The Learning Journal

The OU’s STiP programme of study encourages a student (me) to keep a learning journal (“LJ”). What the heck is that?! Of course, I know what a journal is, but why keep a learning journal?

To answer that question, I had to reflect a little. Our Western education system (the one I grew up in is based upon the British education system) does not really encourage keeping a learning journal. The idea is a pretty new one to me. Well, as it turns out, ST is highly personal. I’ll get more into the personal bits later on in subsequent posts, but for now, it suffices to say that ST is based upon the perspective of the practitioner (the person ‘carrying out’ or ‘facilitating’) ST.

The purposes of the LJ are numerous, but keeping it simple, it assists in reflective learning. ST also requires different views/perspectives from people involved, reflection on situations/ideas and importantly, the emotions and feelings of those involved. An LJ marks observations, feelings, thoughts, behaviours etc that go along with a problem/mess/complexity (things ST deal with) and gives opportunities (plural because you can revisit as many times as you like) for reflection and learning.

Clearly, this is an idea (along with ST and CT  [critical thinking]) that should be introduced in earlier education levels… secondary schools perhaps.

I have therefore created two LJs. One online (this one) and another in my PC that I use to flesh out my thoughts and learning. Perhaps that is the messier one.

For newcomers to ST, and who read this blog/journal, I will point out that there are lots of acronyms, and therefore my first tip is to make note of these as I will be using them frequently. Mainly to avoid too much typing but also because they are familiar to those involved in STiP.