Deck 21: Writing Reflective Journals

Question 1

The experiential learning cycle relies on

A) experience, reaction, function, meaning and planning.
B) experience, reflection, finding meaning and planning.
C) applying learning based on experience to new situations.
D) repeating learning gained from experience until you have mastered it.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The purpose of a reflective journal is to learn about your own behaviour.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

A reflective journal

A) records your observations and events in which you participate.
B) is a conversation between you and your lecturer.
C) encourages insight and reflection into your own practice, knowledge and attitudes.
D) records your personal and professional goals.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Entries in reflective journals should limit themselves to academic evidence.

Question 5

Which of the following communication skills are required in reflective journals?

A) Nonverbal and verbal
B) Writing and recording
C) Observing and listening
D) All of the above

Question 6

Critical reflection requires

A) consultation, analysis and feedback.
B) observation, questioning and relating.
C) questioning, consultation and feedback.
D) writing, thinking and consulting.

Question 7

Using technology to record a reflective journal

A) provides flexibility for lecturers.
B) allows students to keep their ideas private.
C) allows students to work in real time with peers.
D) allows lecturers to tap into the journals to monitor progress.

Question 8

Reflective journals are shared with others because

A) a journal is a conversation with others about your learning.
B) it is always useful to receive feedback on what others think about you.
C) people need to know what you have written about them.
D) journals are public documents.

Question 9

Good journal entries are specific and nonjudgemental.

Question 10

Reflection is simply answering questions about your behaviour and practice.

Question 11

Keeping a reflective journal is an example of

A) deductive learning.
B) constructive learning.
C) academic learning.
D) active learning.

Question 12

You do not normally share a reflective journal.

Question 13

Observing and reflecting can turn practice into learning.

Question 14

Structured reflection on experience leads to self-improvement.

Question 15

Good journal entries

A) are succinct and clear about learning objectives.
B) non-judgementally record an event and your reactions to the event.
C) are referenced with links to theory.
D) are emotionally driven.

Question 16

Experiential learning is

A) learning through others' experience.
B) learning through experimentation.
C) learning through the transformation of experience.
D) generalising based on experience.

Question 17

A reflective journal should be structured because

A) it should lead you towards self-discovery through deliberate effort.
B) it allows you to systematically reflect on your successes.
C) active learners are usually not very reflective.
D) deep learning and deep reflection are unstructured activities.

Question 18

Becoming a good reflective journal writer takes practice.

Question 19

Reflection is the first stage of the experiential learning cycle.

Question 20

When writing a reflective journal, lecturers expect students to

A) have goals.
B) be thoughtful.
C) be thorough.
D) ask for feedback.

Question 21

Writing judgements should not be associated with the way you feel.

Question 22

Entries should always be placed in chronological order.

Question 23

Writing in the first person makes the entries more personal and immediate to your experience.

Question 24

Descriptive writing involves

A) defining how or why something was done.
B) explaining how or why something was done.
C) providing a clear picture of how you feel, think or what you believe.
D) recounting an experience.

Question 25

Discuss the relationship between a reflective journal and experiential learning, drawing on concepts covered in Chapter 21.

Question 26

The three major elements of the reflective process are

A) being self-critical, nonjudgemental and reflective.
B) interpreting, criticising and judging.
C) speaking your mind, writing honestly and writing well.
D) returning to the experience, attending to feelings and re-evaluating the experience.

Question 27

You don't need to worry too much about your writing and the quality of your content in the first draft of a reflective journal.

Question 28

Particular thoughts should not dominate your mind when you are writing an academic journal.

Question 29

It is best to record entries as close as possible to an event because they are more likely to be

A) accurate.
B) detailed.
C) honestly evaluated.
D) memorable.

Question 30

Writing freely in your first draft is important because

A) you capture what your readers might see as important.
B) it can cause writer's block.
C) you are less self-conscious and more honest.
D) you are less conscious of other's views.

Question 31

Writing systematically and regularly is a minimum requirement when keeping a reflective journal.

Question 32

Explanatory writing involves

A) describing how or why something was done.
B) explaining how or why something was done.
C) providing a clear picture of your feelings on an issue.
D) exemplifying how something works.

Question 33

Explanatory writing details why or how something happened.

Question 34

Writing barriers are overcome by

A) working on a first draft quickly.
B) writing quickly, creating a list of the most important points and relaxing.
C) focusing on the main points first.
D) listening to music and relaxing.

Question 35

Expressive writing involves

A) describing how or why something was done.
B) explaining how or why something was done.
C) providing a clear picture of how you feel, think or what you believe.
D) exemplifying how something works.

Question 36

Reflective writing is

A) nonjudgemental.
B) critical.
C) hypothetical.
D) expressive.

Question 37

The format of journal should be determined before you write.

Question 38

You don't need to understand the impact of an event to write about it.

Question 39

Making connections between an event and previous experience occurs at which stage, according to the DIEP formula?

A) Describe
B) Interpret
C) Evaluate
D) Plan

Question 40

Descriptive writing gives a clear picture of how you think, feel or believe.

Question 41

Journal writing is a form of self-disclosure.

Question 42

A tentative explanation is useful because

A) it doesn't commit you to the response.
B) it provides an initial interpretation of an event that can be revisited later.
C) it demonstrates an attempt at a rationale.
D) it allows you to change your mind upon further reflection.

Question 43

Writing so quickly that you don't have time to become self-conscious about your writing is an effective strategy when writing in your journal.

Question 44

DIEP stands for Describe, Interrogate, Evaluate and Publish.

Question 45

You will become more selective in your entries with experience.

Question 46

It is not appropriate for entries to contradict one another.

Question 47

What should you do if you feel guilty or judge yourself as you make a journal entry?

A) Quickly write about a different topic
B) Record this feeling and reflect on it later
C) Stop writing and start again at a later time
D) Ignore the feeling and keep writing

Question 48

You are required to start your own reflective journal. What are the key points you will need to consider to ensure that this does not become 'just a diary'?

Question 49

Honesty is an important aspect of any successful journal.

Question 50

The feedback section of a journal should

A) record your feelings and attitudes about an event or issue.
B) record your experience of an event or issue.
C) record the consequences of an event.
D) be an objective record of an event or experience.

Question 51

Learning by looking at ourselves and others occurs when we

A) reflect using the Mirror lens.
B) reflect using the Microscope lens.
C) reflect using the Reflective lens.
D) reflect using the Johari window.

Question 52

The reflection or feedback section of a journal describes how you are subjectively affected by an event or experience.

Question 53

Discuss the elements that make a good reflective journal entry.

Question 54

Discuss strategies that will promote effective writing in your journal.

Question 55

The log section of a journal should

A) record your feelings about an event or issue.
B) record your experience of an event or issue.
C) record feedback about an event.
D) be an objective record of an event or experience.

Question 56

The section of a journal that records your experiences from a specific unit or period of time and includes factual and objective description is known as the reflection or feedback section.

Question 57

Writing about how angry you were after a meeting would not be appropriate in a professional reflective journal.

Question 58

Reflective journals are a diary and account of events of the day.

Question 59

Thinking about what could be done to change a general situation occurs through the

A) Mirror lens.
B) Microscope lens.
C) Binocular lens.
D) Myopic lens.

Question 60

The use of the expressive writing mode is appropriate if you want to elucidate a time when you experienced jealousy, anger or joy.

Question 61

It is appropriate for client names to be used in a reflective journal.

Question 62

Openness to others during the feedback process

A) assists in gaining insight about yourself and others.
B) gives people the opportunity to critique your work.
C) refines your listening skills.
D) improves relationships.

Question 63

Harmony between what you believe, and what you do, is achieved by

A) reflecting on the knowledge you have gained.
B) aligning experience with theory and practice.
C) critically evaluating your experiences and restructuring them so you can learn from them.
D) critically evaluating the experiences of others so that you can learn from them.

Question 64

According to Cooper (1997), the microscope lens provides a clear reflection of the self by looking at what we have learned about ourselves as individuals and members of teams.

Question 65

What are the benefits of reflection?

Question 66

Feedback allows you to reflect on behaviour and anticipate action before it occurs again.

Question 67

Discuss the issue of confidentiality in relation to keeping a reflective journal. Draw on concepts discussed in Chapter 21, in relation to recording information about yourself and others in your journal.

Question 68

When writing a professional journal, all entries have the potential to

A) breach confidentiality.
B) improve the organisation's image.
C) gain legal status.
D) become published.

Question 69

The question 'What effects would these changes have?' relates to Cooper's (1997) 'binocular lens'.

Question 70

Asking yourself who you are is an example of reflecting through the

A) Mirror lens.
B) Microscope lens.
C) Binocular lens.
D) Myopic lens.