Learning and growing with blogs
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The document discusses using blogs and online discussion forums to extend English language learning beyond the classroom. It describes challenges students faced using the Moodle platform on computers and their preference for mobile phones. The solution involved using email and Twitter to post due to their accessibility from mobile phones. Students' participation increased when using these platforms and they found blogging in English to be fun and helpful for improving their language skills.
Learning and growing with blogs
- 1. Learning and growing with blogs in EFL contexts Mari Yamauchi - Chiba University of Commerce Michael Stout - Toyo Gakuen University
- 2. “Teaching, learning, and growing are indeed a single, social process” Pederson, S. (2011). Scattered leaves. JALT 2011- 37th Annual International Conference on Language Teaching and Learning & Educational Materials. Retrieved from http://jalt.org/conference
- 4. Challenges
- 5. Challenges Limited computer experience (vis-à-vis cellphones)
- 6. Challenges Negative feelings towards learning & using English
- 7. Using Moodle Forum (2010 Fall)
- 8. Students enjoy communicating in English online (once they get used to it) Very good idea 4% Good idea Don’t know 83% 13% What do you think of sharing information or opinions in English online? (2B, N=24)
- 9. Students wanted more language help & exercise What types of activities would you like to do What would you want from the using Moodle? (2B, N=24) teacher? (1D+OPU, N=51) 14 14 30 9 16 6 4 9 3 5 4 3 Quiz:Vocab/Grammar Correct mistakes REcommending movies/songs Comment on the content Quiz: Listening/Reading Quick comment Viewing resources Give marks Free writing Quick grading Recording talks Other
- 10. For some, using Moodle outside of class was difficult or too much of a hassle Was it easy Very#easy#to#use# to use Easy#to#use# Moodle? Not#sure# (2B, N = 24) A#li;le#diffiult#to#use# Very#difficult#to#use# 0%# 10%# 20%# 30%# 40%# 50%# 60%# 70%# 80%# 90%# 100%# 16" 14" 12" Which would you 10" like to use for 8" 6" online discussion? 4" 2" (2B, N = 24) 0" Mixi" Twi-er" Email" Blog" Facebook" Moodle"Don't"know"
- 11. Keitai-compatible ways should be explored Wish I could have used my phone! I don’t often use computers. Websites incompatible with cellphones I don’t want to be asked for are inconvenient. the password every time. It would’ve been easier with a smartphone! How about using cellphones for such online activities?
- 12. Students’ computer experience (Oct. 2011) Are you comfortable using How often do you use the a computer? (N=214) Internet? (N=214) 4% 3% 1% 19% 26% 21% 27% 23% 51% 23% Totally comfortable Many times every day Every day Comfortable Often Sometimes Not really comfortable Very seldom Never Not at all comfortable
- 13. Students’ preference of mobile phones (Oct. 2011, N=214) What do you use to access the Which do you use more often to Internet? (Multiple Answers) send/read emails, a computer or your mobile phone? 131 0% 9% 7% 111 82 82 74 84% 13 A school computer My own computer My family’s computer A computer My keitai My mobile phone My smartphone Use both equally often Other Don’t use email
- 14. The Solution • Ease of accessibility and use (twitter, post by email) • Meaningful links between: • in- and out-of class activities • in-classroom life and normal life • Face-to-face or online activities for focus-on-form
- 15. The Platforms
- 16. The Platforms
- 17. The Platforms
- 18. Pros
- 19. Pros • Can post by E-mail • Can subscribe to e-mail updates • Anyone can comment • Google integration
- 20. Pros • Can create a team blog • Can make blog private • Third party app integration • iPhone & Android apps available
- 21. Cons • Can’t comment on posts using keitai • Can’t edit posts using a keitai • Anyone can comment
- 22. Pros • Can post by E-mail • Can make group blogs • Third party app integration • Can create custom domain • Can receive e-mail updates
- 23. Cons • Confusing new system (Spaces?) • Can’t edit posts using a keitai • Membership required to comment • Groups don’t work well
- 24. Pros • 140 character limit • Can post from keitais and smartphones • 3rd party app integration (iOS5) • Conversational • Can use aliases • Can easily delete posts and repost using a keitai
- 25. Cons • 140 character limit • Must click on URL to see photos & images • Too much information • Privacy & security
- 26. Blogging in Mari’s classes Chiba University of Commerce
- 27. Posting by email Hands on available in a regular classroom
- 28. iPads for some hands-on (Since June) At least 1 ipad / 3-4 students desirable
- 29. Blog Posts In class activity Blog post A: What were you doing at 7 PM yesterday? Grammar Exercise B: I (am, was) eating dinner. (WS) A: What (do, did) you eat? B: I (have, had) pizza and fried noodle.
- 30. Grammar & Conversation Posting Reading & Interview/ In- Survey class activity Focus on form
- 31. Results
- 32. Accessibility Increased? 2010 Fall: 2011 Spring: Was it easy to use Moodle? (2B, N = 24) Was it easy to post by email? (2B, N = 27) 8% 4% 10% 23% 25% 25% 23% 38% 43% Very easy Easy Very easy Easy Not sure A little difficult A little difficult Very Difficult Very difficult
- 33. Accessibility Increased? 2010 Fall: 2011 Spring: Was it easy to use Moodle? (2B, N = 24) Was it easy to post by email? (2B, N = 27) 8% wish I 4% I could have 10% 23% 25% edited my posts. 25% 23% 38% 43% Very easy Easy Very easy Easy Not sure A little difficult A little difficult Very Difficult Very difficult
- 34. Participation Increased 400 2010 Fall (2B, N=24) 2011 Spring (2B, N=27) 300 40 200 30 20 100 10 0 0 Posts Assignements Posts/Contributer Posts/Topic
- 35. Using English - Fun & Challenging Do you think blogging in What do you think of blogging in English? English will help you improve (2B, N=27) your English? (2B, N=27) (%) 65.5 10% 7% 44.8 41.4 34.5 27.6 27.6 83% I enjoyed reading others’ posts I enjoyed writing my opinions/ideas in English Yes I found myself using English more often No It was difficult to write in English Don’t know It was difficult to read in English I'm now feeling more comfortable using English
- 36. Language Help/Focus on Form wanted Suggestions for better blogging activities? (2B, N=27) How did you like the way your posts 40 40 (%) were used in class? (2B, N=27) 66.7 (%) 23.3 16.7 Mistakes to be corrected 23.3 23.3 Posts to be editable More comments from teacher 10 Interactions to be increased Good to learn how to say something I wanted to say Easier to write something related to what was covered in class Happy to have my posts used in class Don’t want my posts used in class
- 37. More Active Participation In Class
- 38. More Active Participation In Class
- 39. My writing skills improved through blogging during this I feel I understand what it’s like to use semester. English in everyday life. I’ve improved my English I was happy that communication with my through blogging so I want to classmates increased through blogging. do more next semester. I felt uncomfortable blogging first but I Blogging in English was enjoyed it later on as I got used to it. challenging but fun. It’d be great if we post whenever we like, in addition to assigned tasks.
- 40. Blogging in Michael’s classes Toyo Gakuen University, Nagareyama Campus
- 42. CALL Room
- 44. Twitter
- 49. Issues
- 50. Thank you!
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