Encourage students to use their learning logs to explore questions other than those you have set. Again, if they know that you will be using the learning log as an assessment tool, they will often be more likely to take it seriously. Encourage students, especially struggling writers, to use mind maps, sketches and diagrams as well as narrative. High school teachers often find it is possible to collect and respond to learning logs two or three times per term. When they do this, the learning log becomes an adapted form of the dialogue journal.
Some teachers prefer to use a double page learning log.
Students use the left hand page of the journal to make notes and record their observations, analysis, predictions and reflections, often on texts they are studying. They use the right hand side of the page to reflect upon and evaluate their learning and to ask questions. Teachers usually make their comments on the right hand page. Teachers who use learning logs find they provide excellent insight into their students' thinking and learning. As with other types of journals, you need to prepare students by modelling a range of entries.