Engaging Students through Blogs: Using Blogs to Boost a Course Experience

Authors

  • Zuhrieh A Shana Al Ain University of Science and Technology P.O.Box: 112612, Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates
  • Enas S Abulibdeh Al Ain University of Science and Technology P.O.Box: 20498, Al Ain United Arab Emirates

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v10i1.4240

Keywords:

education, blogs, thinking skills, e-tools, learning

Abstract


Globalization is irreversible and the Internet is increasingly used to connect people and share information worldwide. The proliferation of digital information allows us to make choices about how we gather information and use technology to enhance learning. This is especially true in an academic environment, where the Internet is often used as a tool to facilitate deeper learning. The focus of this study is to investigate whether and how to use blogs to boost student learning in a traditional learning environment where lecture based (didactic) instructional practices still prevailing. This paper will also look at Al-Ain University of Science and Technology (AAU) student perceptions of the benefits of blogs for enhancing college learning. To explore these issues, Blogging was introduced to students in the Internet Technology class. A combination of one hundred and ninety-nine graduate and undergraduate AAU students answered an online questionnaire exploring their perceptions of blogs as a learning tool. Quantitative and qualitative data was also collected through open-ended questionnaires, student journals and reports, and end-of-class e-portfolios. All statistical analyses were carried out with SPSS. Results indicate that blogs have the potential to empower and enhance student learning. Student response to using blogs in the course has been overwhelmingly positive.

Author Biography

Zuhrieh A Shana, Al Ain University of Science and Technology P.O.Box: 112612, Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates

Dr. Shana is an Associate Professor in Educational Technology at the Faculty of Education at Al-Ain University of Science and Technology (AAU), UAE. She was also the Deputy Dean of Student Affairs at AUU from 2010 till 2014. In the past five years, she conducted several researches in the field of educational technology; designed and developed educational software as a part of a Research Agenda for Educational Reform for Student Success in UAE. She possesses over 20 years of teaching, consulting, training and research experience in different academic institutions in USA, Saudi Arabia, Canada and the United Arab Emirates.

Downloads

Published

2015-02-21

How to Cite

Shana, Z. A., & Abulibdeh, E. S. (2015). Engaging Students through Blogs: Using Blogs to Boost a Course Experience. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 10(1), pp. 30–38. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v10i1.4240

Issue

Section

Papers