Learning+Journal

= Welcome to the Independent Study Learning Journals =

Students enrolled in Independent Study will complete a Learning Journal entry on a regular basis. The Learning Journal should be kept up to date and available for review at any time.

What is a Learning Journal?
A learning journal is a collection of notes, observations, thoughts and other relevant materials built-up over a period of time and usually accompanies a period of study, a placement experience or fieldwork. Its purpose is to enhance your learning through the very process of writing and thinking about your learning experiences. Your learning journal is personal to you and will reflect your personality and experiences. This learning journal will be kept electronically for each of the students listed in the navigation pane.

Why Use a Learning Journal?
Essentially, a learning journal helps you to be 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.
 * To provide a "live picture" of your growing understanding of a subject or experience.
 * To demonstrate how your learning is developing.
 * To keep a record of your thoughts and ides throughout your experiences of learning.
 * To help you identify strengths, weaknesses and preferences in learning.

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 during your independent study. The following diagram illustrates the process of reflective learning.



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:
 * Be motivated, know what they are trying to achieve and why
 * Be pro-active in extending their understanding of new topics and subjects
 * Use their existing knowledge to help them to develop their understanding of new ideas
 * Understand new concepts by relating them to their previous experiences.
 * Understand that additional research and reading widely will improve their understanding
 * Develop their learning and thinking by building on the critical evaluation of their previous learning experiences
 * 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:
 * Lectures, seminars and workshops
 * Research and reading including any visual research: e.g. television, film etc
 * Conversations and discussions with other students or tutors
 * 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 (every Friday class) to think, and then write down your thoughts. Try to focus on using the journal to help you to communicate:
 * What you think about issues raised in your independent study.
 * Any flashes of inspiration you have had
 * What you understand so far
 * What you find puzzling, difficult or contradictory
 * How you can reach a better understanding of the above
 * What do you need to know more about, and how can you go about finding out more?
 * What resources have helped you to understand and/or been interesting to use?
 * How do you feel about the way you have approached the issue/topic so far?
 * What new knowledge, skills or understanding have you gained during the process of writing your learning journal?

Finally, writing a learning journal gives you the opportunity to consider the following issues regarding your long-term development:
 * Have you changed your opinions or values during the process/experience?
 * How can you improve your learning, thinking and working in the future?
 * Have you identified the next step(s) for your further development?