Learning and the Reflective Journal in Computer Science

This paper describes the use of the reflective journal in a computer programming course at the University of South Australia. We describe rationale for the journal relating it to the contribution it can make to generic skills of lifelong learning, problem-solving, communication and awareness of personal learning strategies. We also relate it to the Personal Software Process (PSP) used by industry to encourage software engineers to improve productivity by ‘review’, with collation of software productivity metrics and awareness of personal and team level practice. We introduce the detail how students were asked to use the journal and evaluate its influence on learning. We present a selection of student reflections on the journal and summarise attainment comparing attainment in the journal with other more traditional items of assessment. We conclude that there is a place for the reflective journal in programming courses a number of students reported benefits to their learning along a ...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2002
• Where: ACSC
• Authors: S. E. George
• Keywords: ACSC 2002, Personal Learning Strategies, Programming Courses, Reflective Journal, Theoretical Computer Science