Learning+Diaries

Objectives
Help learners
 * process new knowledge and skills
 * produce examples based on new knowledge
 * work collaboratively
 * reflect on feedback
 * Persevere in learning

What is this activity about?
The Learning Diary is the place where my students note down their reflections on language learning.

I have experimented with Learning Diaries for years. My assumption was that reflecting on what had been learned would help them make significant changes and build up further their capacity to learn.

In Learning Diaries learners have to find ways to relate errors to rules and express that in their own words. Understanding better how a teacher can effectively guide them to do this is something I am researching now.

It is important that students are conscious of all the sources from which they can and must draw to develop their learning diaries. These are:
 * * Teacher
 * Exam correction
 * Textbook
 * Wiki
 * Other students
 * Films watched
 * The MP3 files they create
 * Their written productions
 * Their presentations
 * Their optional exams
 * Individual research on the Internet, private classes… ||

4th ESO students will only work items 1 to 6 this term. My objective is making them 7 to 11 next term || Good entries from the Learning Diaries of 4th ESO students ||
 * Rules for 2nd Bachillerato students
 * What should the Learning Diary include

At least **50 entries** that are a minimum of **80 words** long based on the following index
 * 1) ** Grammar rules **
 * 2) **New vocabulary**
 * 3) **Pronunciation rules**
 * 4) **Teacher tips**
 * 5) **Exam correction**
 * 6) **Spelling Rules**
 * 7) **Written feedback: grammar errors**
 * 8) **Written feedback: vocabulary and spelling**
 * 9) **Written feedback: Syntax**
 * 10) **Oral feedback: Pronunciation**
 * 11) **Individual research, song I hear, games I play, films I watch...**

This term 20% of your mark will be based on your comment to the classmates in your group, based on the Peer Correction Template

If There are no errors in Catalan, you will get an extra point. || media type="custom" key="21883084" ||

How do I assess it?
In the last few years, the Learning Diary had the same value as a traditional exam. This year it means 20% of the term mark and is prescriptive. If they fail it, they fail the term. They have to do it again and get at least a C+.

These assessment rules are not only a challenge for students, they are also a change for me, as I have to be clear about what I want them to do.

=ADD YOUR COMMENTS: = Maria Ascension This is really nice, but... . I used these learning diaries long time ago with BUP students and proved to work quite well. I loved it and I was really keen on them. They had a learning notebook (maybe not so structured as yours) and reflected over what they had learnt during the week. However I had to abandon it when ESO started and I don't think it would work with my students, or it would depend on the group and the year.

Núria

Hi Maria Asencion

The truth is just the opposite to the context you are imagining. I teach in a school with 70% immigration levels. The reason I started working with Learning Diaries is that they were unable to keep notes, and I thought public digital notes would "remain" and help them study for exams. They are so structured is because otherwise they would get lost.

To make them "work" I make them compulsory. It was a daring move. Those who do not do their Learning Diary **FAIL the term**. You may think I behave like a nasty teacher...However, it works. They know the rules, and they simply have to comply to them. If they don't there is no justification for that. Of course, I repeat that 100 times, and extend deadlines a bit, but those who do not take them seriously are finally in trouble. In the first term some students try the "Fuenteovejuna" strategy, and then my strategy is to stick to the rules. For retake, they simply have to do the learning diary, they did not do. Then they "get back" their mark. If it was above 6 or 7, I do not make it lower. Prior to that, the mark they take home is a fail, In the end, very few students fail.

 Marisa The most useful way to learning to learn. I think it is so long, there are 11 points, and it can discourage pupils. On the other hand the fact of doing it with computer is a good decision to motivate students and improve on their information technology.

Not everybody fills all the sections, but they learn from the people that does. I think those who overcome discouragement become strong. Then, nobody is issolated because the learning diaries are public. I encourage the weakest students to borrow from stronger students, as long as they change the wording, the examples and the pictures. There is people who have a lot of fun adding pictures and sending nice messages. I think that when you explain things to yourself and others it is when you learn them.

M Ascension It seems I will have to make a try next course and give it another opportunity. I do like them. Probably I didn't do it the way it had to work.

Lluís Miquel

Hi everydbody,

I hold the view that it’s good for students to know beforehand what they are going to be assessed about and how. For example, preparing a rubric with the items you’re going to focus on. On the other hand, a fun way to assess children without making them aware they are being assessed is compiling a quiz dealing with several aspects of a lesson. You can even ask sts to think of questions about the lesson they’d like to ask other peers. You put the questions together and compile a quiz. Students may do the quiz in groups and get a score. The quiz can help students point out their strengths and weaknesses and help them reflect which areas need improvement. 