The Scholarly Notebook: A Qualitative Investigation of Students` Academic Journaling Practices in Higher Education

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This qualitative research delved into how postgraduate students, in two Higher educational institutions from South Africa utilise academic journaling techniques for their studies and personal development purposes. Using qualitative methods, the study involved conducting semi-structured interviews with fifteen participants code-named S1 to S15. Data analysis uncovered four major themes indicating four groups of journaling practices used by the participants. The four major themes included: academic journaling, reflective journaling, digital journaling, and creative journaling. Participants indicated that academic journaling techniques were used to record coursework and research experiences, while reflective journaling was employed to capture personal growth and emotional well-being throughout their learning journey. Concerning the theme of digital journaling, data revealed that some students opted for digital platforms such, as Microsoft OneNote and Google Docs over the traditional pen-and-paper method, for documenting their experiences. Moreover, the theme of creative journal writing suggested that many participants integrated written reflections, with components and innovative methods by employing tools like markers, stickers, and sketches to document their experiences. The findings from this research contribute to our understanding of how graduate students incorporate journal writing practices to support their academic development, in university settings.