ERIC Number: EJ1098700
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0973-2217
EISSN: N/A
Using Weblogs as a Tool for Reflective Learning
Hussain, Raja Maznah Raja; Sze-Yeng, Foo
Journal on School Educational Technology, v3 n3 p26-37 Dec 2007-Feb 2008
This study explores the phenomenon of reflective learning through weblogging among pre-service teachers enrolled in an undergraduate technology course. Teacher trainees used weblogs to record their experiences in learning to use technology in teaching and learning. Although weblogging has emerged as a new form of mainstream communication among younger "digital citizens" (Prensky, 2001), it has yet to be widely studied in the teacher training program in Malaysia, as a tool for reflective learning. This study seeks to find out the practicability of introducing weblogging in an instructional setting by examining the focus and level of reflection weblogging is able to facilitate. The findings from the content analysis of individual weblogs and focus group interviews show that the sample of six pre-service teachers were generally at ease and optimistic about using weblogging to reflect on a range of content. However, some weblogs were more reflective than others and seven factors were found to influence the level of reflection in the weblogs. This paper reveals that assessment in weblogging for reflective learning is contentious and may be a culture-specific issue. It is suggested that weblogging is generally a viable tool to facilitate reflective learning; not only about course content but also professional values, attitudes and learning strategies. The condition is that instructional design elements must be observed.
Descriptors: Preservice Teachers, Undergraduate Study, Technology Uses in Education, Foreign Countries, Reflection, Electronic Publishing, Web Sites, Technology Education, Higher Education, Preservice Teacher Education, Teaching Methods, Instructional Design, Educational Technology, Focus Groups, Interviews, Technology Integration, Content Analysis, Metacognition
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Malaysia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A