The Use of Weblogs as a Tool to Support Collaborative Learning and Reflective Practice in Third-Level Institutions

Weblogs can be used as a tool for learning support, providing additional features that are lacking in many Learning Management Systems (LMSs). This research aims to demonstrate that weblogs can enhance the learning experience by allowing students to reflect on their learning, and by allowing students to easily collaborate with their tutors and with one another. Laurillard’s conversational framework is used a basis for describing how weblogs should be incorporated into the existing learning environment. In an initial study, students set up weblogs and created a weblog post each week over a 10-week period. Analysis of this study has begun, and preliminary results show that the use of weblogs with RSS (Rich Site Summary) helps to reduce tutor workload in comparison to the use of a Learning Management System, and helps to increase student involvement in learning.