Conducting Online Posting Activity on a Social Networking Site (SNS) to Replace Traditional Learner Diaries

Conducting Online Posting Activity on a Social Networking Site (SNS) to Replace Traditional Learner Diaries

Noor Saazai Mat Saad, Melor Md Yunus, Mohamed Amin Embi, Mohamad Subakir Mohd Yasin
Copyright: © 2014 |Pages: 20
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-4666-5051-0.ch025
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Abstract

This case examines online posting activity by international students in Malaysia. The aim of the case is twofold, where it provides a platform for the students to practice their writing skills and a way to gather data for a bigger project, which is a research project into their English language learning experiences. The issues revolved around a string of decisions made before embarking on the case and challenges faced in running and maintaining the case. They are dissected and presented in two stages and two phases. Decisions were made and challenges were solved in line with the two aims of the case by considering extant literature and good research practice.
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Setting The Stage

This section provides a discussion of the stage before we present the case. It includes reasons for replacing the traditional learner diaries with online posting activity, the prevalence of online posting activity in teaching and learning today, and the description of the students involved.

Utilizing learner diaries as a data collection method is commonly done in studies focusing on students' perceptions, learning process, and language learning strategies for example Hyland (2004), Halbach (2000) Zamri (2004), Huang (2005), and Rao and Liu (2011). Research gurus of second language learning like Nunan (1992) and McDonough and McDonough (1997) state that in language learning research, collecting diary entries is one of the best ways to gather data. It is said to be in the category of ‘first-person case studies’ (Bailey, 1991, p. 60).

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