Title: Using blogs to support participative learning in university courses

Authors: Alessandra Agostini, Giorgio De Michelis, Marco Loregian

Addresses: Dipartimento di Informatica, Sistemistica e Comunicazione, Universita degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, viale Sarca 336–14, 20126 Milan, Italy. ' Dipartimento di Informatica, Sistemistica e Comunicazione, Universita degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, viale Sarca 336–14, 20126 Milan, Italy. ' Dipartimento di Informatica, Sistemistica e Comunicazione, Universita degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, viale Sarca 336–14, 20126 Milan, Italy

Abstract: In this paper, we present our experience with a blog as support for our design-oriented courses at the University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy. The experience has been very satisfactory, showing a quantitative and qualitative improvement in students| participation in the learning experience. By adopting the consolidated viewpoints of Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) and Communities of Practice (CoPs) researches to interpret the results of our experience, we aim to underline the appropriateness of blogs and their most relevant features in supporting collaborative, participative learning.

Keywords: blogs; weblogs; learning communities; collaborative learning; participative learning; social learning; communities of practice; CoPs; computer-supported cooperative work; CSCW; web based communities; virtual communities; online communities; higher education; universities; university courses; Italy; student participation; collaboration; cooperation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWBC.2009.028087

International Journal of Web Based Communities, 2009 Vol.5 No.4, pp.515 - 527

Published online: 04 Sep 2009 *

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