Wikis and Blogs in Foreign Language Learning from the Perspectives of Learners

Rapidly developing information and communication technology has an increasing effect on the field of English language teaching. In this context wikis and blogs offer teachers and learners various forms of collaboration and cooperation, which have long been recognized as the ingredients of effective pedagogy (McLoughlin & Lee, 2007). The aim of this study is to investigate the learners' perceptions of using these collaborative and cooperative tools for foreign language learning. The participants of the study, 44 non-English major first-grade undergraduate students, used wikis and blogs in a blended course design in their one-semester compulsory English language education. The data were collected through a questionnaire with 44 participants and interviews with 15 participants. The results indicate that wikis and blogs raise some concerns along with the various advantages they provide. Replications of the study with students of different educational backgrounds and age levels in various contexts are likely to contribute to the field. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.