Reflective Journal - Some tips

Reflective Journal:

A student-teacher generated locally standardized daily log book maintained under the supervision of the mentors is visualized as a Reflective Journal (RJ). The RJ can act as a document that carries an analytical account of the daily experiences of Student-Teachers during practice-Teaching. The major purpose of the Reflective Journal is Reflection on-Action. During Practice-Teaching the RJ depicts how different aspects of teaching are interconnected. Analysis and comments on the theory-practical integration, the nature and extend of support-system utilization, process analysis of success and failure management, inference and projection of future course of correction and developmental actions etc. can function as elements in the design of the Reflective Journal.

1.  Structure to a Reflective Journal Entry

A reflective journal entry is a conversation with yourself (and possibly your faculty) and follows the four components of the Focused Conversation Method. Often you hear the method called by its acronym ORID.

Objective Data

Describe a situation: what did you see, hear, feel and experience during the school initiatory programme

Reflective Data

Describe your reaction; often an emotion or a feeling. This is what tells you the situation is important and worth writing about.

Interpretive Data

Try to explain or give an interpretation of what you have observed and experienced.

Decisional Data

Make a plan about what you will do differently (or the same) the next time you are in a similar situation or what you need to learn to do differently to manage the situation better the next time! This part of your journal entry should be stated in terms of a SMART Goal.

• Specific
• Measurable
• Agreed upon
• Realistic
• Time framed

2. Some guiding questions for reflective thinking are:

·                   What happened during that event or experience?  And why did it happen? 

·         What was my role in the event? And why did I adopt that particular role?

·         What were my feelings during that experience?  And why did I feel that way?

·         What were my thoughts during that experience?  And why did I think that way?

·         How do I interpret what I experienced or observed? 

·         What might this experience mean in the context of my course?

·         What other perspectives, theories or concepts could be applied to interpret the situation?

·          How can I learn from this experience?

College Union and Arts Club Inauguration

The inauguration of the College Union and Arts Club activities for the academic year 2013-14 will be inaugurated tomorrow at 10.00 A.M. Dr. George Onakkoor, Eminent Writer and Educationist will inaugurate the College Union Activities and Dr. Manakkala Gopalakrishnan, Musician and Arts Education Research Officer will inaugurate the Arts Club. It will be followed by a Cultural Fete by the dynamic dudes of MTTC.

My Reflection on the School Initiatory Programme

The four day School Initiatory Programme was a good experience to all the students. I had the opportunity to be with the trainees in the Govt. HSS, Kalanjoor.

Since the Principal Dr. Sunny Skariah and two staff members had visited all the schools prior to the programme and had oriented the Heads of the institution about the programme the students were given ample opportunity to take class and were gracefully permitted to observe a number of classes of the senior teachers. We had also given a copy of the part of the new syllabus to all the schools. This gave them an idea and the purpose of the programme and hence the students did not face any problem.

The students who visited Govt. HSS Kalanjoor had a productive and quality time in the school. The Principal and teachers were very co-operative and were always there to lend a helping hand throughout the four days. The students took classes, both shared and individual and I would proudly say that they did a great job. The schedule prepared by the teachers and students of Physical Science department and circulated among others for collecting details about the learning facilities of the school and the tools prepared by students for doing practicums in psychology, technology, etc. were commendable works. The effort taken by the optional teachers and general teachers in preparing the trainees for the programme is appreciable.

The conscientisation programme carried out in connection with the practicum of the Core Paper I, also received appreciation form the staff and students of the school. The group could undertake all the stipulated activities in a praiseworthy manner. The only drawback was that the higher secondary section had model examination in the coming days and therefore the trainees couldn’t  take the classes effectively in the higher secondary section. 

Reflections of School Initiatory Programme

Please send your experiences, reflections and suggestions about the School Initiatory Programme to mttcpathanapuram@gmail.com.