What is a learning journal, and why is it a key part of your studies?

As you embark on your studies, you’ll become increasingly aware of the ceremonies and significant moments that shape our lives. From news reports and television programs to everyday conversations, these observations connect to your learning. The Learning Journal is a vital tool designed to help you forge these links, transforming your academic journey into a richer, more personal experience. It’s a space to connect what you’re learning with the world around you.

Think of the learning journal, sometimes called a learning diary, as an ongoing companion to your studies. It’s not something to be rushed at the last minute; rather, it’s a task you begin early and develop throughout each module. This journal provides a unique opportunity to chart your personal progress, reflect on your experiences, and deepen your understanding.

What Should Your Learning Journal Include?

To guide you, here are some key elements to incorporate into your Learning Journal:

• Setting the Stage: At the beginning of each module, take a moment to reflect:
  • What are your initial expectations?
  • What specific knowledge or skills do you hope to gain?
  • Are there any particular challenges or fears you anticipate?
• Broadening Your Horizons: While your course provides essential materials, actively seek out other sources to enrich your understanding. This could include:
  • Interviews on radio or television.
  • Articles from newspapers or academic journals.
  • Significant conversations you’ve had.
  • Relevant books, television programs, or insightful websites (e.g., Wikipedia, Google, NLA Trove). Even AI tools like ChatGPT can offer starting points for exploration.
  • Record how you encountered these resources and, most importantly, the key insights you gained from them. The goal isn’t exhaustive study of these extra sources, but rather to become familiar with the broader literature and discussions surrounding your subject. This helps connect your studies to the vast tapestry of human life and history.
• Engaging with Course Material: Reflect on your experience with specific course components:
  • Did you encounter any difficulties with search questions, assessments, or reports?
  • Did you find these exercises valuable for your learning?
• Charting Your Journey: Describe your overall experience within the module.
  • Were there moments of frustration or, conversely, moments of revelation and understanding?
  • What aspects of the module did you find most rewarding? Were there any disappointments?
• Looking Back: Revisit your initial expectations. Have they been met, exceeded, or changed?
• Feedback: What insights or suggestions can you offer the college regarding this module?

Recommended Reading (Examples):

To further explore the themes relevant to your studies, consider these insightful books:

• Campbell, Joseph, The Hero With a Thousand Faces, Princeton University Press, Princeton, 1949. (Campbell’s work offers profound insights into ceremony and its societal importance.)
  
• Mahdi, Louise Carus and Meade, Michael, Crossroads: The Quest for Contemporary Rites of Passage, Open Court Publishing, Illinois, 1996. (While excerpts may be provided, exploring other sections or related works by Mahdi can be beneficial.)
  
• Batten, Juliet, Celebrating the Southern Seasons, Tandem Press, Birkenhead, New Zealand, 1995.
  
• Mead, Margaret, Coming of Age in Samoa, William Morrow, New York, 1961.
  
• Grimes, Ronald L., Deeply into the Bone, Re-inventing Rites of Passage, University of California Press, Berkeley, 2000.

Essentially, the Learning Journal is your personal space to document your discoveries, reflect on your growth, and actively connect your academic pursuits with the richness of real-life experiences. It’s an excellent educational tool that empowers you to take ownership of your learning journey.