Journals

By /

Journals are a place for students to privately communicate with you or as a self-reflection tool. Students can not view each others entries.

Students can make unlimited entries.

Creating a Journal

To add a journal, hover over the area in the Course Content you wish to insert the journal and click the plus sign.  From the Add Content menu select create.

The Create Item panel will appear on the right-hand side of the screen. The Journal option is listed at the bottom of this panel.

screenshot of Crete Item panel with Journal option circled.

When the journal is created, there are two optional actions:

  1. Add a name to your journal will make it easier for students to locate
  2. Add a prompt to tell students what the purpose of this journal is.

The journal name and prompt can be edited at anytime.

Journal Settings

Click on the settings cog icon in the top right-hand corner to open the Journal settings. The settings options are:

  • Grade journal – This Journal counts for a mark
  • Allow users to edit and delete entries
  • Allow users to edit and delete comments

Setting Up a Graded Journal

Ticking the Grade journal box will allow for the journal to be marked. The will reveal further options in the panel.

  • Due date
  • Mark category (leave as journal)
  • Mark using (Points, Percentage, letter, complete/incomplete)
  • Maximum points
  • Add a Rubric

By making your journal a graded journal a marking column will automatically be added to the Gradebook.

Journals are private between Instructors and Students on a course. They are unable to be viewed by other students on the module.

They are suitable for individual assessment but not group or class discussions.

Commenting on a Journal

Students can make journal entries and add images and links to them as well by either clicking on the plus sign or paperclip icon.

Once an entry has been written up, it can be posted to the students journal by clicking post in the bottom right.

You can make navigating a students multiple journal entries easier by changing the number of items per page that you can see.

Marking Journals

When a Journal has been set up as a grading journal you will be able to mark it via the Journal or the Gradebook.

Add Marks

Marks can be added in the Gradebook Marks tab, the Journal page Marks and Participation tab or in the individual student’s Journal.

    In the Gradebook Marks tab

    In the Journal page – Marks & Participation tab

    In the individual student’s Journal

    Add feedback

    Feedback is provided in the individual student’s Journal, accessed via the Course Content or the Gradebook.

    For formative feedback you can make comment on the students’ entries.

    For summative feedback you can use the plus sign icon to open a feedback panel. All the text editor formatting functionality is available to you for leaving your feedback include voice or video feedback.

    Guide last updated on February 12, 2025

    Scroll to Top