The Effect of Reflective Learning E-Journals on Reading Comprehension and Communication in Language Learning

1. The Effect of Reflective Learning E-Journals on
Reading Comprehension and Communication in
Language Learning
Presenter：Cara
Instructor ： Pi-Ying Teresa Hsu
Date ： Nov 17, 2014

2. Citation
Chang, M. M , & Lin, M. C. (2014). The Effect
of Reflective Learning E-journals on Reading
Comprehension and Communication in
Language Learning. Computers & Education,
71,124–132.
2

3. Contents
Results
3
Introduction
Literature
Review
Methodology
Conclusion
Reflection

4. Introduction
• Purpose of the study
• Research Questions
4

5. Introduction
Purpose of the study
The study investigated the effects of
using reflective learning e-journals and
how students used them to aid
learning.
5

6. Introduction
Research Questions
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7. Literature Review
• Reflection and Learning
• Reflective Journal Writing
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8. Reflection and Learning
Reflection “illuminates what has been
experienced” and provides “a basis for
future action”.
(Raelin, 2001, p. 11)
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9. Reflection and Learning
Reflection is seen as a concept, a thinking
activity or a active process wherein thought
is provoked by situations of uncertainty,
doubt, or inquiry.
(Dewey, 1933)
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10. Reflective Journal Writing
Students had positive tendency towards
reading with journal writing and it could
enhance reading teaching and learning.
(Siriyothin & Zhou, 2009)
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11. Reflective Journal Writing
Learning technologies had helped to
facilitate reflection for some students.
(Seale & Cann, 2000)
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12. Reflective Journal Writing
Computer-based scaffolds could be useful
in improving students’ learning outcomes
and eliciting higher level of reflection.
(Looi &Wu, 2012)
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13. Methodology
• Participants & Setting
• Materials & Instruments
• Procedure
• Ethical consideration
• Data analysis
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14. Participants & Setting
Methodology
104 college students in Southern Taiwan(98 sets of
data-complete; 6-incomplete)
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Freshman
Age: 19-20
At least 6 years for
studying English
Majors: social science,
agriculture,
management

15. Materials & Instruments
The Web-based Course
On the University Internet System (UIS),
students were able to read textual content
and e-mail the teacher whenever they had
questions and discuss course topics with
each other.
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16. Materials & Instruments
Reflective Learning e-Journals
An electronic journal was used in the study to
verify the findings from previous studies. Only
experimental group students have to submit.
16

17. Materials & Instruments
General English Proficiency Test (GEPT)
reading part
40 multiple-choice questions
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18. 5 According to the writer, the vets' role is important because
18
The authorities don't believe that cancer in dogs
is on the increase.
The information vets provide can help assess the
threat to humans.
Cancers are caused by the animals' exposure to
chemicals.
Vets can diagnose cancers in animals at an early
stage.
A
B
C
D

19. Materials & Instruments
Students’ Achievement Measure
Students’ learning achievement was evaluated
with 2 reading comprehension tests with 50
multiple-choice items.
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20. Materials & Instruments
Interview
Begin in week 10
10 to 12 students per week, interviews were
completed within 4 weeks.
Interviewer: How do you think the online
reflective learning journal help your
learning?
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21. Materials & Instruments
Questionnaire
2 questionnaires were given to students in the
experimental group.
(1) How do you usually complete the reflective learning
e-journal?
(2) How does the reflective learning e-journal help
your learning?
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22. Procedure
Within 15 weeks(start in week 4)
 Complete 1st journal during week 4
 Take 1st comprehension test in week 8
 Interview from week 10 to 13
 Collect all journals in week 16
 Take 2nd test, send questionnaires in week 17
 Respect in week 18
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23. Ethical consideration
Subjects participated in this study on a
voluntary basis.
Participants’ names, the information they
offered and data collected for analysis
were kept anonymous and confidential.
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24. Data Analysis
Data included:
 Comprehension tests,
 Interviews
 Questionnaires
All things were all identified by the
researcher through a constant-comparison
method.
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25. Results and discussion
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26. Results
Q1: Does the use of reflective learning e-journals
improve online learners’ language learning in terms
of content comprehension?
Group n M SD t df p
Control 50 74.52 10.18 2.02* 96 .046
Treatment 48 78.42 8.84
*p<.05
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27. Results
Q2: How do students perceive reflective learning e-journals
for language learning?
1. Interview
Interviewer: How do you think the online reflective learning journal
help your learning?
Student A: After journal writing, I understand better. Because….what
should I say? Let me see. I am able to understand the content
better.
Student B: I used a lot of vocabularies when writing journal. Because
of that, I can express my own opinion clearly and I can write more
well.
2. Questionnaire
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28. Results
Q2: How do students perceive reflective learning e-journals
for language learning?
Statements
1. I have more ideas to express and share with others
during the online discussion.
2. I have better content comprehension.
3. I have a deeper impression of the learnt vocabulary,
phrases, grammar…
4. I have better ideas of how to organize concepts and main
ideas
5. I have more opportunities to apply the learned
vocabulary, phrases, and grammar in the sentence
writing.
6. Through journal writing, I have a better understanding
of how much I have learned.
Frequency Percentage
15 31%
11 23%
9 19%
6 13%
4 8%
3 6%
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29. In sum up, the reflective learning
journal did help students’
language learning in different
aspects and ways.
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30. Conclusion
Reflective journal writing can lead to effective
learning, which refers to “deep learning, more
than short-term, rote memory work.” However,
there still have some unanswered questions in
the reflective learning e-journal.
Further studies could implement
different subjects with different levels of
language proficiency, and investigate the
relationship between students’ academic
achievement in different courses.
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31. Reflection
As a teacher:
- Motivates and guides students to use
more electronic journals in their
learning
- Suggests students to find the journal
writing to read
As a student:
- Takes more online courses as much
as possible
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