Social-Software-Portfolios im Einsatz

Abstract

The dissertation writing attends to the research of learning on-line with weblogs in pursuance of the e-portfolio method which is an increasingly emerging type of learning and presenting in the context of education for a number of years. Across several courses in „Applied Media and Communication Science“ at Ilmenau University of Technology three case studies were formed. Within these the managing of personal E-Portfolioblogs by students during a time period of nearly three years was evaluated. Based on specific questionings it was determined as an evaluation goal howthe self-directed connective learning which is associated there with can lead to corresponding success. Therefor especially the dimension section media literacy between the priorities of learning activity, knowledge acquisition and information / knowledge management was considered as well as further intervening variables e.g. effort and acceptance were took into account. In terms of content terminological principles were expressed at first, the usage of E-Portfolios in theory and praxis was described, basic approaches of media literacy were revealed as well as bringing them in the context of E-Portfolios and finally an extensive analysis on the state of research was grabbed. This went along with perceptions on a qualitative pre-study in form of five guided expert interviews. Constructing on this the main study then attended to the collection and evaluation of quantitative data via online surveys with the students on five points in time from an intra- and inter-individual perspective. As the most remarkable finding of the thesis it can be hold on that self-directed connective learning leads to a sustainable encouragement of media literacy which is reflected also in significant correlations with other segment dimensions or intervening variables. Furthermore there are potentials for an increasing learning activity, a rising knowledge acquisition and an improved information / knowledge management which have to be researched additionally however. Indeed, compared with this the emerging and constantly high effort as well as the necessary (self-) motivation can be identified as challenges in this learning method.