1. Dr George Allan BSc MA(Ed) PhD FBCS FNZCS CEng CITP MIMIS MILT MIEEE University of Portsmouth School of Computing Burnaby Terrace, Portsmouth PO1 3AE +44(0)2392 846415 George.Allan@port.ac.uk http://www.tech.port.ac.uk/staffweb/allang/

2. Key Note Address  What  What points do I want to make?  Learning  Learning PM, Teaching PM, Assessing  Which  Which is the main point?  Deeper  Deeper learning  The  The Reflexive Process Leads to deeper learning  Learning  Learning Journal as record

3. Learning Journals, Reflective thinking and Deeper Learning

4. Overview  Evidence  Thinking  Understand learning as cognitive processes  Student’s awareness of own learning  The learning journal as a catalyst

5. Evidence  Higher assessment marks  Feedback from students technical and cognitive technical and cognitive  Observation of students’ performance technical and cognitive technical and cognitive

6. X X XX X X XX XX X X X 91 92939495969798990001 02 03 TIME Mean Result 80 70 60 50 40 30 Mean Class Achievement in Project Management Assessments 1991 to 2003

7. X X XX X X XX XX X X X 91 92939495969798990001 02 03 TIME Mean Result 80 70 60 50 40 30 Mean Class Achievement in Project Management Assessments 1991 to 2003

8. X X XX X X XX XX X X X 91 92939495969798990001 02 03 TIME Mean Result 80 70 60 50 40 30 Mean Class Achievement in Project Management Assessments 1991 to 2003

9. Feedback from students  PM made them think  Learning by ‘doing’ made them think  (record the ‘doing’)  Writing made them think  Feedback on Technical + Cognitive  Doing what?  Technical enquiry

10. Enquiry-Based Learning  Enquiry has to be a deep engagement with complex issues (Manchester University, undated)  Depends on: Nature and level of enquiryNature and level of enquiry Level of studentLevel of student Maturity of studyMaturity of study  Feedback = ‘Doing made them think’

11. Thinking

12. Thinking 1 Recall

13. Thinking 2 Recall + Analysis Explanation Interpretation Recall + cognitive skills = Reflection

14. Reflection – a collection of intellectual activities to reach deeper understanding (Boud, Keogh and Walker, 1985) - the process of discovering the limits of one’s own expertise (Schön, 1983) - mentally questioning what we understand (Broad, 1924)

15. Thinking 3 Reflection + Reflection + questioning the basis of our analysis = Critical Reflection

16. Critical Reflection A deeper conceptual thinking process Analysis Interpretation Explanation Inference Conceptual level

17. Critical Thinking Critical Thinking: What It Is and Why It Counts (Facione, 1998) Cognitive skills of: –Interpretation –Analysis –Evaluation –Inference –Explanation –Self-regulation

18. Thinking 4 Think about the thinking Reflexive – indication that action turns back upon the subject Reflect on our critical reflection = Reflexion

19. Thinking 4 Critical Reflection + challenge the validity of presuppositions in own prior learning (Mezirow, 1990) Critical Reflection + question the assumptions in own mind = Critical Reflexion

20. Learning Journal  Learning journal - collection of reflective writings  Reflective writing – manifestation of reflective thinking  Reflective thinking

21. Learning Journal Find and record information +Thinking +Writing + Critical reflection

22. Data Analysis  Data from students’ learning journals  Critical reflection reports  Grounded Theory Methodology applied to critical reflection reports

23. GTM Data Analysis  An increased confidence in their own ability to find and analyse information from the literature and the web  Moved from resistance to enthusiastic proponents of Learning Journals  Technical ability and understanding had risen  Cognitive ability and understanding had risen  Appreciation of the critical reflexion process

24. Conclusions A greater competence in doing research Moved from resistance to enthusiastic proponents of Learning Journals They had learned how to learn due to the enquiry process They had learned how to think due to the critical reflexion process.

25. Learning Journals, Reflective thinking and Deeper Learning George Allan BSc MA(Ed) PhD FBCS FNZCS CEng CITP University of Portsmouth School of Computing Burnaby Terrace, Portsmouth PO1 3AE +44(0)2392 846415 George.Allan@port.ac.uk http://www.tech.port.ac.uk/staffweb/allang/