Pre-service English Language Teachers' Learning Experiences with E-portfolios for Development and Growth
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Date
2010-07
Authors
Ahsan Khan, Mahbub
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Abstract
In spite of apparent difference, language and literature are interrelated entities
and its effective use can facilitate language learners' development and growth. In
Malaysia, at the beginning of new millennium such policy was integrated to boost up
the deteriorated standards of ESL students. But, researchers argue that pre-service ESL
teachers who came across this initiative are defecating in several fundamental
competencies. However, e-portfolio has become a frequent topic of discussion in the
contemporary teacher education contexts and considered as the single most persuasive
innovation to foster pre-service teachers' tangible development and growth over time.
Despite of that, research on e-portfolio is sparse in Malaysia; particularly it has never
been explored in pre-service teacher education context. Hence, this study was initiated
focusing on three core issues; (1) pre-service ESL teachers' perception toward eportfolios,
(2) its contributions in their development and growth and (3) the challenges
of creating e-portfolios. Fifty five pre-service ESL teachers participated in this study
who were majoring in TESOL and enrolled in the course PET301 {Teaching of English
through Literature) at the second semester (2008/2009 academic year) in USM. As a
course-requirement, participants employed Google Group as online platform and
created individual e-portfolios, posted six weekly journals in line with the course
contents, and shared ideas through reflective practices; A lecture session was arranged
at the beginning of the semester aiming to orient them with the concept and demonstrate
the procedures of creating e-portfolio. The course instructor played the role of Emoderator
when participants were making wrong conceptualization or deviating from
the main discussion or even when decision-making was required in debatable issues.
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Keywords
Pre-service English Language Teachers' Learning Experiences