2025-10-02 Productive Learning and Working with 'Intermediate Notes' | eBildungslabor

source: eBildungslabor / pinboard.in/u:dusko

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Translated from German:

This week I happened to come on the subject of 'Interstitial Journaling'. The idea sounded exciting for me and I started to try it out a bit for me. It worked well – and because the method may also be useful for others, I share it in this short blog post.

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== What is Interstitial Journaling? ==

For myself, I translated the term 'interstitial journaling' with 'interprem notes'. Because that is what is done with the method. The basic idea is: Every time I switch from one task/activity to another, I hold a few notes for myself. I write down what I did last and what I planned for next. For this purpose I write the time.

Here are my spacenotes of this morning in between:

7:15 a.m.: I reviewed e-mails, Twitter and messages. Get the idea of a 'glossary on important terms in online learning for the FAQ Online Learning. I'll postpone it to later.
8:12 a.m.: Further written on a concept begun for a Wikipedia war for volunteers. This slowly takes shape. Later I would like to include the necessary screencasts. Now provide breakfast and children :-)
9:05 a.m.: Actually, I should continue directly with the Wikipedia project, but I shift a short blog yield to the 'intermediate notenotes' method before. I have had good experiences with it and I would like to write more about methods and not almost always only using tools in my blog.
09:28: I have to interrupt briefly. K2 needs support with the math tasks.
09:42: Continue to write to the blog post. The text does not have to be too detail – the basic idea is quickly explained.
...

You'll see in this example: Between Space Notes are a mix between a kind of 'mini diary', todo list, and time recording.

== How does interstitial journaling work? ==

With the example above, the functioning of “intercomtry notices” is already explained. As a 'direction', it can be said:

- For each entry, note the exact time.
- Write not only about a task/activity, but where possible also reflect on it briefly.
- **Looking back* (What did I do?) and look ahead (what do I want to do now?)
- Also note the activities that are not planned activities, e.g. 'I lost myself in Twitter.'
- Continuous write and stay with it for a few days if possible.

Special technology is not needed. Until now, I simply write my ToDo lists on paper – and now continue with the space touches. If you use an online tool, you can certainly redesign it a bit – or simply use a listing note/write app. And if you want to share your notes with others, for example, you can simply write in an Etherpad and make the link public, for example, in a learning group / in the team.

Restricting myself, I notice that the method comes to limits when I am confronted with many unplanned events (e.g. by two children in the home office). But this also makes it possible to learn, e.g. now you prefer to do a children's break and then continue to work on the right later ...

== Why is interstitial journaling helpful for productive learning and working? ==

I used to use the Pomodoro technique a couple of times. In this technique, productive work phases (always 25 minutes) alternate with pause phases (5 minutes). I found this quite helpful when I had to get a certain project ready. With the space notes I like that it is more self-determined (I don't have to take a break after exactly 25 minutes) and that writing helps very well to complete with an activity mentally, so as to be better able to get involved with a new one. Anyone who continuously writes to space notes continuously also gets better self-perception for their own work and learning.

== Who is 'Interstitial Journaling' helpful for? ==

Basically, the method can be helpful in my view whenever you learn something very self-organized or work on something. In the current corona situation, this probably affects quite a lot of people. Perhaps it is also a possible method that can pass on teachers to students to assist learn and try them out with them.

More reading:

https://jesperbylund.com/blog/get-focused-with-interstitial-journaling
https://nesslabs.com/interstitial-journaling