Behavior,perceptions and learning experience of undergraduates using social technologies during internship

Social technologies such as social networking sites, Wikis and blogs have gained popularity not only in social communication but also in other areas, such as in enhancing learning experience among students in tertiary education. This study investigated how blogs and Facebook scaffolded students’ learning during their internships in tertiary education. A mix-method approach was employed to examine students’ perceptions of blogs and Facebook in improving their internship learning experience. The results showed that blogs and Facebook encouraged students and facilitated their engagement in problem solving, information sharing and knowledge construction during their internships. In particular, Facebook showed more promising results, assisting students in reflecting on their experiences. Moreover, students acknowledged that Facebook was a better platform for online interaction and collaborative learning than blogs. This study provides empirical evidence for the use of social media tools in pedagogical scaffolding and collaborative learning during internships.

     

Blogs as a learning and assessment instrument for English-speaking performance

The study investigated the usefulness of blogs in evaluating English-as-a-Foreign-Language learners' oral performance and explored their reactions toward using blogs as a learning and assessment tool for English-speaking performance. Fifty-one college students participated in a semester-long blog project, and each uploaded five audio entries to their individual blogs. The results indicated that the scores on the speaking blogs served as a significant predictor of students' oral presentation performance. Moreover, more than half of the participants considered their blogging experience positive. Close to half believed that the speaking blog constituted a good tool to showcase their learning process and help them reflect on their learning progress in the blog-based environment. However, only a few welcomed the idea of employing blogs as an assessment tool, while most still preferred the more conventional assessment methods, such as on-site speeches and presentations. These results carry pedagogical implications for foreign language instruction and assessment.     

刍议博客与大学生思想政治教育工作

博客作为一种新的网络媒介,正对大学生的思想观念和行为方式产生潜移默化的影响,同时也对思政工作产生着积极的作用。高校思政工作者应充分利用博客的窗口、平台和桥梁作用,通过建立学生博客、教师博客、师生互动博客、特色博客等形式进一步加强和改进大学生思想政治教育工作。     

A five-dimensional framework for authentic assessment

Authenticity is an important element of new modes of assessment. The problem is that what authentic assessment really is, is unspecified. In this article, we first review the literature on authenticity of assessments, along with a five-dimensional framework for designing authentic assessments with professional practice as the starting point. Then, we present the results of a qualitative study to determine if the framework is complete, and what the relative importance of the five dimensions is in the perceptions of students and teachers of a vocational college for nursing. We discuss implications for the framework, along with important issues that need to be considered when designing authentic assessments.     

大学生博客写作误区及解决策略探究

博客作为一种全新的网络交流载体,因其技术特色和功能深受大学生的喜爱。但是,大学生在使用博客平台时出现了不少问题。通过重构博客写作平台,以期实现大学生写作能力的真正提高。     

大学生思想政治工作中博客载体的实证研究

博客是对大学生进行思想政治教育的有效教育平台。通过对徐州师范大学230名大学博客使用情况的实证研究,认为,高校思政工作者的网络水平欠缺、网络法制建设相对滞后、媒介素养教育缺失,因此必须加强教育者的网络素养培训,加强网络法制建设,加强对学生的媒介素养教育。     

Study Abroad and Developing Reflective Research Practice Through Blogs: A Preliminary Study from the United Kingdom

Blogs are seen as an important strand of social networking and a significant way of disseminating research ideas and sharing knowledge and perceptions with new audiences via digital platforms. The use of blogs within off-campus activities, such as study abroad field visits, have the potential to enhance students’ social media skills and confidence about becoming active researchers in public through communicating field research experiences and reflections on what they see, learn, hear, and do. Via a semi-structured questionnaire administered to UK-based university students participating in a recent Criminology program field visit to Slovenia in Europe, we assess the extent to which blogging facilitates student reflective practice on their lived experiences of undertaking research in culturally unfamiliar environments. We show that blogging combined with the whole experience of international fieldwork has a “learning gain” for students exemplified through a willingness to engage in reflective practice, self-awareness, and transferable skills.     

A Community of Voices: Educational Blog Management Strategies and Tools

Web 2.0 offers a new type of interactive technology that may change the focus and approach of formal education in ways we are just beginning to comprehend. The new and unique qualities of Web 2.0 can be compounded in traditional educational settings by the fact that students often times have far more experience with and understanding the new technology than the teachers who are developing curriculums and setting educational goals. At the same time, Web 2.0 has become so pervasive in such a short time that it makes little sense to ignore it in educational settings. This current article suggests blogging may be the most “education friendly” of the new interactive tools. Blog posts offer students the opportunity to develop their own voice in the classroom, while commentary serves as an important reinforcement for self-reflection and continued participation. The difficulty for teachers is in understanding how to integrate, use and maintain course blogs so that they are a strong and positive educational force in the classroom. At the core of using blogs is the development of blog management strategies. Based on the authors’ use of blogs in undergraduate courses, the current paper outlines an approach to blog management.     

Independent inquiry and the undergraduate dissertation: perceptions and experiences of final‐year social science students

This article reports on findings from a research project that investigated the experiences and perceptions of final‐year social science undergraduates enrolled on a dissertation module in a post‐1992 UK university. The dissertation was designed to provide students with the opportunity to function autonomously and determine the content and focus of a major part of their study and assessment. Using data from interviews and questionnaires, the article explores the students’ lived experience of the dissertation as a form of independent learning and assessment, the challenges they encountered, and their perceptions of peer and tutor support. While students valued the autonomy, authenticity, and ownership they felt in relation to their dissertation, they also experienced considerable ­challenges, particularly in relation to ‘time’.     

Learning science by doing science: an authentic science process-learning model in postsecondary education

Research on understanding the full extent that an authentic science research experience engages students in how scientists think and act is sparse. ‘Learning-science-by-doing-science’ (LSDS) is an emerging self-guided process-learning model in postsecondary science education. It offers authentic science research opportunities that drive students to think and act like scientists. This study investigates the LSDS approach as a potential model for science learning at postsecondary level and aims to answer a main research inquiry – what are the students’ and teaching staff’s perceptions of students’ learning gains and the quality of their learning experiences in an authentic research environment within the LSDS model? To answer this question, data were collected from the students, alumni, instructors, teaching assistants and the program director via questionnaires, focus groups and interviews. Students’ and staff’s lived experiences and their perceptions on their authentic research experiences within the LSDS model were used to articulate the key attributes and stages of the LSDS model. The outcomes of this study can be used to help other science programs implement similar authentic research process learning approaches in their own contexts.     

Problem-based learning effectiveness on micro-blog and blog for students: a case study

Problem-based learning (PBL) is regarded as an effective learning strategy to enhance cognition not only in traditional learning but also in e-learning. In e-learning settings, blogs and micro-blogs can plausibly provide a platform to conduct PBL. Recently, most studies on blogs and micro-blogs have respectively probed satisfaction and learning effectiveness. However, little effort has been made to explore their effectiveness on learning. Therefore, this study explored an application of a PBL approach on a micro-blog and blog by seventh-grade students taking an information ethics course; in particular, the effect of a micro-blog and blog on student learning with different learning achievement levels. Moreover, results showed that the micro-blog had more effect on PBL for low achievement students compared to the blog. This study suggests that using a micro-blog for PBL is more appropriate for the sake of maximizing learning effectiveness, if generally considering students with different learning achievement levels.     

Cultivation of science identity through authentic science in an urban high school classroom

This study examined how a contextually based authentic science experience affected the science identities of urban high school students who have been marginalized during their K-12 science education. We examined students’ perceptions of the intervention as an authentic science experience, how the experience influenced their science identity, as well as their perceptions about who can do science. We found that the students believed the experience to be one of authentic science, that their science identity was positively influenced by participation in the experience, and that they demonstrated a shift in perceptions from stereotypical to more diverse views of scientists. Implications for science education are discussed.     

Serious social media: On the use of social media for improving students' adjustment to college

A considerable body of research indicates that social support plays an integral role in determining students' successful adjustment to college. Unlike previous research that has evaluated face-to-face support interventions that occur during students' first semester at college, the current study reports on a student-centered social media site designed to enhance students' perceptions of social support prior to their arrival on campus. Results indicated that site usage increased students' perceptions that they would have a diverse social support network during their first semester at college, even when controlling for other potent predictors. The importance of social support perceptions for college adjustment is detailed and the ramifications of the social media intervention are discussed.     

Evaluating multimodal literacies in student blogs

This research presents ways in which high school students used the multimodal and interactive affordances of blogs to create, organize, communicate and participate on an educational blog. Their actions demonstrated how plural modes of literacy are infiltrating digital environments and reshaping literacy and learning. Multimodal blogging practices of participants broaden the discourse about educational blogs to include an understanding of blogs as media‐rich platforms in which learners operate with plural modes of literacy to construct meaning, communicate and participate.     

“The Nation Stands Behind You”: Mobilizing Social Support on 38pitches.com

This research explored social support expressions to and for Boston Red Sox pitcher, Curt Schilling, in response to troubling events he disclosed on his blog, www.38pitches.com. An interpretive analysis of 514 comments posted by blog readers to Schilling's blog entries was conducted. The analysis revealed that, via their supportive postings, blog readers emerged as a mobilized support group who authenticated Schilling's identity as a sports media critic and active sports media participant while also cementing his legacy in Red Sox culture. The analysis suggests that blogs possess valuable public relations utility for professional athletes, particularly for those who have combative relationships with sports journalists, as social support is covertly obtained, enabling professional athletes to preserve “face” while simultaneously garnering support for their views.     

增强高校辅导员博客、微博影响力研究

辅导员博客,作为一种网络教育的有效主体,可以提升工作效果,加快高校学生思想教育的进度。本文重点研究的是辅导员博客、微博的发展和建立的必要性,同时,对如何最大化的发挥辅导员博客及微博的作用,进行了详尽的阐述。     

College in the media: the relationship between repeated exposure and college expectations

Media consumption can influence viewer perceptions and attitudes. Recent research on media’s effect on college students has failed to address gender differences. Using Mere Repeated Exposure Theory (traditionally used in marketing research), this study aims to answer three research questions regarding college media consumption and college perceptions: What types of fictional college media do college students consume? How does college media consumption differ by gender? How does fictional college media consumption relate to perceived college expectations? Results suggest that college students who consume high amounts of fictional college media are more likely to have positive attitudes towards partying and socializing in college. High consumers of college media, however, do not believe that college media influences their college perceptions. Men are more likely to socialize in college and are more aware than women that college media influences their college perceptions. Women are more likely to believe that college is difficult regardless of media consumption.     

新媒体时代高校思想政治教育面临的问题及思考

新媒体已是当今大学生学习和生活的重要工具和组成部分,为大学生的学习与生活提供了便捷条件。在新媒体环境下,外来文化的广泛传播、网络流行骚语、以网络作为获取信息方式的改变均对在校大学生的思想和行为产生深刻影响。高校大学生思想政治教育要充分了解博客、微博、微信、QQ、手机报和微讯等新媒体的基本特征,要善于利用新媒体技术手段,着眼于高校思想政治教育工作"提档升级"的优化,掌握怎样充分发挥新媒体优势的方式方法,思考如何进一步推进高校思想政治工作创新的问题,真正把"立德树人"这一高等教育的根本任务做实做好,力求成效。     

Developing Student Metacognition through Reflective Writing in an Upper Level Undergraduate Anatomy Course

Incorporating metacognitive strategies in the classroom helps students monitor and adjust their learning strategies throughout the semester, and helps students progress from novice to expert learners in a subject. Journaling (i.e., reflective writing) is one metacognitive task that allows students to contemplate and articulate their skill development as they learn a new subject. The research reported here examines the use of ‘blogs’ (i.e., online journals) in an upper level undergraduate human anatomy course. The blogs both facilitated development of students' metacognitive skills and provided researchers insight into student metacognitive process. Data were examined from 92 students from three successive semesters (spring 2010, 2012 and 2014). Each student reviewed 10 radiology online cases throughout the semester and then reflected on their understanding of anatomy and radiology in an online blog for each case. A total of 927 blogs were examined for this research. The researchers used a grounded theory approach to analyze the blog narratives and develop a codebook based on common themes. The 927 blogs yielded 11,082 statements that were coded with the codebook. As the semester progressed, the blog entries showed that students demonstrated greater self-confidence in their abilities to understand the subject matter, expressed greater enthusiasm for anatomy in general, and they improved their metacognitive skills. This research illustrates that reflective writing in an undergraduate anatomy course not only facilitates improvement in student metacognitive skills, but also provides the instructor with evidence how a student progresses from novice to more experienced learner in anatomy.     

基于社会媒体的群体知识建构方式的研究——以班级微群为例

随着基于web2．0技术的社会媒体的迅猛发展,尤其是在大学生中的广泛应用,如何能够更好利用其帮助学习者学习是很值得研究的课题。利用内容分析方法,通过分析学生在微博中的发表物,探讨了学生利用微博开展讨论的方式和知识建构的类型。研究表明学生在讨论过程中,主要还是采用分享、填加、协商等较为初级的建构方式,不过学生能够积极利用微博针对课上内容进行积极的讨论,并能发展他们对该问题的看法。本案例为使用社会媒体开展学习提供依据。