• GISELLE ANN D'SOUZA

The advent of the two year Bachelor of Education course introduced by the National Council of Teacher Education, India has been accompanied by an increased duration of school internship for student-teachers spanning over 21 weeks spread over 4 semesters. Trainees are expected to document their personal experiences and school activities in a reflective journal comprising of a log book set aside for the purpose. This exercise is intended to develop reflective thinking skills in the training teachers. However, due to monotony and lack of orientation to reflective thinking, journaling has deteriorated into a mechanical and routine procedure without fostering critical and analytical thinking skills in the student-teacher fraternity. The present study sought to explore the possible advantages of blogging in enhancing the skills of introspection, reflection and collaborative learning as compared to the prescribed technique of reflective journaling. The sample comprised of 31 student teachers of a private aided English medium teacher education college in Mumbai. It was carried out over a period of 11 weeks wherein, participants were expected to blog their responses to a weekly post relating to their personal teaching-learning experiences in school. This activity focused on guided reflection and was aimed at inculcating reflective thinking skills in trainees. Alongside, they also documented their daily experiences in a log book. A comparison of their skills developed at the end of the period was made using the t-test. Findings revealed the distinct advantages of blogging in overcoming the mental blocks students harbor towards reflective journaling.

Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), Blogging, Reflective Journaling, Student-teachers

"Interactive Blogs-Nurturing the Art of Introspecting, Reflecting and Collaborating in Student-teachers", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no.76-80, May-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1905F13.pdf

"Interactive Blogs-Nurturing the Art of Introspecting, Reflecting and Collaborating in Student-teachers", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no. pp76-80, May-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1905F13.pdf