Using 'e-diaries' to evaluate he students' personal experiences of their learning environments

This campus-based UK University has been at the forefront in introducing an e-learning environment for its students and has invested strongly in technology to support teaching and learning, as well as providing for the students' social networking. Earlier evaluation studies pointed to a high level of student enthusiasm for accessing their learning, both within and outside the traditional timetabled hours. This has led to a diverse student culture where learning is accessed 24/7. This paper presents recent research undertaken by staff working in the Centre of Excellence for Learning and Teaching in Blended Learning, specifically into the use of video or e-diaries by students for supporting reflection on their own learning. It reports on two projects which used this technology to allow students to record personal opinions of their learning environments and experiences. Each student produced their own 'e-diary' (electronic diary) for a period of between five and seven days. They had the choice of three media for recording their week of learning: video cameras, voice recorders and weblogs. They were invited to comment on different aspects of e-learning provision at the university, and also on their lecturers' use of the university's MLE, called StudyNet, to support their learning experiences. While the number of participants in the study was small, the content of their diaries was intended to provide a snapshot of the student experiences of blended learning and thus an insight into their course and studying behaviours. Academic colleagues were particularly pleased with the opportunity for this unique style and range of feedback available from students.