ERIC Number: EJ1093413
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Apr
Pages: 28
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0735-6331
EISSN: N/A
Blog-Integrated Writing with Blog-Buddies: EAP Learners' Writing Performance
Asoodar, Maryam; Atai, Mahmood Reza; Vaezi, Shahin
Journal of Educational Computing Research, v54 n2 p225-252 Apr 2016
This article reports a mixed-method research probing the effect of utilizing a blog-buddy system on English for academic purposes learners' writing performance. Sixty Iranian undergraduate engineering students at Iran University of Science and Technology Virtual Campus participated in this study. Our analysis of the students' writings indicated that blog-integrated writing instruction accompanied with the implementation of a blog-buddy system resulted in a significant improvement in students' writing performance. Further, the results of an attitudinal survey revealed that students who received feedback from blog-buddies showed higher positive attitudes toward utilizing blogs for their writing classes. For further investigation, data were gathered through comments the participants left on the weblog and the forums, semistructured interviews, and teacher observations. Four themes emerged, which were used to come up with a framework based on the learner-centred approach. The framework integrates web-based trainings and learners' learning styles and fosters the learners' control of their learning experiences.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Student Journals, Electronic Journals, Web Sites, Collaborative Writing, English for Academic Purposes, Electronic Learning, Mixed Methods Research, Writing Achievement, Undergraduate Students, Engineering Education, Virtual Universities, Writing Improvement, Student Attitudes, Writing Attitudes, Semi Structured Interviews, Observation, Student Centered Learning, Web Based Instruction, Cognitive Style, Learning Experience, Integrated Learning Systems, Online Courses, Attitude Measures, Questionnaires, Likert Scales, English (Second Language), Language Tests, Mentors, Feedback (Response), Learning Motivation, Asynchronous Communication, Computer Mediated Communication, Progress Monitoring, Positive Attitudes
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Iran
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A