learning independently (part 1): the learning journal

i am always stuffing facts and concepts into my brain. the spark of understanding is my favorite feeling, but i tend to have an aimless approach and i definitely don't retain everything.

to help me stay focused and think more deeply in my various learning quests, i've come up with something i call a learning journal. apparently, i am not the first to coin the term– according to google, it is popular with elementary school teachers– but my spin is that adults who are learning independently can use it too.

we're going to talk about learning journaling as well as my recommendations for learning independently!

the learning journal

the learning journal (as i practice it) combines classic note-taking with long-form, reflective metacognition about the learning process and what you discover along the way. it's not a strict system, and you can absolutely adapt it to your needs.

a learning journal can be physical or digital, and can be on one topic or many. you can add it as a new dimension to an existing bullet journal or school binder, too!

also, a learning journal can be started at any point in your learning journey. i don't want you to feel like you missed your chance because you're not a beginner in your chosen topic(s)!

wait, is a learning journal a commonplace book?

sort of!

you may have heard of commonplace books– keeping a file of quotes is a centuries-old practice. however, i think learning journaling is a little different because it contains (among other things) reflections on the learning process.

if you want to apply my tips but call your notebook a commonplace book, you have my blessing!

learning journal part a: note-taking

the way i envision it, most of the pages in your learning journal will probably be notes from other sources. here are some of my thoughts on note-taking.

what interests YOU?

you may be used to taking notes in a way that prioritizes the important stuff. however, i invite you instead to prioritize what interests YOU.

depending on your reason for learning, you may very well ALSO need the important stuff, but following your curiosity keeps things interesting and helps you lock in for the long-haul.

making connections

as you take notes, stretch your mind and solidify your knowledge by:

• making connections to other subjects that you are learning about or have learned about in the past, whether independently or through formal education.

• making connections to fictional media.

• making connections to real-life memories.

• probably most importantly: recording questions you come up with while reading/listening. make it a point to answer them, whether through reading/listening further or consulting another source.

• defining words that you're not sure about. once again, you may need to consult another source.

if you would like, you can have a special highlighter color or symbol for these kind of connection notes.

tangential anti-recommendation: i actually do NOT recommend the book how to take smart notes by sohnke aron. it focuses on connections between notes, so i thought i would mention it here. the zettelkasten is a very strict system that may work for nonfiction writers who are making a career of it, but i personally think it's overkill and not suited for people who mainly want to absorb knowledge.

citing your sources!

always write down the source information of your notes. include title, author, and page number. this will benefit you if you need to go back to the source to clarify something AND help others if you decide to share your knowledge. plus it's just polite!

it's also a good idea to date your notes– most citation styles emphasize this practice, especially because websites have a habit of updating.

learning journal part b: reflection

here are some ideas for the reflection/metacognition aspect that in my opinion makes a learning journal really helpful.

• what are your learning goals? you can freewrite about the possibilities and/or make a concise list. (see below for more on learning goals!) no pressure to have this figured out before you start learning!

• what questions do you have about your topic? as you proceed in your learning, you can write answers and ALSO new questions.

• without looking back on your notes, write a summary of what you learned in your last learning session. now look at your notes– what did you miss or get wrong?

• what do you already know about a topic?

• make a list of the books on the topic you have already read, that you are reading now, and/or that you want to read. if you want, you can write summaries and/or reviews.

• what is your favorite part of learning?

• what interests you about your topic(s) and why?

• how do you learn best? what aspects of school were easy for you and which were hard? what are you discovering about yourself as an independent learner in the present? has anything changed? if you like, you can run little experiments about how you learn best.

• test out note-taking styles, like the cornell method or mind-mapping.

• how can you apply your learning? (see below for more about this.) you can freewrite and/or make a concise list.

come back next week for part 2!