This paper describes the use of the reflective journal in a
computer programming course at the University of South
Australia. We describe rationale for the journal relating it to
the contribution it can make to generic skills of lifelong
learning, problem-solving, communication and awareness of
personal learning strategies. We also relate it to the Personal
Software Process (PSP) used by industry to encourage
software engineers to improve productivity by ‘review’, with
collation of software productivity metrics and awareness of
personal and team level practice.
We introduce the detail how students were asked to use the
journal and evaluate its influence on learning. We present a
selection of student reflections on the journal and summarise
attainment comparing attainment in the journal with other
more traditional items of assessment. We conclude that there
is a place for the reflective journal in programming courses -
a number of students reported benefits to their learning
along a number of dimensions - and this was supported with
evidence both in their journal itself and by their absolute
attainment. We also note that the reflective journal is not
universally accepted (or even recognised as a ‘valid’ learning
activity by some). However, we recommend further use and
development of such reflective techniques in computer
science to stimulate good software practice and deep
learning.