Yamauchi & Stout (2011) JALT 2011, Tokyo

1. Learning and growing with blogs
in EFL contexts
Mari Yamauchi - Chiba University of Commerce
Michael Stout - Toyo Gakuen University

2. “Teaching,
learning,
and growing
are indeed a
single, social
process”
Pederson, S. (2011). Scattered leaves. JALT 2011-
37th Annual International Conference on Language
Teaching and Learning & Educational Materials.
Retrieved from http://jalt.org/conference

3. Beyond Classroom walls

4. Challenges

5. Challenges
Limited computer
experience
(vis-à-vis cellphones)

6. Challenges
Negative feelings
towards learning &
using English

7. Using Moodle Forum (2010 Fall)

8. Students enjoy communicating in
English online (once they get used to it)
Very good idea
4%
Good idea
Don’t know 83%
13%
What do you think of
sharing information or opinions
in English online? (2B, N=24)

9. Students wanted more language help & exercise
What types of activities would you like to do What would you want from the
using Moodle? (2B, N=24) teacher? (1D+OPU, N=51)
14 14 30
9
16
6
4 9
3
5 4 3
Quiz:Vocab/Grammar Correct mistakes
REcommending movies/songs Comment on the content
Quiz: Listening/Reading Quick comment
Viewing resources Give marks
Free writing Quick grading
Recording talks Other

10. For some, using Moodle outside of class
was difficult or too much of a hassle
Was it easy Very#easy#to#use#
to use Easy#to#use#
Moodle? Not#sure#
(2B, N = 24) A#li;le#diffiult#to#use#
Very#difficult#to#use#
0%# 10%# 20%# 30%# 40%# 50%# 60%# 70%# 80%# 90%# 100%#
16"
14"
12"
Which would you 10"
like to use for 8"
6"
online discussion? 4"
2"
(2B, N = 24) 0"
Mixi" Twi-er" Email" Blog" Facebook" Moodle"Don't"know"

11. Keitai-compatible ways should be explored
Wish I could have used my phone! I don’t often use computers.
Websites incompatible with cellphones I don’t want to be asked for
are inconvenient. the password every time.
It would’ve been easier with a smartphone!
How about using cellphones for such
online activities?

12. Students’ computer experience (Oct. 2011)
Are you comfortable using How often do you use the
a computer? (N=214) Internet? (N=214)
4%
3% 1%
19% 26% 21%
27%
23%
51% 23%
Totally comfortable
Many times every day Every day
Comfortable
Often Sometimes
Not really comfortable
Very seldom Never
Not at all comfortable

13. Students’ preference of mobile phones
(Oct. 2011, N=214)
What do you use to access the Which do you use more often to
Internet? (Multiple Answers) send/read emails, a computer or
your mobile phone?
131 0%
9% 7%
111
82 82
74
84%
13
A school computer
My own computer
My family’s computer A computer
My keitai My mobile phone
My smartphone Use both equally often
Other Don’t use email

14. The Solution
• Ease of accessibility and use
(twitter, post by email)
• Meaningful links between:
• in- and out-of class activities
• in-classroom life and normal life
• Face-to-face or online activities for
focus-on-form

15. The Platforms

16. The Platforms

17. The Platforms

18. Pros

19. Pros
• Can post by E-mail
• Can subscribe to e-mail
updates
• Anyone can comment
• Google integration

20. Pros
• Can create a team blog
• Can make blog private
• Third party app
integration
• iPhone & Android apps
available

21. Cons
• Can’t comment on posts
using keitai
• Can’t edit posts using a
keitai
• Anyone can comment

22. Pros
• Can post by E-mail
• Can make group blogs
• Third party app
integration
• Can create custom
domain
• Can receive e-mail
updates

23. Cons
• Confusing new system
(Spaces?)
• Can’t edit posts using a
keitai
• Membership required
to comment
• Groups don’t work well

24. Pros
• 140 character limit
• Can post from keitais
and smartphones
• 3rd party app
integration (iOS5)
• Conversational
• Can use aliases
• Can easily delete posts
and repost using a keitai

25. Cons
• 140 character limit
• Must click on URL to
see photos & images
• Too much information
• Privacy & security

26. Blogging in Mari’s classes
Chiba University of Commerce

27. Posting by email
Hands on available
in a regular classroom

28. iPads for some hands-on (Since June)
At least 1 ipad /
3-4 students
desirable

29. Blog Posts In class activity
Blog post
A: What were you doing at 7 PM
yesterday? Grammar Exercise
B: I (am, was) eating dinner. (WS)
A: What (do, did) you eat?
B: I (have, had) pizza and fried noodle.

30. Grammar &
Conversation
Posting
Reading &
Interview/
In-
Survey
class activity
Focus on
form

31. Results

32. Accessibility Increased?
2010 Fall: 2011 Spring:
Was it easy to use Moodle? (2B, N = 24) Was it easy to post by email? (2B, N = 27)
8% 4% 10%
23%
25%
25% 23%
38% 43%
Very easy Easy Very easy Easy
Not sure A little difficult A little difficult Very Difficult
Very difficult

33. Accessibility Increased?
2010 Fall: 2011 Spring:
Was it easy to use Moodle? (2B, N = 24) Was it easy to post by email? (2B, N = 27)
8% wish
I 4% I could have 10%
23%
25%
edited my posts.
25%
23%
38% 43%
Very easy Easy Very easy Easy
Not sure A little difficult A little difficult Very Difficult
Very difficult

34. Participation Increased
400 2010 Fall (2B, N=24)
2011 Spring (2B, N=27)
300
40
200 30
20
100
10
0 0
Posts Assignements Posts/Contributer Posts/Topic

35. Using English - Fun & Challenging
Do you think blogging in What do you think of blogging in English?
English will help you improve (2B, N=27)
your English? (2B, N=27)
(%)
65.5
10%
7% 44.8
41.4
34.5
27.6 27.6
83%
I enjoyed reading others’ posts
I enjoyed writing my opinions/ideas in English
Yes
I found myself using English more often
No
It was difficult to write in English
Don’t know
It was difficult to read in English
I'm now feeling more comfortable using English

36. Language Help/Focus on Form wanted
Suggestions for better blogging
activities? (2B, N=27)
How did you like the way your posts 40 40 (%)
were used in class? (2B, N=27)
66.7 (%) 23.3
16.7
Mistakes to be corrected
23.3 23.3 Posts to be editable
More comments from teacher
10 Interactions to be increased
Good to learn how to say something I wanted to say
Easier to write something related to what was covered in class
Happy to have my posts used in class
Don’t want my posts used in class

37. More Active Participation In Class

38. More Active Participation In Class

39. My writing skills improved
through blogging during this
I feel I understand what it’s like to use
semester.
English in everyday life.
I’ve improved my English
I was happy that communication with my
through blogging so I want to
classmates increased through blogging.
do more next semester.
I felt uncomfortable blogging first but I
Blogging in English was enjoyed it later on as I got used to it.
challenging but fun.
It’d be great if we post whenever we
like, in addition to assigned tasks.

40. Blogging in Michael’s classes
Toyo Gakuen University, Nagareyama Campus

42. CALL
Room

44. Twitter

49. Issues

50. Thank you!