Learning Journals have a variety of uses and certainly do not need to be confined by these parameters.
In 1994, King and Kitchener developed the Reflective Judgment Model to examine how individuals arrive at conclusions and approach problems. Their model has seven different stages to describe the process.
Learning through Writing
How does learning occur through writing? What are some of the benefits?
External learning can be seen while internal learning occurs beneath the surface - inside the individual.
The Four Levels of Competence is an easy to use methodology to guide learners through learning stages to master a topic. Moving through:
Unconscious Incompetence
Conscious Incompetence
Unconscious Competence
Conscious Competence
Convergent and divergent thinking are indicative of logic versus creative thought processes.
Learning methodologies can be found on a spectrum from the more teacher-centered approaches to the more learner-centered approaches. This is demonstrated by noting how lectures are teacher-centered while experiential learning is learner-centered.
For all of the positive aspects to experiential learning and those who support this method of learning, there are also noted criticisms or weaknesses to this approach.
Starting a learning journal can be daunting for many people, especially for individuals who are not avid writers.
Within the original research of the Index of Learning Styles, Felder and Silverman provided practical application, […]