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Dora (13), Italia
TIPS
for Teachers-
Using
Journals In Project-Based Lessons
- Journals as Assessment Tools
- Journals as Teaching Tools
- Journals as Communication Tools
- An Example Journal Rubric
- Additional Resource Information
Journals
as Assessment Tools
A learning journal is a very effective assessment tool of student learning and is helpful to the teacher in establishing the pace of instruction during problem-based learning.
The learning journals promise to be good diagnosing tools for assessing what the learners are internalizing during their problem solving process.
Journals provide information about areas of difficulty, helping teachers identify students who are having similar problems in order to adjust their plans according to student needs.
Teachers can periodically request specific prompts be addressed in journals, which is another good tool for formative assessment (Potter, 1996).
A learning journal also helps students to see how far they've come over the course of the project and helps them self-assess their learning, allowing students to reflect and evaluate their progress.
Journals
as Teaching Tools
In addition, the process of writing may help students come to a better understanding of a topic or idea. Teachers may want to extend these writing activities to each other's writing (Miller, 1991).
It not only helps students organize and verbalize their thoughts, it helps them to think about their thinking, using a visual representation of their thinking.
Students should be encouraged to write thoughtfully to demonstrate their understanding of the activities and concepts. The students should also raise questions, identify problems or concerns, and propose solutions (Cuozzo, 1996).
Journals
as Communication Tools
It is also a good tool for communicating with peers, teachers, and parents.
Another way it can be used is to keep a chronicle of thoughts during actions. If something goes wrong, they can use the journals as one of the tools to assess where a misstep may have occurred.
An
Example Journal Rubric
|
Category |
Exemplary 7-8 |
Accomplished 5-6 |
Developing 3-4 |
Beginning 1-2 |
Score |
|
Information |
Information was accurate, complete and included opinions. |
Information was accurate, complete, and sometimes included opinions. |
Information was sometimes clear and accurate and all task questions were answered. |
Information was accurate. |
|
|
Illustrations |
Appropriate, well-placed illustrations were used to make essential points. |
Appropriate illustrations were used to make essential points. |
Illustrations were used to make points. |
Illustrations |
|
|
Rubric created by
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Additional
Resource Information
- Tools for Understanding: An example of how journaling can be used in math. Tips can also be applied to other curricular areas.
- Assessing Student Understanding with Interactive-Collaborative-Electronic Learning Logs by Paul Hickman : An example of how journaling can be used in science. Learning logs in science tips can also be applied to other curricular areas.
- Assessing Student Learning--and My Teaching--Through Student Journals by Bill Heinmiller, Science Teacher, Westerville, OH. : Journals used as embedded assessment tools.
Becoming
a Coach
|Asking
Good Questions
| Using
Journals in Project-Based Lessons
Assessing
Project-Based Learning|
Making & Mnaging Long Range Projects |
Using
Interactive Tools
|
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