Katy,

I have been using journals with my clinical courses for about 3 years now. In
the beginning, it was paper, they had to write each week, then I moved to
specific questions they had to answer. Through paper, you can run into the
problem of "making it up" at the end when its due. I have recently moved to an
online submission that they have to complete each week of the semester. It works
well in that I can review them in a real time fashion and give feedback to the
ATS or use it as a jumping off point for group discussion.

I've found its best to give some guidelines with the specific questions and also
room for free comments. The entries themselves aren't graded, its more of weekly
feedback, but completion of at least 14 is factored into their overall clinical
course grade. I hope this helps.

Rebecca Petersen, MS, ATC
Clinical Coordinator, LIU ATEP
1 University Plaza, HS 308
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718)780-4502 office
(718)488-1432 fax
rebecca.petersen@...

http://www.brooklyn.liu.edu/health/bsathra.html