Learning Logs

What is it?

A learning log is:

• An educational tool which is designed to enhance the learning experience while facilitating exchanges between students and teachers

• A sustained reflection on a learning experience and can be used to assess student learning advancement through the process.

• An assessment applied before, during, and after a course of study.

What is the purpose?

The teacher sets the structure and purpose using a number of different approaches:

• To develop an awareness of learning objectives and processes.

• To develop the ability to reflect on learning activities.

• To encourage teachers to inform students of weekly learning objectives.

What is the function?

Learning Logs are an informal assessment of what has been taught and what has been learned. They inform the teacher:

• If a connection was made between lessons and experiences • What the students have gained at the metacognitive level of learning • That the students are capable of reflective thinking about their “own” learning • What skills the students feel they can transfer to other learning situations • Impact of instructional intervention on student learning

Guidelines:

A typical learning log takes the form of a notebook which belongs to the student, and can be used in a variety of ways. It can also be developed in a handout out form that is distributed and returned. It’s a great idea to ask students to take five minutes at the end of class to write in their learning logs about what they learned in class. (See templates below. Use these templates or modify them to the learners needs in your language learning classroom). This practice fosters metacognitive awareness by encouraging students to organize their thoughts and to generate questions which they might have about the day's lesson and how they have learned new material or the target language focus. Teachers and students can work together with a learning log to enhance learning strategies. At the beginning of the semester, teachers should introduce students to the concept, purpose, and

function of learning logs. Learning logs can also be used to document out of class experiences which students can use to illustrate learning experiences that occur beyond the school yard. Teachers may inspect a student's learning log to read responses and see areas where the student may need improvement or assistance OR require students submit at the end of each week. A student struggling might not be outspoken about the learning challenges, but his or her learning log could show that the student was failing to grasp concepts, or was left with many questions at the end of each class. Having documentation of this issue would allow the teacher to customize a response to the student to help him or her improve their awareness of how and what they are learning. Advantages of Learning Logs Reflective activities such as the learning log improve learning in a number of ways. On the surface, they help students identify what they have learned and the areas in which they need to improve. Developing this skill takes time and practice, but ultimately helps students become more active, aware learners in route toward becoming self-directed, autonomous learners. This awareness allows them to see a purpose in the activities that you require of them in the classroom and at home, leading to an overall understanding of what your class is all about. VOCABULARY, READING, and WRITING LEARNING LOG EXAMPLES

VOCABULARY LEARNING LOG TEMPLATE (and following handout)

DIRECTIONS: For each unit vocabulary word place a check √ the box that describes your comprehension.

I don’t know this word at

all.

I recognize this word but don’t

know it well.

I know this word well.

I use this word in my

own writing. NOTES

Accumulation Compile Enormous Fluctuation Guideline Offset Preliminary Temporary

VOCABULARY LEARNING LOG

DIRECTIONS: For each unit vocabulary word place a check √ the box that describes your comprehension.

I don’t know this word at

all.

I recognize this word but don’t

know it well.

I know this word well.

I use this word in my

own writing. NOTES

Accumulation Compile Enormous Fluctuation Guideline Offset Preliminary Temporary

DESCRIPTORS

I don’t know this word at all means the word is completely unfamiliar to you. You have never seen it before.

I recognize this word but don’t know it well means you have a sense of the meaning but may not know how it differs from its synonyms.

I know this word well means you feel comfortable with the word and would not need a dictionary to check the meaning.

I use this word in my own writing means you can use the word appropriately in your own writing and speaking.

Source: Nation, I. S. P. (1990). Teaching and learning vocabulary. New York: Newbury House.