What is a Learning Journal?

Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets.

~Leonardo Da Vinci

A learning journal is nothing more than a collection of notes, thoughts, drawings, sketches, observations and information which comes your way. It is kept in a collected space (such as a notebook) to enhance your learning, make connections and build upon prior knowledge. DaVinci kept beautiful learning journals!

Da Vinci created the most beautiful journals filled with pictures, texts, inventions and his everyday thoughts! What a great heritage he left for all of us.

The learning journal is a record of a personal learning journey which is precious and individualized. It will be created over a period of time with a purpose to enhance one’s study and learning experience. It can be connected to a field of study, a course, a topic or filled with generalities and interesting items which are personal to the creator. Most importantly, it is an individualized representation of knowledge and experiences.

I have a learning journal of everyday experiences and notes from books I am reading. I have repeatedly admonished others -students, family and friends -to maintain a learning journal. I keep several for many different reasons, and I love them. (Oh, let’s be honest. I simply have a love affair with journaling!) My learning journals are separated into three categories:

1. Educational learning journal – I started this notebook when I returned to school to earn my masters in education. I continued carrying it while starting my PhD. I continue to use this learning journal when I wish to record anything education related.
2. General learning journal – This notebook contains notes from books I read, quotes and other items which are not related to the process of education.
3. Gospel learning journal – My gospel journal is a resource of information and knowledge I have learned while studying the scriptures or while I am learning about the gospel. It contains insights and even stories which help me to understand gospel doctrines.

By Tracy Atkinson

Tracy Atkinson, mother of six, lives in the Midwest with her husband and spirited long-haired miniature dachshunds. She is a teacher, having taught elementary school to higher education, holding degrees in elementary education and a master’s in higher education. Her passion is researching, studying and investigating the attributes related to self-directed learners and learning styles. She speaks at conferences on learning styles and has published several titles, including MBTI Learning Styles: A Practical Approach, The Art of Learning Journals, Calais: The Annals of the Hidden, Lemosa: The Annals of the Hidden, Book Two, Rachel’s 8,   The Personal Pursuit of Perfection and Securing Your Tent. She is currently working on a non-fiction text exploring the attributes of self-directed learners: The Five Characteristics of Self-directed Learners. Check out her online courses at: Udemy.