A teaching journal is a super idea. Keeping a journal provides a history of teaching events. Reviewning the journal provides a road map for improving teaching strategies.
I really haven't created one since I've been teaching. I just prepare your typical "To Do" lists each day.
However, I do see the value of it clearly as a means to fall back on good teaching experiences and also to learn how to improve from weak experiences. Once I get one started, I would feel the need to share it with my students to demonstrate how important it is to keep one "on-the-job" journal to remember critical duties and responsibilities especially in meeting due dates. When I model career skills for my students, this journal should be one to use as an example.
Thank you for your posing question and the motivation to start my teaching journal.
Hi Sarah:
Right! To paraphrase, it allows us the chance to make improvements in both our strengths and weaknesses.
Regards, Barry
Hi Jill:
Exactly - use of this kind of tool allows the instructor a chance to continually make improvements on what works, and what doesn't.
Regards, Barry
As I am a new instructor, I am finding these online courses immensely helpful. After completeing ED105 I realize the importance of compiling my scattered notes into a journal providing a more organized and complete future reference tool. I reviewed the buzz words and short notations I've made on some of the sections we've covered since the term began a few months ago. I immediately realized how quickly the memory can fade. The few notations I'd made were mainly on improvement issues which could've used a tad more detail. Also I hadn't given myself any future reference about what made the instruction go smoothly. Keeping a teaching journal current and concise will avoid "re-inventing the wheel" so time can be spent more constructively.
A teaching journal is a useful idea because with the stress of running a course and being concerned with doing the best for your students you won't remember everything that happened in the class after an hour of it ending. If you write what went well and also what you felt you could have done better, you can use it as a guide to improve next time. You can then keep track of areas you are always having issues. You can then see if maybe fellow instructors have tips on how you can improve. We all want to improve and sometimes seeing it in black and white is very helpful.
This will allow me to go back to previous classes to see if I need to make any changes to my future classes to see what worked and what didn't work.
I like your comment about avoiding the same mistakes and planning for future classes. Sometimes I will write myself a note on a post-it, or scribble something down that I want to remember for future quarters/classes. Often the notes get lost, or I am unable to decipher my handwriting. I like the idea of organizing my thoughts in a notebook and reviewing them before teaching the same course again.
Hi Jessica:
Another consideration might be that using a journal can help you identify what works and what doesn't. We can then consider what didn't work and why wasn't effective.
Regards, Barry
I strongly believe in using a teaching journal because it allows me to focus on what are the key points I want to emphasis for the day, week, and particular lesson. I am also able to stay organized and make sure I don't skip any important information.
Keeping a journal can help you become aware of what is working and what is not working and help you avoid repeating the same mistakes over and over. It is a good tool for planning for the future.
I had not considered keeping a physical journal until hearing it in the course. I mentally keep track of what works and what does not, but I am finding that the more I teach, the less accurately I remember many items or situations. Keeping a written journal would be a great way to document things accurately. My fear is that I would not look back upon the journal to reference in the future. How do you become intentional about reading your journal? And doing so before you need to do so?
This is a great idea. I have recently started as a full time instructor and find that this job is not only based on your knowledge, but the ability to relay the information to your class. This can be very helpful in maintaining organization and using your own personal classroom experiences as guidance.
Hi Simon:
Exactly! And by making changes to the activities that didn't work can make for better successful outcomes the next time through.
Regards, Barry
Hi Kathleen:
Like you mention, a journal can assist the instructor with lesson planning by considering what works from teaching session to teaching session.
Regards, Barry
Keeping a teaching journal allows me to reflect and evaluate on past practices. Planning can then include improvements based on these bits of reflection.
I've been teaching for over 8 years never thought about keeping a journal, but I would always reflect after each session what I could do to improve.
I love teaching journals. While no two classes are ever the same, keeping a teaching journal and reflecting in it immediately after class time, you, as an instructor, are able to really identify the strengths and weaknesses of a class meeting. You can then delve deeper into analyzing what made them strengths and weaknesses so as to know if and how to adjust for future course offerings, but even more importantly for how to adjust information for the next class time to clarify and confusion or struggle areas to help students succeed with the course content.
I like the idea of using a teaching journal to review and reflect on what happened during a particular class. It can help you to see what worked well and what areas you may need to tweak for the next class. It can also summarize the daily information and keep you on track with your course objectives and timelines.
Hi Jeremy:
You bring up a good point. The use of journals can help us prepare for the types of quesitons that come up with a topic.
We can take those expected questions and incorporate them into the presentation as a critical thinking scenario for the student to consider.
Regards, Barry
