Learning Assessment Journal

Learning Assessment Journal

by Karl Krumsieg, Pacific Crest &
Marie Baehr, Elmhurst College
978-1-878437-88-4

$9.50

Designed for a one-credit course on information literacy, this book can serve as a stand-alone resource or be used in conjunction with the Foundations of Learning Activities Book. Students build understanding and skills through content and activities that require thinking, problem-solving and research skills.

Overview

The Learning Assessment Journal is a valuable resource for processing information, recording individual and team development, and assessing student learning as it occurs in and out of the classroom.

Entries from the journal may be used as assessment components within student portfolios. The Learning Assessment Journal is an ideal resource for educators who want students to:

perform structured reflective thinking,

improve their writing skills,

regularly self-assess their performance in a course,

be more accountable for performance when working in cooperative learning teams,

increase reading comprehension and class preparedness through the use of a reading log,

use various forms of journaling throughout a course.

Table of Contents

The Learning Assessment Journal contains the following forms/pages for student to complete. Note that most every form has space provided for instructor feedback; an opportunity to identify strengths, areas for improvement, and insights.

	Log of Entries Pages which identify journal entries and where they can be found.		Glossary A convenient section to keep important words, terms, phrases and formulas.

	Reading Log The form is designed based on implementing the Reading Methodology.		Collection Point A place to collect information and write notes from discussions, meetings, and lectures.
Entries in the form require students to plan and think before reading; outline and question while reading; summarize, integrate and assess after reading.		A place for recording and process important information. Each Collection Point form contains an inspirational quotation.

	Self-Assessment A structured process for assessing one's past performance and improving future performance.		Free Writing An opportunity to express creativity and ideas in an unstructured way.
Encourages critical reflection of individual performance and includes areas for documenting strengths, areas for improvement, discoveries, and action plans.		Also a place to reflect on experiences from group or individual settings. These pages also include inspirational quotations.

Forms for Cooperative Learning Teams
	Recorder's Report A form for the team's recorder to use to document what was learned (content).		Reflector's Report A form for the team's reflector to use to document performance (process).
A place to collect information during an activity and summarize the most important discoveries after an activity.		A place to assess both team and individual performance during a learning activity. Feedback includes how to improve future performance.

	Weekly Recorder Report A structured reflection of content learned and discoveries made during the past week.		Weekly Reflector Report A structured assessment of team dynamics and team performance during the past week.
Includes places to document concepts learned, processes developed, tools used, contexts for application, and issues that remain.		Includes places to identify team accomplishments, areas for improvement, supporting the growth of individuals, and overcoming challenges.

	Spokesperson's Report A form for the team's spokesperson to use to when preparing to speak on behalf of the team.		Planner's Report A form for the team's planner to maximize his or her performance.
The form organizes the message into an opening statement, supporting points and a conclusion. Levels of knowledge are described encouraging the presentation of higher level knowledge.		The form serves as guide for the planner with sections for brainstorming, developing a plan of action (including tasks with assessment criteria), and assessing the plan.

	Activity Assessment Provides faculty with student feedback about the quality of an activity.
The form allows for self-assessment of student performance (individual and team), feedback about instructor performance, and about the design of the activity itself.