Learning Journals have a variety of uses and certainly do not need to be confined by these parameters. It is important to consistently reevaluate the purposes and note ways in which a learning journal can be helpful for you, for your students, for your team and for others. This is certainly not a comprehensive list.
Facilitate Learning
It would be silly to not look at the main focus of learning journals. To facility learning. This type of use for learning journals can be completed in a variety of ways. It can be structured or unstructured. It can be graded or not graded. It can be used for a formative practice or a summative practice. There are limitless ways in which the learning journal will facilitate, increase and develop learning. This type of journal is also essential when looking at or using Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle.
Often this type of a journal is seen in therapy – but certainly not limited to therapeutic situations. Experiential journals can also be seen in research, field work, labs, on-the-job training and other professional/personal activities. This type of a journal permits an individual to record events and then to go back to look them over again. Maybe the writer will approach the experiential journal from a variety of perspectives. Looking first as the facts and then approaching the emotional side. Of course, there is also the idea of simply getting all of the information down on paper with no guidelines or expectations.
Active Learning
The learning journal can take a passive learning opportunity and move it to an active learning experience. There are many passive learning situations that are molded into more interactive experiences through the use of a learning journal. Think for a moment on the college lecture. A student can make this more interactive by taking notes, writing them in a learning journal, revisiting the notes and then making personal connections. It is also an opportunity to record any strong emotions associated with the learning experience or information. By using the learning journal, the learning experience is made a personal experience.
Develop Problem-Solving Skills
Individuals can be prompted to use learning journals to develop their problem-solving skills and to find solutions to problems. Educators can aid in this aspect by introducing students to these skills, teaching them the five why approach and looking at deep diving by using the common questioning technique of asking who, what, where, when, why and how.
Assess and Increase Deeper Learning
These same questions in the prior point can be used to increase deeper learning as students enumerate the answers through each of these question words. The instructor can also assess understanding.
Look at Internal Learning
Two types of learning exist: External Learning and Internal Learning. Internal learning is more difficult to understand and assess for both the instructor and the learner. However, through the use of the learning journal insights to internal learning can be gained, understood and used in productive manners.
Supports Learning
Learning Journals can not only examine the content of learning but the role of learning. It supports, encourages and engages the learner. The writer has the opportunity to record information, evaluate their thoughts on the new content and make connections to old information and experiences while finding ways to apply the information in creative ways.
Enhances the Reflective Practice
Learning journals will aid in the reflective practice by slowing down the thinking processes. This chance to slow thinking down encourages learners to play with information, manipulate it, reflect upon it and truly interact with the new information in ways that would not have occurred otherwise.
Writing and recording the learning experience will slow down the learning process. This also means that the learner is forced to slow down. More time for reflection and contemplation is permitted and even encouraged. There may even be opportunities for silence.
Develops Metacognition
What is metacognition? It is simply the awareness of one’s thinking processes. Through the use of learning journals, individuals can better understand their thought processes. This in turn aids in the understanding of the best methods for learning to occur. This also provides insights into how others learn, different learning approaches and preferences to learning. Students can also develop their under-developed or less used learning characteristics.
Improves Writing Skills
Of course, this is probably the most understood and also the most commonly cited use of learning journals.
Develop Communication Between Instructor and Student
Learning journals can be used as a communication tool between an instructor and student. Students write their entries. As educators read the entries, they respond to the student. Through this methodology, students gain better understanding and instructors are able to quickly assess any gaps in knowledge while providing guidance on application, tips to integrate knowledge, point out connections with old knowledge and of course, encouragement.
Develops and Improves Critical Thinking Skills
Think of Bloom’s Taxonomy. This isn’t the only guide or theory of critical thinking skills, but it is well-known. It enhances reflection, facilitating critical thought, expressing feelings, and writing focused arguments. This isn’t the only method to develop critical thinking skills, but it is an essential component. Recall that reflection is the vital ingredient to deeper learning.
Guides Behavioral Changes
Writers can notice patterns as they write. This leads to opportunities for behavioral changes.
Develop Self-Expression and Gain a Voice
While the student develops ownership for the learning, they also gain a voice. This learner-centered approach demands that the individual makes a statement and show their preference. They will gain a voice as they take control which leads to more self-expression.
Improve Self-Esteem, Empowerment, Personal Development, Professional Development
While using a learning journal, the student explores their learning. They will begin to understand themselves in a deeper sense. They will explore their learning, their approaches to learning and their personal experiences as related to the information.
Expand Creative Pursuits
There is a correlation between creativity and learning journals. Do you want a supreme example of this point? Look at DaVinci’s learning journals. Not only can learning journals develop the creative process, but it encourages connections between information that may have been lost otherwise.
Increases Group Communication
Learning journals can be promoted and utilized in group projects. Group members should be encouraged to share their learning journal entries to facilitate communication and understanding between group members. For this usage, a digital option is the best option for group members to easily access the writings simultaneously. Think of this use as a dialogue journal – a conversation between individuals.
Planning, Projects, Papers, Research Notes
These are all familiar ways to use a learning journal. Every student has used a learning journal in these ways. However, not all students recognize the title of learning journal. The learning journal may be structured or unstructured when it comes to planning, projects, papers and research notes.
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