Discuss two or three key ideas from the readings, critique them, and show how they apply (or don’t) to your practice.

Reflective Journal

For the designated weeks, there is a scholarly journal (about 1000 words) due. You are expected to discuss two or three key ideas from the readings, critique them, and show how they apply (or don’t) to your practice. You will be given a grade of 1-5 for each journal based on how well you fulfill those criteria. You will submit the journal electronically (email) to me on the specified dates and I will respond with comments and a grade within a day or two.

A scholarly reflective journal is a public record of the thoughts and reflections you engage in as you read. While the journal will be confidential (e.g. between the student and the instructor), it is not a private diary. Thus, although an informal, stream of consciousness approach is acceptable, there should still be attention paid to spelling, grammar, coherence, etc.

A good journal contains the following components:

a. demonstrated understanding of the readings
b. clear application to an educational situation
c. critical reflection

You may choose to comment on how a key idea or concept from the reading helped you to understand a personal problem or situation differently; you may write about the ideas prompted by a class activity or a point made during a Canvas discussion, or you may wish to discuss something that came out of the course readings,

It is important that you engage in critique, e.g. dialogue and debate with yourself and the authors. What is good about the approach? What other ways might you consider the issue? What authors have you read who would agree or disagree?

The reflection and critique section may take many forms: what is important is that you show you have done some thinking about the readings and class activities (why they did or did not turn on a light for you, their relation to something else you have read, or experienced, or learned in another class, or…) and that the thoughts provoked are not entirely banal! The purpose of the journal is to extend your thinking. It is not enough to say that an idea or reading was interesting or useful: rather it is important to reflect on “why?”

 

This reflective journal assignment is from a high school teachers perspective/experience and based on readings from chapters 5, 6 & 7 in Transformative Leadership in Education (2nd edition) by Carolyn Shields. Specific details are attached.

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