I am reading a chapter written by Joseph Lukinsky on "Reflective Withdrawal Through Journal Writing" in Mezirow's Fostering Critical Reflection in Adulthood. The act of action, withdrawal from action, reflection on action, and return, or re-entry to action, is a cycle that can be effectively documented by lifeblogging.

"Journal writing is a promising aid to the ongoing effort to bring together the inner and outer parts of our lives" (Lukinsky, 1990, page 213).

The act of life-blogging, or slow-blogging, is an iterative process, a back-and-forth conversation. The act of writing leads to the emergence of meaning, "felt" through the physical process of creating text.

The act of writing "...generates momentum, and in a deeper sense, the meaning. ...The blog "...becomes an objectification of the inner search, an anchor from which to make further explorations" (Lukinsky, pg. 214).

Lukinsky describes four different types of devices to encourage the learning process:

1. catharsis
2. description
3. free-intuitive writing
4. reflection

Cognitive Activities:

• observations
• speculations
• inner questioning
• self-talk
• digressions
• synthesis
• revision
• information seeking

For instructors, they might want to encourage learners/apprentices to engage in the following:

1. engender connections to content
2. observe and comment on learning environment
3. collect observations and data
4. provide exemplars for writing
5. provide feedback and support