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

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

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