles, click here:
Moon,
Jennifer - “Assessment – Learning Journals and Logs” (2010)
http://www.deakin.edu.au/itl/assets/resources/pd/tl-modules/teaching-approach/group-assignments/learning-journals.pdf
http://www.deakin.edu.au/itl/assets/resources/pd/tl-modules/teaching-approach/group-assignments/learning-journals.pdf
Excellent post, Sofi!! I completely share your view that by keeping a personal journal, we can clarify our ideas and keep a record of how we felt in that moment when we wrote a post. During these days I was updating my blog and reading my previous entries, I remembered many feelings and worries I had the first time i tried out a new technological tool.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, I loved the quote you chose: "Let’s allow ourselves to learn from them." To be honest, I have never thought about this idea but it is completly true. By writing a journal, you discover many ideas, thoughts, strenghthens, weaknesses you have that you haven´t reflect upon before!