LEARNING
LOGS/DIARIES
Learning
Logs/Diaries enable students to:
1.
Express
what they are understanding
2.
Identify
points they are unsure about
3.
Become
aware of their own learning style strengths and weaknesses
4.
Evaluate
their performance
5.
Provide
the opportunity for personal reflection
6.
Offer
a starting point to undertake future actions to improve learning
Learning
Logs/Diaries create greater learner involvement in the learning process.
Learning Logs/Diaries enable teachers to:
1.
Identify
student weaknesses
2.
Identify
how well a teaching methodology worked When to use Learning Logs/Diaries
At
the end of each class students might:
1.
Respond
to a set of questions
2.
Freewrite
about key words relating to the topic
3.
Explain
how they perform an operation
4.
State
the important points from a class discussion
5.
Describe
areas of confusion
At the end of each week students might:
1.
React
to class presentations or discussions
2.
Relate
class activities to personal experience
After
some significant event students might:
1.
Reflect
on how it affected them
2.
Write
down how they might approach it the next time
The
learning log/diary should not merely be a record of what the student did. It
should focus on the learning. It is not a personal diary or a place to keep
course notes. Students can gain advantage by revisiting their Learning Log/Diary
regularly. What form should the Learning Log/Diary take?
1.
A
loose leaf folder into which sheets could be inserted
2.
Structured
worksheet consisting of leading questions such as:
What
was the activity?
What
did you learn from it?
What
did you like/dislike?
How
did you perform in the activity?
Will
you change anything the next time?
Freewrite
about the following key words
1.
Informal
review of activity/event describing both the process and how they
felt?
2.
How
should it be monitored?
3.
If
subject based, it can be collected at regular intervals (weekly, to begin with,
fortnightly as its use becomes effective.
4.
If
course based, it can be collected less regularly.
Non
critical assistance should be offered where necessary Who can use Learning
Logs/Diaries?
1.
Any
subject teacher
2.
Any
course co-ordinator
3.
Any
teacher anchoring a task for Leaving
Certificate Applied