Creating Personal Learning Environments via Blogs

Abstract

Blogs are increasingly used in formal education to create personal learning environments, providing self-directed learners with more freedom, choice, and control over their learning. This paper will share findings of a study where students at the tertiary level were asked to commence blogs as a supplementary platform to engage in the learning of grammar where they could practise and learn specific grammar points shared by fellow course mates and instructors. The blogs also functioned as a learning diary where the students were asked to reflect on their use of grammar based on the weekly lectures and tutorials. A total of 20 year one students in the Foundation English course participated in this study. Data for the study was collected from the blog entries by the students and through in-depth interviews with them. The findings revealed that although the students were enthusiastic about engaging in the blogs, they are still not quite ready about personal learning environments.