Learner Attitudes Towards a Tutor-Run Weblog in the EFL University Classroom

The purpose of this personal mini-research project is to investigate learner attitudes towards a weblog that I recently set-up and have been running for my classroom-based university EFL learners here in Japan. What follows will be my attempt to relate my experience as a first-time researcher: from formulating the research questions to selecting research methods and describing their deployment. I will then report on the outcomes, give a short analysis, and discuss what the entire process meant to me.

Campbell, Aaron Patric. OCN (2002). Articles>Education>Content Management>Blogging

Moving to the Public: Weblogs in the Writing Classroom

Given that students have access to the Internet, weblogs can easily replace traditional classroom uses of the private print journal. While weblogs are normally public, free tools such as Blogger can be used for private, expressive writing.

Lowe, Charles and Terra Williams. Into the Blogosphere (2004). Articles>Education>Content Management>Blogging

Use and Abuse of Reusable Learning Objects    

The term Learning Object, first popularized by Wayne Hodgins in 1994 when he named the CedMA working group 'Learning Architectures, APIs and Learning Objects,' has become the Holy Grail of content creation and aggregation in the computer-mediated learning field. The terms Learning Objects (LOs) and Reusable Learning Objects are frequently employed in uncritical ways, thereby reducing them to mere slogans. The serious lack of conceptual clarity and reflection is evident in the multitude of definitions and uses of LOs. The objectives of this paper are to assess current definitions of the term Learning Object, to articulate the foundational principles for developing a concept of LOs, and to provide a methodology and broad set of guidelines for creating LOs.

Polsani, Pithamber R. Journal of Digital Information (2003). Articles>Content Management>Instructional Design>Education

Real World XML: Using Content Management Systems in Higher Education Course Catalogs

CMS is revolutionizing the way higher education handle online content. So why are most universities still managing their course catalogs by hand? Join David Cummings for an in-depth look at how XML can improve a university beyond its website.

Cummings, David. IDEAlliance (2005). Articles>Content Management>Information Design>Education

Against Learning Management Systems

Learning Management Systems have dominated online education up until now, but must they be what we rely on in the future? Having found our way out of one box, must we immediately look for another? Can we imagine no other possibilities?

Gold, Matthew K. Lapland Chronicles, The (2009). Articles>Education>Content Management>Blogs

Web Content Management Systems in Higher Education  

A case study of a university-wide implementation of a web content management system at Gonzaga University.

Powel, Wayne and Chris Gill. Educause (2003). Articles>Content Management>Education>Case Studies