Interactive Technology for Enhancing Distributed Learning: A Study on Weblogs

Abstract

In this study, it was investigated whether, and to what extent, Web 2.0 technologies, actually Weblogs, can be a suitable instrument for enhancing the practice of distributed learning. In educational settings, which are based on traditional lectures many students begin serious study shortly before the exam. However, from previous empirical research, it is known that the practice of distributed learning is much more conducive to retaining knowledge than that of massed learning. A 2x2 factorial design (within – repeated measures) with pre-test and post-test in a real life setting was applied; the study lasted for the whole summer term 2007. Participants were N=28 computer science undergraduates of Graz University of Technology. We randomly assigned them to two groups of equal size: The experimental group given the Weblog treatment are referred to as Group W; whereas the control group with no access are referred to as Group C. Students of group W were instructed to use the Weblog for developing their paper and studying during the lecture and they were requested not to reveal their group affiliation. The results showed that performance scores of group W were significantly higher than that of group C. This demonstrates that Weblogs can be an appropriate instrument to supplement a classical lecture in order to enable deeper processing of information over a longer period of time, consequently resulting in enhanced learning performance.

Contributors

Andreas Holzinger

Michael D. Kickmeier-Rust

Martin Ebner

Conference

Publication date: September 2009

Publication date (Print): September 2009

Pages: 309-312

Affiliations

Research Unit HCI4MED

Medical University Graz

Auenbruggerplatz 2/V

A-8036 Graz, Austria

[phone]

Department of Psychology

University of Graz

Universitaetsplatz 2/III

A-8010 Graz, Austria

[phone]

WG Social Learning

Graz University of Technology

Steyrergasse 30

A-8010 Graz, Austria

[phone]

Article

DOI: 10.14236/ewic/HCI2009.37

Copyright statement: © Andreas Holzinger et al. Published by BCS Learning and Development Ltd. People and Computers XXIII Celebrating People and Technology, Churchill College Cambridge, UK

License:

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Conference name: People and Computers XXIII Celebrating People and Technology

Conference acronym: HCI

Conference number:

Conference location: Churchill College Cambridge, UK

Conference date: 1 - 5 September 2009

Conference sponsor: Electronic Workshops in Computing (eWiC)

Conference theme: Computers XXIII Celebrating People and Technology

Product

Product Information: 1477-9358BCS Learning & Development

Self URI (article page): https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.14236/ewic/HCI2009.37

Self URI (journal page): https://ewic.bcs.org/

Categories

Series title: Electronic Workshops in Computing