Seírbhísí TF UCDUCD IT Services Evaluation of Blogs as Reflective Learning Tools Niall Watts...
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Transcript of Seírbhísí TF UCDUCD IT Services Evaluation of Blogs as Reflective Learning Tools Niall Watts...
Seírbhísí TF UCDUCD IT Services
Evaluation of Blogs as Reflective Learning Tools
Niall Watts
Educational Technology Officer
Learning Technology for the Social Network Generation
ALT-C, Nottingham, September 2007
What is Reflective Learning?
• Reflection describes the processes where learners explore their experiences to gain a better understanding and appreciation of their learning (Boud, 1985).
• Many students find reflective learning difficult and initially resist it… Properly implemented blogs can help bring about reflective learning(Bartlett-Bragg, 2003).
Research Aims & Methods
• Can blogs facilitate (reflective) learning?
• Blog Text Analysis • Heuristics – Reflection & Collaboration• Subjectivity
• Learning Style (Kolb)• Quantitative
• Active/Reflective & Individual/Collaborative
• In literature• Validity?
• How do I evaluate this?
Kolb’s Learning Styles
Based on Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory– Accommodating: intuition, people– Assimilating: logic, theory– Converging: practice, technology– Diverging: imaginative, group work
Which would you expect to be reflective/collaborative ?
Reflection
• Assimilating
• Diverging
Collaboration
• Accommodating
• Diverging
Case Study
• Students using blogs for course work
• Multimedia & Communications
• Minimal scaffolding
• Develop critical writing and thinking skills
“Tool for creative thought perceived electronically”
Methods – Text Analysis
• Posts coded for reflection using heuristics– Writing categorised as reflective (or not):
Student Blogs
Student Blogs
Methods – Collaboration
• Count number of comments made/received by classmates
• Count classmates listed as ‘Yahoo! Friends’
• Online community?
Methods – Learning Style
• Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory– Statements match a phase in Kolb’s Learning Cycle– Results plotted on graph– Students scored themselves– Class discussion
Methods – Triangulation
• Kember’s Questionnaire on Reflection– Agree/disagree 16 questions on their learning
• Blogging habits questionnaire (10 questions)– Do you enjoy blogging?– Does it help you to learn?– Do you read/comment on your classmates blogs?– Do they/you appreciate the comments?
Results – Blog Analysis
• One third of posts reflective
• One third of comments reflective
• 1 comment for 3 posts suggests collaboration
• Yahoo! Friends suggests online community
BLOG POSTS COMMENTS MADE RECEIVED
Total
Total Refl. Total Refl. Total Refl.
6 92 33 31 12 69 14
Results – Learning Style
Converging dominant LS :– 4 keenest bloggers – 1 non-blogger
Conclusions
• Bloggers reflective & collaborative learners
• Unexpected Result – Converging Learning Style– Not associated with Reflection or Collaboration– Skills with Hypermedia (Kolb)– Practical, hands-on
• Sample bias?– Students existing community– Teaching & learning practices– Lecturer well-known blogger