Blogging as a Tool for Formative Assessment and Reflective Learning

Alvie Simonette Alip

University of the Philippines Open University, Philippines

 

Abstract:

The students’ ability to integrate concepts, perform specific skills, and reflect on their own learning are often more successfully measured using non-traditional or alternative assessments such as learning journals. “A learning journal is usually a vehicle for reflection” (Moon, 2003), and teachers can use journal writing to meet specific goals like polishing skills (Hopkins, 2010). The blog or web log is a type of Web page that is simple to create and to disseminate, and is used as a form of online journal (Mason & Rennie, 2010). Through an online interview of the faculty-in-charge (FIC), this paper describes the use of blogging in evaluating the Advance Ecology (BIO 260) students’ understanding on important ecological concepts, review on what they have learned, and develop their writing and analytical skills. Results showed that blogging can be used as an alternative tool for formative assessment and reflective learning, but generally entailed additional time factor for the students and the FIC.