Tips for Successful Journals (Example Sky Watching)

•  Clear guidelines and expectations.

A guided observation should be made with the class as a whole at the earliest opportunity.  The first few observations should be required and well-defined.  Frequency and quantity of observations should be discussed.

• Phenomena easily observed.

Objects should be easily recognized and tools constructed or made available for accurate measurment of azimuth, altitude, and time.

• Class discussion of student observations.

Students should be given an opportunity to compare and discuss their observations during class, employing, the best journal-keeper to date as group leaders.  The instructor should show examples of students´ first use of regular observations, predictions, data tables, and graphs as they appear.  Allow students to pool their data during class to build more robust datasets.

• Journal Summary.

Build in opportunities for reflection, by requiring students to periodically summarize their entries.

• Instructor Commitment and Enthusiasm.

Utilize time in class for journal discussions and provide timely feedback.

• Interm and final journal grade.

Provide and ¨estimated¨ grade for the journals, assuming continuation at the sema level of effort,  This will often help students who tend to procrastinate.

• Journal questions on exams.

Include questions on all tests that can only be ansered by keeping a journal.

 

Observational Journals: An Aid to Sky Watching. A Stellar Excercise-Predicting Event in the Sky.  JCST February 2000. Vol XXIX # 4 p. 245-254.  Philip M. Sadler, Doug Haller, Eliza Garfield.