Collaborative Narratives: Collaborative learning in Blogosphere

Abstract

ABSTRACT Collaborative Narratives: Collaborative learning in Blogosphere by Jude Yew Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Victor Rosenberg From the dialogues between Plato and Socrates to modern day classrooms, narratives have had a well-established tradition of aiding the learning process. Similarly, there is also a rich body of literature to support the relationship between collaborations and learning where it is acknowledged that learning takes place best in groups. Furthermore, much research has been conducted on the use of collaborative technologies to aid the learning process. What has been less explored, however, is the intersection between these three areas: narratives, collaborative technologies and learning. There is great potential when these three concepts meet, and from their inter-relationship, the case for collaborative narratives to enhance the learning experience can emerge. This research explores the use Blogs as an application that is well suited for the development of a learning community. When aggregated through the use of syndication technology, student maintained Blogs form a community known as a Blogosphere. The study proposes that such a Blogosphere promotes the construction of a learning community where individuals are able to conduct reflective analysis, observe how others grapple with new information, interact with classmates and receive feedback from the instructor. The interaction with people and knowledge afforded by the use of the Blogosphere takes place through the use of narrative construction on both the individual and group levels. It is argued that this interaction through the use of narratives fosters both cognitive and social processes that influence both individual and group knowledge acquisition. This ability to construct and articulate knowledge collectively through the use of narratives is superior to learning new concepts individually and in the abstract. A study of a University of Michigan Business School class was undertaken with the notion of how a Blogosphere can be utilized to facilitate collaborative learning. This investigation will employ empirical methods of analysis to argue for the potential of group authored narratives as a means to convey information and to form knowledge.