MATH2039 Writing a Reflective Journal
In your reflective journal you are asked to take regular notes on critical learning experiences
that occur to you during the module. Experiences that you may want to reflect on could occur
within any component of the module such as during a particular lecture that you found
enjoyable or challenging or a group meeting that was successful or not.
Our suggestion is that you initially keep a rough document of dated entries in chronological
order, making note of things that you do, how you felt it went and anything you wish you had
done differently. Noting the changes of external factors (i.e. lockdown measures) can also be
useful in the future. Near the end of each month you can then return to your notes and reflect
on the most important points. Alternatively, you can make these reflections on a weekly basis
if this works better for you. How you form your reflective journal is up to you, however,
reflecting on past and present experiences once you have gained some emotional distance from
them is a crucial part of the learning process in any setting.
How to write reflectively
To make writing reflectively more approachable we have defined some key steps and prompts
that may go along wit
h these steps. Following this structure will allow you to draw the most
from your experiences in this module and beyond as it gives you a framework for thinking
about crucial learning experiences objectively.
1. Recall an experience and write about it descriptively.
a. What happened
b. Who was involved
2. Reflect on and understand the experience.
a. What is the most interesting/important aspect of the event
b. How can it be explained
c. How is it different
3. Determine what you have learned from this experience.
a. What have I learned
b. How has it impacted me personally
4. Decide how you will react next time.
a. Did I react appropriately
b. How can I react differently in the future
At the end of each entry you should look over each point you have made and ensure that you
have effectively reflected rather than describing your experiences.
Further Guidance
We have provided an example of a reflective journal produced by a third year for a different
module which can serve to help you with formatting your journal, observing how entries should
look, and how often entries are made. If you need further guidance with writing your reflective
journals speak to your Group Tutor or if they are unavailable contact the module lead.