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Copied with permission from the Illinois Math and Science Academy Science Society and the Future.

THINKING LOG: If You Care Enough to Send the Very Best

One of the most important requirements of this course is that you must keep what we are going to call a Thinking Log.  Keeping the log is a vital part of this course, but is also a crucial means of gauging your own thinking and progress.   Essentially the log is a major part of your grade.

In particular, your log will tell us not only what you are thinking but how you are thinking.  It will help us to understand your comprehension, analyses, and syntheses of the materials and ideas we develop with the problems in class.   One doesn't automatically become a good thinker; it happens by practice, documentation, and dialogue-and that is what we want to do this quest.  All of the above are the fun part of learning because they call upon you to become apprentice-investigators and thinkers.  What is also expected is that you will take risks with your thinking and be active  learners.   Further, that you will take pride in both your learning and the need to document it in your log.

The requirements specific to your log means daily and in-depth entries dealing with the materials, ideas, discussions, and computer work with the problems we tackle.  In particular, we will work hard on how and when to use specifics and particulars to support generalizations.

Some log entries are what will be called "directed entries"; these are entries we will specifically ask you to make about your work.  Other entries will be "non-directed"; these are when you feel the need to write or what we call to 'scratch the itch.'  In other words, you need to write because of something you have seen or heard; a discussion you have had with the class, friends, parents, or us.  What we don't want is a diary which simply documents what you are feeling.  A thinking log is a deliberate attempt to help you monitor your own thinking.

A thinking log can include a number of entries: narrative writing, drawings, diagrams, notes, etc.  The clearer the trail we can follow your thinking, the better for you.  At times we will insist that your log have 'finished' or polished entries.  The reason for this is to motivate you to go back and revisit your work and think about it again and then to polish it so it is in your best format and style.  This process forces you to develop certain cognitive skills that will serve you the rest of your life.  We like to say: If you care enough to send the very best (your Log), we care enough to send the very best in return (your grade).

Recent cognitive research has models for thinking logs, but perhaps more importantly, some of the greatest thinkers of all time have kept diaries, letters, journals--forms of their own thinking logs--that allow us to see their thoughts and ideas in process.  These primary resources are crucial in helping us to literally watch a great mind unfold or a great idea develop.  Leonardo da Vinci and Charles Darwin are just two figures who kept logs.

"A" Log

Demonstrates in-depth and frequent entries. Entries are often both directed and non-directed. Directed writing means those assignments made specifically by the teacher; non-directed and frequently important types of entries are those where the student is motivated by the desire and need to write – to "scratch the itch." These non-directed writings are not just for the topic at hand. "A" logs also evidence a great deal of risk taking with thinking and show the reader the thinker is willing to try out ideas and syntheses of ideas on the reader. Entries in "A" logs are frequently neat, polished, or "finished." This demonstrates a habit of thinking that is reflected in the pride of workmanship. This is not to say that there will never be unpolished and at times, cryptic entries, but the good log writer frequently visits the log to ":put it in order." Obviously with the "A" log there is a conscious attempt to pay attention to spelling and other mechanics of writing.

"B" Log

These logs also evidence both directed and non-directed writing, but usually there will be found more teacher-directed writing in these logs. What usually makes the difference between an "A" log and a "B" log is the former show evidence of strong self-motivation and the willingness to "go the extra mile." "B" logs also show less interest in taking risks with their thinking. These log writers sometimes seem to go for the minimum expectations to receive the decent grade. "B" logs frequently will have comments by the teacher such as: ""not enough depth;"" ""needs more analysis;" or "you have to cultivate the habit of writing more frequently." Writing frequently and more in-depth begets more ideas and insights. "B" logs also evidence that the writer doesn’t revisit his/her writing to give it that polish and finish that the "A’ writer does.

"C" Log

These logs usually have little or no non-directed writing and very little directed writing. They are frequently shallow in their thinking because there frequently is simply not enough writing to help the teacher judge. The writer seems to say to the teacher: "From what I have given you, intuit what I do or do not know." This is dangerous because it given the reader/teacher power over the log writer. In other words, the reader can intuit wrongly what the writer is attempting to say. Frequently, this type of writer gets angry and claims that he or she doesn’t know what to write. "C" logs usually show no risk-taking with thinking or none that is documented. Further, "C" logs demonstrate little if any attempt to synthesize what the student is learning much less thinking. These logs frequently are sloppy and thus indicate a habit of mind that shows little concern about the writer’s respect for his or her thinking and writing.

"D"Log

These logs are always turned in late. Sometimes there will be just a few scribblies or comments from what I call the "Ozone Level." The only option here is a "D." These learners seem to be indifferent to their thinking, therefore, the documentation of their thinking is flawed or absent. Fortunately, these logs are very rare.

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"B" Log

"C" Log

"D" Log

Handwritten notebook entry

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