What is the reason for requiring journals and what should I do with students journal entries once I get them?
The pedagogy underlying use of journal writing assignments as a means of promoting reflective learning has been explored with great thoroughness and insight by Sandy Ogilvy at Catholic University in “The Use of Journals in Legal Education: A Tool for Reflection,” 3 Clinical L. Rev. 55-107 (1996) Almost all professors teaching externship seminars at WCL require students to submit informal journals, every week or so, reflecting on their field placement experiences. Professors read and give students feedback on their journal entries — some by handing back written comments to students, others by using students’ journal entries as a focus for supervision meetings. Common themes that surface in a number of journals can also provide material for classroom discussion. (Most professors treat students’ journal entries as confidential unless the student agrees to have his or her writing shared with others in the class.
