Using blogs to support participative learning in university courses. (8th September 2009)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Agostini, Alessandra; De Michelis, Giorgio; Loregian, Marco
• Is Part Of: International journal of Web based communities. Volume 5:Number 4(2009)
• Page Start: 515
• Page End: 527
• Publication Date: 2009-09-08
• Subjects: blogs -- weblogs -- learning communities -- collaborative learning -- participative learning -- social learning -- communities of practice -- CoPs -- computer-supported cooperative work -- CSCW -- web based communities -- virtual communities -- online communities -- higher education -- universities -- university courses -- Italy -- student participation -- collaboration -- cooperation; Online social networks -- Periodicals; Social media -- Periodicals; World Wide Web -- Periodicals; 302.30285
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-8394

Abstract

In this paper, we present our experience with a blog as support for our design-oriented courses at the University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy. The experience has been very satisfactory, showing a quantitative and qualitative improvement in students' participation in the learning experience. By adopting the consolidated viewpoints of Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) and Communities of Practice (CoPs) researches to interpret the results of our experience, we aim to underline the appropriateness of blogs and their most relevant features in supporting collaborative, participative learning.