You are here:

Supporting Learning Through the Use of Self-Reflection Blogs: A study of the experience of blended learning students in the United Arab Emirates
ARTICLE

, , Hamdan Bin Mohammed e-University

Open Praxis Volume 5, Number 4, ISSN 1369-9997 e-ISSN 1369-9997 Publisher: International Council for Open and Distance Education

Full Text

Abstract

This exploratory study seeks to examine how the use of student-written blogs support student learning through the student perspective. The blogs were introduced to provide support in four distinct areas: as a medium for facilitating learning; as a medium for interactivity; as a medium for metacognitive thought and reflection; and as a learning tool. This study was conducted over the course of one academic year with undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in a blended learning university located in the United Arab Emirates. Results indicate that for the students in this study, the use of blogs provided support in all four identified areas, as well as in additional areas not expected by the researchers. This paper provides details of the results of the data analysis, provides suggestions for classroom implementation, discusses the limitations of this research study, and proposes research questions which can guide future research studies on this topic.

Citation

Isakovic, A. & McNaught, A. (2013). Supporting Learning Through the Use of Self-Reflection Blogs: A study of the experience of blended learning students in the United Arab Emirates. Open Praxis, 5(4), 355-363. International Council for Open and Distance Education. Retrieved May 29, 2023 from .

This record was imported from OpenPraxis on March 17, 2014. [Original Record]

Keywords

References

View References & Citations Map
  1. Avci, U. & Asker, P. (2012). The comparison of the opinions of the university students on the usage of blog and wiki for their courses. Educational Technology& Society, 15(2), 194–205.
  2. Churchill, D. (2009). Educational applications of Web 2.0: Using blogs to support teaching and learning. British Journal of Educational Technology, 40(1), 179–183. Http://dx.di.org/
  3. Downes, S. (2004). Educational blogging. Educase, September/October, 14–26.
  4. Ducate, L.C. & Lomicka, L.L. (2008). Adventures in the blogosphere: From blog readers to blog writers. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 21(1), 9–28.
  5. Farmer, B., Yue, A. & Brooks, C. (2007). Using blogging for higher order learning in large-cohort university teaching: A case study. Proceedings ascilite Singapore 2007. Retrieved from http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/singapore07/procs/farmer.pdf Ferdig, R.E. & Trammell, K.D. (2004). Content delivery in the “blogosphere.” THE Journal, 31(7), 12–20.
  6. Garrison, D.R., Anderson, T. & Archer, W. (1999). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: Computer conferencing in higher education. Internet and Higher Education, 2(2–3), 87–105.
  7. Garrison, D.R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (2001). Critical thinking, cognitive presence and computer conferencing in education. American Journal of Distance Education, 15(1), 7–23.
  8. Goldman, R.H., Cohen, A.P. & Sheahan, F. (2008). Using seminar blogs to enhance student participation and learning in public health school classes. American Journal of Public Health, 98(9), 1658–1663. Http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2008.133694Hain, S. & Back, A. (2008). Personal learning journal—Course design for using weblogs in higher education. The Electronic Journal of e-Learning, 6(3), 189–196.
  9. Higdon, J. & Topaz, C. (2009). Blogs and wikis as instructional tools: A social software adaptation of just-in-time teaching. College Teaching, 57(2), 105–110.
  10. Jimoyiannis, A. & Angelaina, S. (2012). Towards an analysis framework for investigating students’ engagement and learning in educational blogs. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 28(3), 222–234. Http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/J.1365-2729.2011.00467.xKerka,S.(1996).Journalwritingandadultlearning.ERICDigestNo.174.Retrievedfromhttp://www.ericdigests.org/1997-2/journal.htm
  11. Kukkonen, J., Kärkkäinen, S., Valtonen, T. & Keinonen, T. (2011). Blogging to support inquiry-based learning and reflection in teacher students’ science education. Problems of Education in the 21st Century, 31, 73–84.
  12. Li, K-M. (2010). Integrating weblogs in a pedagogy model for enhancing students’ critical thinking skills. Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning, 5(1), 35–49.
  13. Martin, M. & Noakes, M. (2012). Fostering a web 2.0 ethos in a traditional e-learning environment. The Electronic Journal of e-Learning, 10(3), 284–292.
  14. Neo, T.K., Neo, M. & Kwok, W.J. (2009). Engaging students in a multimedia cooperative learning environment: A Malaysian experience. In Same places, different spaces. Proceedings ascilite Auckland 2009. Retrieved from http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/auckland09/procs/neo. Pdf
  15. O’Donnell, M. (2006). Blogging as pedagogic practice: Artefact and ecology. AsiaPacific MediaEducator, 17, 5–19.
  16. Paily, M.U. (2013). Creating constructivist learning environment: Role of “Web 2.0” technology. International Forum of Teaching and Studies, 9(1), 39–50.
  17. Williams, J.B. & Jacobs, J. (2004). Exploring the use of blogs as learning spaces in the higher education sector. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 20(2), 232–247. Retrieved from http://www.ascilite.org.au/ajet/ajet20/williams.html

These references have been extracted automatically and may have some errors. Signed in users can suggest corrections to these mistakes.

Suggest Corrections to References

Links