Exploring Perceptions and Experience of Educational Blogs in Higher Education of Bangladesh

Sabbir Ahmed Chowdhury ,Sanjida Akter Tanni ,Mohammad Salman Ibn Mamun

doi:10.7176/jep/11-14-07

Abstract

The purpose of the research was to explore perceptions and experience of educational blogs of the students of higher education. The study followed a mixed method research approach. Supporting the research approach, the study followed both quantitative and qualitative instrument for better understanding of the research problem. First an open-ended questionnaire was supplied for 160 students from different institutes and departments of University of Dhaka, followed by six semi-structured interview with the teachers and finally a FGD was also conducted with students. The study reveals that most of the students and teachers are familiar with blogs. Both teachers and students expressed that they can perceive the intensifying role of blog in teaching –learning process. In addition to this, students find Blogs as a trendy digital platform to exchange views through collaboration with teachers. Teachers perceived a positive view on it pointing that genuine blogs can help to develop creative platform for transferring contemporary views although their use of blog is not satisfactory. Different factors like inauthenticity of sources, inaccessibility to internet, unpreparedness and unwillingness of senior teachers to use blogs have been identified as challenges of using blogs in education arena. Keywords: Educational Blogs, Digital platform, Challenges DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-14-07 Publication date: May 31 st 2020

Highlights

Web 2.0 applications, including blogs, wikis, social networking, media sharing, podcasting, etc. provide opportunities for shared content and resources, self-directed learning, collaborative learning, ubiquitous and lifelong learning
Most of the students think that blog based learning is a new idea for interaction and sharing knowledge, they perceived it as a “helpful” idea for updated information and knowledge
VI.Conclusion Using a blended learning philosophy, Blog has the capacity to integrate three categories of education-Formal, NonFormal and informal in the context of higher education and it can diversify students learning area beyond traditional classroom settings appropriately modified blogs enable students to acquire knowledge and skills whether they are in home or in personal environment

Summary

Introduction

Web 2.0 applications, including blogs, wikis, social networking, media sharing, podcasting, etc. provide opportunities for shared content and resources, self-directed learning, collaborative learning, ubiquitous and lifelong learning. Web 2.0 applications, including blogs, wikis, social networking, media sharing, podcasting, etc. Provide opportunities for shared content and resources, self-directed learning, collaborative learning, ubiquitous and lifelong learning. Web applications and web blogs are part of Web2.0 technologies which are experiencing emerging trend in higher education (Halic, Dee, Paulus, & Spense, 2010). Instructors can use blogs in blended and online learning to facilitate some strategies: posting student work, exchanging hyperlinks, fostering reflective approaches to educational genres, forming and maintaining knowledge communities (Oravec, 2003)

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