After my lecture demos I always make notes on a sheet of paper and attach it to my lesson plans. In these notes I will include what went really well and was effective plus I include what did not work out. I will also reflect on how to improve the things that did not work out in the lecture demo. I am a pastry instructor, so I will evaluate if some items need to be baked off before class so I can have a "magic of tv" product already made, to help speed along the demo. I never want to make short-cuts that will effect learning but only help retention of information. If students had trouble comprehending a subject I will spend more time on it or find better ways to teach the material. These notes will benefit the next time I teach the class so I have resources to guide me in being a more effective instructor and make improvements which will benefit the students and my delivery.
Brenda,
One of the cool things about regular jornalizing (as you probably realize) is the reflection that can occur reviewing notations made over past years. The only way this can happen is to begin and continue woith the effort.
Barry Westling
I've been keeping a running journal of notes for 7 years now, it really helps me see what is working and also how to improve for future classes.
Davina,
I find my mind is extremely active during teaching sessions. Of course most of this is focused on the current lesson and activities. But I am am constantly reminded of or observe needs, improvements, alternative delivery methods, classroom observations, student needs, and dozens of other such concerns or interests. For me, it is therfore vital that I document these thoughts in a teaching journal. Although it seems at the time I would not forget some of the more important thoughts, but often these are just fleeting thoughts and unless I document them, they may be gone forever.
Barry Westling
Using a teaching journal can help to improve the way your teach. A journal can help to keep track of what methods work and what methods don't work. It's especially important if you are teaching more than one course. It can help organization and planning. It can give you a guide of what you've tried and what activities have been most effective. This way, if you encounter a class that challenges you, you can refer back to your journal to see what has worked in the past. A journal can become your book of best practices.
Marie,
These are great reasons that justify the relative little time spent on an activity that can potentially offer many benefits, most farther down the road, more than immediate results. In the moment it seems we would remeber, but as days pass, our ability to recall begins to fade. So prompt notations work better than postponing or procrastinating.
Barry Westling
Using a teaching journal allows me to know what worked well and what could be done better. It is a place of reflection.
I make notes after each lecture as to how it went. Do I need more or less time in a certain area? What worked to keep the students engaged. Was there an area that needs more information - since many questions came up? This allows for me to improve the course over time.
Irma,
Great. Any tool that helps prepare for better classes, improved instruction, and overall student learning outcomes is wortyhwhile. Jouirnalizing takes so little time but is so beneficial when reflecting weeks, month or years later.
Barry Westling
I enjoy using a teaching journal because it is a record of teaching techniques that went well and others that are opportunities for improvement. I refer to this journal when planning lectures and class activities.
Michele,
Great use of technology to archive and provide for easy reference for later reflection and self introspection.
Barry Westling
I like the idea of journaling digitally. It seems like I've started an informal debriefing of my class after each lecture on note pads and then when time runs short it gets left by the wayside. The use of a computer to tag the notes onto the lecture material would be a great way to keep it close to the material when I use it the next time
Lisa,
Many instructors use a teaching journal to monitor progress, document events, record observations, or make notations for reference at a later date. This can reflect improvement or growth over time.
Barry Westling
I think it would be a good Idea for a teaching journal , that way you can see what works and what does not work
Sylvia,
It's always interesting to be able to go back and reflect on what was important, and to examine the growth and improvements made over time.
Barry Westling
keeping documentation of progress and declines help you determaine the area of need
Aldorey,
I once saved all my notes, cards, and letters I wrote or received from my girlfriend. After three years, looking back at thiese notes, I learned a lot about myself, my maturity and growth, and how I changed over that period. I think the same thing happens with a teaching journal, and the observation and notations about classroom activity.
Barry Westling
I totally agree with you. Proper documentation makes us an effective instructor! Learning is a continuous process. We learned everyday with our students too!
Wesley,
Right. I have have looked past on notations from years ago and observed how my thinking has matured, improvements made, and reflected on how much growth has occurred. Only review over time can produce this.
Barry Westling
A journal can help an instructor relfect on teaching experiences for the class they are teaching. No instructor is perfect and there is always for improvement. Journals can help instrucotrs see how class concepts can be taught differently for a class in the future.
Aimi,
Right! The teaching journal can serve as a great repository of stored information, some useful for the next class, some useful to reflect on in months (or yesrs) ahead, to see growth and improvement.
Barry Westling
