Journal Means Daily
The etymology of the word journal indicates clearly its greatest strength. First appearing in English between 1355-1356, it came into the language through the Anglo-French words jurnal or jurnale, meaning a day or a day’s work. It comes from the Latin diurnalis just like the word diurnal. (Chambers Dictionary of Etymology). A journal is not […]
Tracking Plants
A track is a readable mark left by a movement, action, or process. Tracking is the observation of these marks and the attempt to imagine the movements, actions, or processes that created the marks. Right about now you might be saying, “yeah, yeah. I already know what tracking is; looking at animal footprints. Here goes […]
Journal Page Flip
Nature Journaling Class at SRJC!
This Spring, I’m excited to be teaching a nature journaling intensive through the Santa Rosa Junior College! Signing up for this class is a great opportunity to commit to a chunk of learning in nature. Four Saturdays in a row, each 3 hours long, packed with fun learning, shared with a group of other interested […]
The North Bay Nature Journal Club
The North Bay Nature Journal Club is a way for you to share your passion for sketching, observation, and learning with other people in nature. Sonoma and Marin counties in Northern California are full of diverse and rich ecosystems and there are many people interested in connecting with nature. On the second Sunday of every […]
Sketchers Learn Faster
There was once a ceramics teacher who did an experiment with his students. He told half the class to make as many pots as they could over the course of the semester, focusing on quantity not quality. He told the other half of the class to put all their energy and inspiration into making the […]
The Most Powerful Learning Technology
Journaling is the most powerful toolkit for dynamic human learning. It is affordable, accessible, democratic, and it can be modified and specialized in almost infinite ways. All you need is a pad of paper and a pencil. Whether your learning is emotional, scientific, or artistic, journaling should be an essential part of your toolkit. Some […]
Dub Step Parasite Video
I usually don’t like dubstep but… An awesome time lapse put together as a side project by photographer Anand Varma for National Geographic: Anand Varma’s website
The Power of Visual Thinking Part 1: Sketch-notes
I first heard the term “sketch-notes” at a nature journal club meeting where John Muir Laws was describing this type of visual-note taking and it’s power as a learning tool. Sketch-noting is a synthesis of sketching and note-taking where each form of communication is used for what it is best at. Sometimes an image can […]
Learning From Kids: Part 2: Taking Risks
The little feet are a blur of motion as the six year old boy runs down the treacherous, steep, gravel path. “No running down the hill!” calls a camp counselor in vain. The little boy makes it safely to the bottom of the hill, a defiant and exhilarated look on his face. No injuries […]