journal writing is closest to natural
speech, and writing can flow without self-consciousness or inhibition. It
reveals thought processes and mental habits, it aids memory, and it provides a
context for healing and growth.
Journals are tools for growth through critical reflection, for it is not
enough to observe and record experiences, but "equally important is the ability
to make meaning out of what is expressed"
The journal
becomes another text on which to reflect, but it is a text written in the
learner's authentic voice, and this personal engagement adds a necessary
affective element to the learning process.
As I read these readings, I relate all the information to students in the classroom. Writing for reflection and to learn more about learning is often overlooked in classrooms.
This digest focuses on several types of journals, exploring their value in assisting adults through their learning journey and summarizing advice from the literature on effective ways to use journals.
"This paper briefly examines research on reflection in education and the use of new online technologies as tools to assist learners in their reflection experiences."from the International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning Jan10_article04