Learning diary

What is a learning diary?

The learning diary is an educational instrument for promoting the learning
process and the learning behaviour.
Therefore the regularity (a fluent process should be reconstructible) and the
personal style of the written records (similar to a normal diary where the author
holds a dialogue with himself or herself) play an important role.
How do I do this?
Basically you just write a new record on the subject of learning, progress of
knowledge (or the like) regularly. This is done over a longer period of time, so that
the individual parts become a coherent process of acquisition of knowledge.
Every new part of learning (seminars, presentations and discussions) shall also be
a new part in the learning diary.
The length of each part can vary (about 1 page per part). Furthermore sentences
should be formulated and general spelling and grammar rules should be followed.
Basic criteria for the serious examination with the subjects are structure of the
text, elaboration and contemplation of the own learning in general and learning
methods.
To fulfil these criteria it is useful to provide some central questions. Thus the text
can be structured and you can lay the focus on specific subjects.
Possible central questions may be:
- Which facts seem so important to me, that I want to write them down in my
diary?
- Which central concepts seem so important and useful, that I want to memorize
them?
- Are there any connections between what you have learned and the seminar
(procedure, style,
general conditions)?
- Which aspects of what I learned are interesting, useful, convincing, and which
are not?
- Which further questions do I have? Do I have new ideas and thoughts beyond
the subject?
- Which aspects of what I have learned can I use for current or future activities?
- Did I make new experiences or notice which can help me in the future?
- Which questions remain open? What seems vague or wrong?
What is the purpose of that?
The learning diary shall intensify the comprehension of a complex subject and,
through regularly post-processing, shall lead to a contemplation and connection
of the whole issue.
Moreover the awareness for the own learning process shall be promoted and the
interaction of that with the used learning methods shall be observed (Why do I
have the feeling that a certain form of learning helps me or why not?).
Besides writing a learning diary shall serve to try and personalize this specific
method of learning.

The textualisation of the own thoughts can help to generate and develop own
ideas. Aim is the mastering of the technique of the active and self-regulated
learning.