Preservice teachers’ Web 2.0 experiences and perceptions on Web 2.0 as a personal learning environment

• Published in: Journal of computing in higher education Vol. 32; no. 2; pp. 234 - 260
• Main Authors: Lim, Jieun, Newby, Timothy J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.08.2020; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Behavioral Objectives; Education; Educational Environment; Educational Technology; Higher Education; Learning; Learning and Instruction; Mixed methods research; Motivation; Preservice Teachers; School environment; Student Attitudes; Student Experience; Students; Web 2.0; Web 2.0 Technologies; Personal learning environment (PLE); Students’ perceptions; Web 2.0; Mixed method research; Technology integration; Use of Web 2.0 tools
• ISSN: 1042-1726; 1867-1233
• DOI: 10.1007/s12528-019-09227-w

To explore students’ use of Web 2.0 tools and their perceptions of using Web 2.0 as a personal learning environment (PLE), quantitative surveys (n = 113) and interviews (n = 12) were conducted. In the survey, we identified that students already have familiarity with using Web 2.0 tools, as well as a positive attitude toward using Web 2.0 for learning. However, in the interview, students referenced challenges with using Web 2.0 in their PLE. The results imply that there are gaps between students’ perceived comfort and familiarity with using Web 2.0 tools and their readiness to be an active and successful designer for Web 2.0-based PLEs. This research also identified that there may be other factors influencing students’ building PLEs with Web 2.0 tools including the knowledge of different tools, the abilities of identifying learning objectives and learning styles, access to the tools, motivation, and knowing how to locate the correct information through students’ interviews.