Guidelines for journaling

Guidelines for journaling

All INNOVATE delegates are required to keep a journal before and during the conference. Keeping a journal is animportant part of your experience, as well as a way to capture your experience on INNOVATE. The purpose of this exercise to give you aplace to fully reflect on your INNOVATE experience. Throughout the conference, we encourage you to take time to journal. Before theconference, we will post questions for you to journal on. We hope that the journal provides a venue for you to reflect on the manywonderful aspects of the conference, and as a memento from your international experience.

A few helpful hints

Some hints for enhancing your journaling experience:

When to start

Start journaling now! Write down some of your feelings before the trip–what do you expect, what are your preconceived ideas of Singapore, Japan and the INNOVATE group as awhole. Enjoy!

How often, how long and when

We urge you to write in your journal whenever inspiration hits you. The more you do, the more you'll benefit.Late evening is a good time, just before retiring or on the bus after a site visit. Some people prefer journaling early in themorning before they start their day. Block out at least fifteen minutes each time you write. You may also want to jot down an ideafor journaling and come back later to write on it in greater depth.

Setting

It's best to have a quiet place where you can be alone with yourself and concentrate on journaling. Find a placethat is free from loud noises, distractions and interruptions. Find the place that feels best for you, a place that's safe, quiet andconducive to taking little journeys inside.

Structure and spontaneity

It's a good idea to put the date on first page of each journal entry. This is helpful when you read your journalafter completion of the conference to put your thoughts into time perspectives.

Express yourself as openly as possible. Don't edit or revise what you write or draw. The important thing is to beas honest and spontaneous as possible. We will not collect, read, or be grading your journals. So reflect freely.

Honesty and privacy

In order to be really honest with yourself, it is important that you keep your journal private. If you wish toshare your journal, that is your choice. However, we would like you to use the journal as an area of completely open, honest reflectionon your INNOVATE experience!