Assessment of Online Reflections: Engaging English Second Language (ESL) Students

Autor/inn/en	Birch, Dawn; Volkov, Michael
Titel	Assessment of Online Reflections: Engaging English Second Language (ESL) Students
Quelle	In: Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 23 (2007) 3, S.291-306 (16 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1449-5554
Schlagwörter	Interpersonal Relationship; Constructivism (Learning); Socialization; Computer Mediated Communication; Student Attitudes; Distance Education; Online Courses; Interaction; Teaching Methods; English (Second Language); Second Language Learning; Cooperative Learning; Surveys; Cognitive Development + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Interpersonal relation; Interpersonal relations; Interpersonelle Beziehung; Zwischenmenschliche Beziehung; Socialisation; Sozialisation; Computerkonferenz; Schülerverhalten; Distance study; Distance learning; Fernunterricht; Online course; Online-Kurs; Interaktion; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Kooperatives Lernen; Survey; Umfrage; Befragung; Kognitive Entwicklung
Abstract	Online discussion boards are being used increasingly by tertiary educators as a tool for encouraging greater student interaction and developing learning communities. In particular, educators who have adopted a learner centered, socio-constructivist approach to teaching have sought to facilitate collaborative learning in which students reflect upon and share their experiences and perspectives, and construct knowledge together through developing shared meanings. This paper presents the findings of an electronic survey of the perceptions of 70 distance education EFL and ESL students concerning a compulsory assessment item involving contribution to an online course discussion board. The study revealed that the majority of the students enjoyed the assessment item and agreed that posting to the online course discussion board had allowed them to achieve a range of cognitive and social learning outcomes, as well as to develop some important graduate skills. In particular, ESL students reported the benefits of posting to the discussion board in terms of sharing their experiences with others and reducing the feeling of isolation. Further, when considering social outcomes, ESL students perceive the discussion board provided them with an opportunity to meet and develop a closer relationship with other students in the course and encouraged them to keep up with their studies. (Contains 6 tables.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education. Ascilite Secretariat, P.O. Box 44, Figtree, NSW, Australia. Tel: +61-8-9367-1133; e-mail: info@ascilite.org.au; Web site: http://www.ascilite.org.au/ajet
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10