Rationale:
Journal writing has been used for many years in classrooms. Instructors use journaling as a way for students to reflect upon their thinking and connect information that they know with what they are learning. Journal writing is also an excellent form of self-expression. Journaling is a way students can process their thoughts, feelings, opinions, and emotions on paper. Journals offer students a place where they can take notes, record information that they want to think about, self-assess their progress and identify “next steps” in their academic and personal growth. This is also a space where shy students can ask questions of the teacher.
Goal:
Through journaling, students will be able to highlight thoughts and perceptions about course content. Students will express in writing their understanding of, reflections on, response to, or analysis of an event, experience, or concept.
Objectives:
Journals may be incorporated into instruction in a variety of ways:
Preview activity
- Ask students to write about what they already know about the topic of today’s lesson.
- Ask students if they already have an opinion about the topic.
- Ask students to reflect upon yesterday’s homework assignment: what was most helpful, what was most challenging and what additional questions were generated?
Summarize opinions before and after instruction
- Ask students to become self-aware. What preconceived ideas do they have before they begin the lesson? Have their ideas changed as a result of their learning experience?
Relevant questions
- Ask students to self-advocate. What questions do they have about the topic before learning begins? At the end of the lesson, what further information do they need to feel fully informed and able to decide? Do they know where to go to continue their investigations?
Recording interviews
- The journal may become a part of the interview process. It may be used to develop and record relevant interview questions and document responses.
- Incorporate an opportunity for students to reflect on the results of the interview. This includes noting the variety in responses and their feelings about the responses. What did they learn and how do they value the reflections of others?
Assessment
- Encourage self-assessment by providing a channel of inner communication connecting self-awareness to the increase of knowledge and application of course content.
- As students practice and apply self-assessment within their journals, they are developing a critically important life-long skill.
Lesson Sequence:
Journaling increases student engagement, provides a place for students to document their learning journey, and encourages further investigation.
- Begin the first lesson with an introduction of the concept of journaling; the rationale, goals, objectives, and purpose.
- Ask students what experience they have had with journals. How is this class journal exercise similar and different from the journaling that they have experienced?
- Provide students with a notebook and give them time to personalize it with signs, symbols, pictures and words that represent their thoughts and feelings.
- Begin the first class with a journal exercise that will encourage students to use their journal skills.
- Create opportunities in each lesson to use the journal in some way. This may include incorporating it into homework assignments, assessment activities, and wrap-up activities for each lesson reflecting on their learning experiences.
- Throughout the course, take time to look at each student’s journal. This is not meant to be a grading opportunity, but rather a way for you to look for academic and personal growth in the use of the journal and the quality of the self-reflective entries.
Outcomes:
Journaling encourages students to modify their ideas, thoughts and beliefs through critical reflection. They become able to consciously make and implement plans that bring about a more sophisticated and improved way of approaching their world.
You may find it helpful to pose questions to jump start the journaling process:
- What were the three main things that I learned from this lesson?
- What did I previously think was true, but now question?
- What questions do I still have?
- What was new or surprising to me?
- How have I changed in my mind as a result of this lesson?
- One thing that I learned in this lesson that I may be able to use in the future is…
- I am still unsure about ...
- Ideas for action, based on this lesson ...
Assessment:
While the assessment of the journaling activities is on-going throughout the course, a final journal activity is suggested to assist students in the areas of self-awareness, self-assessment and self reflection:
- Ask students to review all of the journal entries that they have written throughout the course.
- Have students identify their growth in the following categories:
a. Academic learning: In what ways do my journal entries demonstrate academic growth? What are the significant learnings that I have made as a result of my participation in this course?
b. Self-awareness: Have my opinions about my personal finances changed? In what ways?
c. Self- Reflection: What are my next steps in becoming financially responsible? What am I looking forward to achieving?