Facilitating learning and teaching by computer-mediated communications (CMC) : A reflective experience of pre-service student-teacher

The purpose of this study was to investigate reflective experience of student teachers, where computer-mediated communication (CMC) were used in an online, web-assisted learning environment to support traditional face-to-face teaching. Participants in a teacher education programme at certificate level, were asked to reflect and report their learning experience at each lecture. They were required to spent several minutes to reflect what they had learnt before each lesson ended, and then reported in the electronic discussion forum with their fresh memories. It was not surprising different participants would have different perspectives in the lesson. These would serve different purposes: (1) opportunities were provided to participants to consolidate what they had learnt during that lesson immediately by reflection. (2) All learning experiences were documented in text and message form. Each participant would share their particular concerns to what they experience in that lesson, and remind one another the key learning focus. (3), Interaction occurred and participants themselves initiated new discussion topics, after careful and thorough reflection to their own learning experience. Unlike traditional approach that lecturers actively posts several questions and passively waiting for participants' responses.