Structured Writing

Some people prefer a more structured approach. Try writing down your answers to the Reflecting on Readings questions. Are there other questions you want to add to your list? Answering the same series of questions every time you work through a module may be helpful.

You may want to write down your answers to the Observation questions that are included in each module. Or you might want to write a reflection on what you did and what it felt like when you explored some of the less common course activities, such as music, visual arts, fiction, biography or movement.

You may find it useful to develop your own set of questions to answer for each module.

Visual Records

You may want to try recording your reflection and experiences visually instead of or as well as using words. Example of visual records include:

• Collage
• Drawing
• Mind mapping or clustering. This approach uses words but presents them visually on a page.

The extract from The Creative Journal by Lucia Capcchione may give you more ideas for a visual journal.

Talking Online

As well as keeping a record of your developing reflections, insights and questions, it is important that you share them online so that we can develop a collective understanding of the issues.

Sometimes we will ask for each person in the course to take a turn and say something about the activity that they have tried—like a round in a face-to-face class. You will always have the option to pass, but you will need to post a note to tell us that you don't want to say anything when it is your turn so that we know you are there. Other times we will invite an open discussion—then you can stay quiet or post as many times as you want.