I think that a journal is a worthwhile investment. Keeping a teaching journal requires a little bit of extra time after class in the beginning, but in the end will save you alot of time and headache the second time you teach the course.
keeping a teaching journal can help instructional improvement. By writing down daily teaching experiences and challenges, I am able to assess what is working and what is not and that way changes can be made to reinforce what is working and reevaluate what did not work, and change the strategy. A good teacher learn from experiences that include personal teaching mistakes.
You are able to keep track of what worked for you with a particular element of your class, and also what did NOT work with an element of you lesson. The end game being, improvement of both your presentation, and the student's learning.
Hi Timothy,
I agree, and like you suggest, I defer to notes immediately things are fresh in my mind. I might even stop in the middle of class to jot something down (rare, but I've done it, else I'll forget!).
Barry Westling
Writing journal entries shortly after each class, while the experiences of that day's class are still fresh in the mind, could help me more accurately assess my strengths and weaknesses, thus helping me be more aware of my behavior and giving me the ability to make changes to it where needed to better my instructional skills.
Hi Jonathan,
I like all these uses, and they're practical and useful. The other thing about a journal is a teacher can customize it to fit their particular needs and/or notetaking style.
Barry Westling
It can help assist you when a problem that has occurred before returns. Or, when a good idea worked out in the past, you can reflect on it and use it again.
Hi Marvin,
These notes and others to follow will become invaluable to you in the weeks, months and yerars ahead. ne of the cool things is you can view your progress and growth that occurs as you become more experienced in your journey to becoming a seasoned educator.
Barry Westling
i've only been in the teaching profession about 3 weeks and i am still observing my training instructor, but everyday i have used a journal to jot down some pro's and con's to his approch both during lecture and lab, and my take of what the students reaction has been. just recently he saw what i was doing and asked if he could borrow it inorder to evaluate him self though the eyes of another. but i am starting to get a feel for what kind of instructor i aspire to be and how im going to reach my goals.
Hi Ashlee,
Great uses and sound like they benefit you in your instructional journeys. Changes for the future, some call a wish list, often are simply fututure realities that could be lost forever if not recorded somewhere. The journal is a handy place for that!
Barry Westling
I think journal's help organize thoughts. You can use them at first for free-handing ideas and concepts you would like to go over, then you can work off of that for the organization of the content. Also with a journal you can make side notes on which topics were presented well and what you would like to change in the future!
Hi John:
Very true - in fact, we can use these tools to evaluate and make improvements on both what works AND what doesn't.
Regards, Barry
Hi Jane,
At 42+ years in my profession, I'm amazed I still see new and innovative techniques used by my peers and applications I can use in my classroom. Truly, I think this is part of what keeps me going back to work year after year - there's alsways something new!
Barry Westling
I agree. When I first "heard" the idea of writing down what worked and what did not it really appealed to me. I am in the same situation, I know my subject matter after working in the field for 30+ years, but I do not have formal training as an educator. When I find something works well I am so pleased and I write it down so that I remember to use it again.
Kelli,
Hopefully these posts and other informatiuon from this class will foster ideas you can use to futher continuous improvement sentiments.
Barry Westling
Hi Kelli,
I think index cards are wonderful, I use them too (some are very old, trusted friends). I refer to them as you imply and it's a satisfactory alternative to some sort of electronic or traditional written journal or personal diary.
Barry Westling
Exactly. Some of my students favorite activites came from scribbled notes made from previous class journals(index cards). Continuous improvement is key to a good instructor.
I am an index card user. Each day of every course I teach has its own card with everything discussed, performed, and assigned that day. This information is used to keep me organized, but most importantly to assess what worked and what needs to be changed. I feel each class has their own strengths and learns one particular way better than another class. This helps me improve my teaching and customize the course to meet their needs.
Hi Billy,
When I look back, it reflects the passion and energy of a different time, but its still me, and hopefully its growth. There's a saying: "10 years experiece, or one year experience 10 years in a row"!
Barry Westling
Journaling is an important tool for growth. We look at our successes and our mistakes and try to learn from each. As a teacher, I must be willing to grow or I am no longer effective. Every day in class is a new adventure for me.
