Facilitating Students' Individual and Collective Knowledge Construction Through Microblogs

• In Event: 72.066 - Poster Session 16
  In Poster Session: 72.066-3 - Instructional Technology SIG Poster Session

Abstract

We analyze a microblog intervention. Students used microblogs to summarise text information that was shared on tablets and a whiteboard. Analysis focuses on the relation between individual preparations, participation in teacher-led whole class activities, and performance. The students (n=25) worked on the topic of democratic development in Europe prior to WWI. We used contrastive case analysis to trace four representative students’ trajectories of participation across classroom activities. There was variation between students activity that transcended discrete processes. Some students did not even use the microblogs. Interestingly, microblog use supported whole-class discussion and, thus, improved individual performance of all students. These data demonstrate how technology supports learning at the class level to support shared understanding despite individual differences in activity participation.

Authors

• Ingvill Rasmussen, University of Oslo

• Åste Hagen, University of Oslo