An example on journal writing as related to intellectual learning: my first journal note

 

Working paper: jh-2021-03-05-a (https://josephho33.blogspot.com/2021/03/anexample-on-journal-writing-as-related.html)

An example on journal writing as related to intellectual learning: my first journal note

JOSEPH KIM-KEUNG HO

Independent Trainer

Hong Kong, China

Dated: March 5, 2021

 

Abstract: Journal writing stimulates creativity and facilitates self-reflection. It should also be a useful practice to facilitate intellectual learning. This note gives an illustration of how journal writing is related to self-directed intellectual learning.

Key words: journal writing, intellectual learning, self-reflection.

 

Journal writing could foster creativity. It should also be useful for critical reflection on intellectual learning. The writing style is not academic. There are few rules to follow and it is mainly a private exercise. I share this journal note of mine, for demonstration purpose.

 

My first journal note as at March 5, 2021

[beginning of the note]

March 5 is a special day. I now write my first journal note. OK, it is not so private for this one and I do not have a note book and a fountain pen to do the writing. Well, these do not bother me. Also, I am not sleepy and not that hungry.

Universities asked me what academic works I have produced last year. I know that, other than a causal one on teamwork, there is none.

This year will be different….

After writing up two academic articles in 4 days, my memory and interest on academic writing comes back quickly. Very likely, few people should be interested in them.. again, it does not bother me much..

 

I noticed a number of key ideas from the academic works, but I have no time to read them in detail. So many things I want to do, including watching Youtube videos and reading novels.. Nevertheless, these key ideas from other writers give me the inspiration to write something about how to do agile literature review. My students should find my work useful, but how many will use the agile approach for deep-level intellectual learning, other than myself?

I say, inspiration because I can use some of these newly found academic ideas to help me to say something original about agile literature review; at least novel to me, if not to the academic community.

I feel I have a clearer idea on my research topics, but who else will care about it other than yourself?...

Sure, but then I am a lone wolf and I did not say nasty things in my academic works. And, most important of all, what I have written probably are not comprehensible to most people, academics included. Or, .. not right. My ideas are crude; only I think they are great. The future generation will ask: who is this person, who has wasted so much time to write something that nobody cares? Hollywood movies and Bollywood movies are definitely more entertaining than the “academic works” of this Dr. Joseph Ho; or Mr Joseph Ho..

 

Anyway, this is my observation:  writing academic articles and standing on the shoulders of other academics (maybe they are not giants) do help my reflection on what I have studied and learned. Probably 1 out of 10,000 of my students will find my work stimulating..  Not sure, as I do not have a database on my students, and most of them do not care at all that I am their teacher. Some feel bad about me because they did not get good academic scores from me, and their “customer experience” of my teaching service is not of good quality - quality being a concept I teach in Quality Management. Thus, I know what I am talking about, and I still remember the subject.

Reading academic articles is fun to me, so I feel happy doing so. My happiness has been discounted recently for the stock market is not doing well.

I know that producing academic articles is useful to my academic career, though the academic articles I produce, what should I say, are deviant with regard to the conventional academic norm.

I want to stop at this point for dinner time has come, just when I glimpse my image in the mirror…

 

[end of the journal note]

 

Some study materials on journal writing are as follows:

Dowrick, S. 2007. Creative Journal Writing: the art and heart of reflection, Allen & Unwin.

Penzu.com. n.d. “How to Write a Journal Guide” Penzu.com (url address: https://penzu.com/how-to-start-and-write-a-journal) [accessed at March 4, 2021].

The Bliss Bean, 2020. “9 journaling tips for beginner” The Bliss Bean Youtube video, November 14 (url address: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9efJ868yxo&t=259s) [accessed at March 5, 2021].