Module 2, Session 3: Zoom discussion of key readings

[CPC Admin]

#5495

Please share your experience/input/thoughts regarding the keeping of a reading journal and the readings as suggested at the end of today’s session.

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[Thivhulawi Malwela]

#5539

I had learned that keeping a journal can be done in the following ways:
using an old school of thoughts of paper and a pen, in this school, you can download the article and print it out, read as you underline the important fact, you can use a marker and then write notes to summarise what you had read.

Secondly, you can use a laptop to open a new word page, type the key information and write down what is related to your topic of interest. Make a summary of the things you had read in your own words

I had found this very good and it can reduce similarities

[Andati]

#5548

Postgraduate studies and supervision entails interaction with a lot of literature materials. Irrespective of the level, journaling could greatly help on keeping track of thoughts as one analyses the contents for knowledge gaps and possible creativity for new knowledge. Traditionally, my experience would be to read through most part of the article to have a general view on the authors approach. Then a second reading would involve underlining and noting down specific areas of interest. I found this helpful also when it come to referencing, especially after a multiple articles. Though now i know it is more effective to integrate digital approach with relevant software.

[Fiona Hagenbeek]

#5562

I have found that as I progressed further into my research, I stopped keeping a formal reading journal, except for specific projects, such as review papers/book chapters or opinion pieces. Other than that I found the writing takes up too much time and limits how much I can read, which doesn’t work for me as my research intersects on many topics/fields and it’s almost impossible to keep up with the literature, especially now that pre-prints have become so common.

[Stephen Nguthi]

#5581

No previous experience in using a reading journal for me. The reading journal idea sounds very noble and its a must try tool as I start my supervision journey with a new cohort of students later this year.

[Faith Kandie]

#5598

I have never kept a reading journal so it was good to gain information and insight on how to do it and use it. Am glad I have gained knowledge and will definitely use it in my line of duty as a supervisor. Thanks!

[George Kegode]

#5600

It is interesting to fathom the application of Bloom’s new taxonomy to research and supervision experiences. I think as supervisors, we should never forget to put our postgraduate students at the centre of the supervision journey. It is a journey of knowing together, understanding together, … until both the supervisor and the student are able to create together. Through a process of academic dialogue both experience “learning”.

[Edna Asesa]

#5608

The idea of reading journal is interesting and refreshing something that’s worth trying and would be of great help to both the supervisor and supervisee

[Philippa Irvine]

#5612

I certainly think this is a useful tool during a long research project. In our department we ask our Honours students to keep a ‘Journal’ during their Research Philosophy and Methodology course and during their research process. This extends beyond a reading journal and students can add meeting agendas and notes, readings, lecture notes and so on. It helps them manage their thinking about research and the conducting of research.

I will certainly encourage students to keep a reading journal. If one can establish a habit of using one, it would certainly help. I may combine it with an overall journal for the research, however.

[Ann-May Fourie]

#5626

I like to keep a reading journal. I make use of free writing style to pen down my thoughts as it is. To be creative, and link ideas together, and then later put them in proper writing styles with references etc.

Also, the journal is to go back and reflect on the ideas. I make use of it for my work and research because it is interlinked.

[Gollaz Moran Azucena]

#5630

I find very important the idea of keeping a reading journal. I think there can be several ways of keeping the journal that adapt to different personalities and ways of working. But definitely, it helps to identify the most relevant authors and ideas for your research and you can constantly review and go back to the main ideas.

[Chantel Elston]

#5652

I agree with Fiona that I have found writing after reading can be very time-consuming, but I also understand the importance of spending the necessary time with what you have just read to make sure you amalgamate the information into your own existing knowledge systems. I also find that if I keep digital notes with tags that I can search at a later date, it helps me later in the line when I need to revisit a topic/area of literature that I have already delved into. So I like to keep a balance, where if I’m reading purely for interest sake then I don’t add it to my ‘reading journal’ but if I’m reading in my field and the article contains information I’ll likely need at a later stage, then I add an entry to my ‘reading journal’. However, I add my reading journal entries very differently to the way that was suggested in this course, I’m looking forward to trying out this new technique to see if it works better for me as a scientist (where often details in the paper matter).

[Kabahima James Justus Kamukama]

#5668

Interesting to learn that you have focused on enriching your knowledge!

Reading from own journal can also be a problem, when its to long after intense work.

[Kabahima James Justus Kamukama]

#5669

Its a good idea to keep a journal. However, one can improvise how they need to do it their way, assuming that the presentation is just a guide.

I take note of what i read, and categorize it by research questions, and emerging questions, or interesting to know. However, going back to own journal can also be new review of literacture if it takes long. If notes were a self reflection, then its easier.

Writing free notes, you also risk losing what the authors were meaning, especially at the point of picking points from the journal to the article

[Kevin C. K. Ma]

#5684

For important readings, I tend to read the research paper quickly at first, without taking any notes. Then, I revisit the paper a day or more later for a more in-depth reading. During the second reading, I have found it useful to take detailed notes in a physical journal (old school) but it took almost a full day to do so. Lately though, I just doodle the main findings and concepts in a small notebook, which is a lot quicker but still helped with retaining the important information from the reading.

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