STUDENTS' PERCEPTIONS IN A TEACHING BLOG EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION

This study reports the results of a qualitative approach to student assessments of a teaching weblog experience during four academic years. A categorization and inductive codification process of the data (coming from the students' comments) was carried out. Five categories were identified: the blog as an innovative learning tool, the blog as a flexible and hypertextual organizational resource, the blog as a cooperative learning environment, the blog as a changing factor in the teaching role, and proposals for improvement. The results show that students have a favorable opinion in terms of using the blog in the subject, as it is considered as a motivational resource which allows learning in greater depth of the subject, due to a variety of links to additional external learning resources and the interaction and communication possibilities. The blog's permanent availability brings the subject close to the students and their specific learning needs, encouraging communication between teachers and students and among students also.