Perception and Benefits of Writing Personalized Weekly e-Learning Journals and the Effect on University Students’ Academic Self-efficacy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11575/ajer.v67i4.69349Abstract
Academic self-efficacy is an essential element for effective and engaging learning. In order to improve academic self-efficacy, students need to engage in regular and effective self-reflection to form realistic beliefs about their own academic capabilities. However, students may not be motivated to sustain effective self-reflection. Suitable tools are needed to assist students to self-reflect effectively. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of writing personalized weekly e-learning journals on students’ academic self-efficacy, the perception of its usefulness, and how it has helped students improve their academic self-efficacy. Multiple data collection methods were used in order to provide data for better explanations on the causality of the dependent and independent variables. Fifty-four students studying a degree program wrote personalized weekly e-learning journals over a ten-week period. Pre-tests and post-tests on their academic self-efficacy were administered in study week one and eleven respectively. The personalized weekly e-learning journals contained personalized prompts. The purposes of these prompts were not only to scaffold students to self-evaluate and self-reflective effectively but also to collect weekly time series data on academic self-efficacy and perceived usefulness in writing these journals. The post-test scores and time series data showed that the academic self-efficacy and the perceived usefulness of writing e-learning journals over the intervention period have improved. Writing personalized weekly e-learning journals has motivated the students to self-evaluate regularly, sustain their self-reflection, and promote positive academic self-efficacy. This study highlighted the benefits of writing personalized e-learning journals.
Key words: academic self-efficacy, learning journals, self-reflection, higher education, time series
L'auto-efficacité académique est un élément essentiel pour un apprentissage efficace et engageant. Afin d'améliorer leur auto-efficacité académique, les étudiants doivent s'engager dans une autoréflexion régulière et efficace pour se forger des convictions réalistes sur leurs propres capacités académiques. Cependant, les étudiants peuvent ne pas toujours être motivés pour mener une réflexion personnelle efficace. Des outils adéquats sont nécessaires pour aider les étudiants à s’engager dans une autoréflexion efficace. Les objectifs de cette étude étaient de déterminer l'effet de la rédaction de journaux hebdomadaires personnalisés d'apprentissage en ligne sur l'auto-efficacité académique des étudiants, la perception de l’utilité de cet exercice et la manière dont elle a aidé les étudiants à améliorer leur auto-efficacité académique. Plusieurs méthodes de collecte de données ont été utilisées afin de fournir des données permettant de mieux expliquer la causalité des variables dépendantes et indépendantes. Cinquante-quatre étudiants suivant un programme menant à un diplôme ont rédigé des journaux hebdomadaires d'apprentissage en ligne personnalisés sur une période de dix semaines. Des pré-tests et des post-tests sur leur auto-efficacité académique ont été administrés respectivement lors de la première et de la onzième semaine d'étude. Les journaux hebdomadaires d'apprentissage en ligne personnalisés contenaient des messages-guides personnalisés. Ces messages avaient pour but non seulement d'aider les étudiants à s'auto-évaluer et à réfléchir efficacement, mais aussi de recueillir des données hebdomadaires sur l'auto-efficacité scolaire et l'utilité perçue de la rédaction de ces journaux. Les résultats du post-test et les données chronologiques ont montré que l'auto-efficacité académique et l'utilité perçue de la rédaction de journaux d'apprentissage en ligne se sont améliorées pendant la période d'intervention. La rédaction de journaux hebdomadaires d'apprentissage en ligne personnalisés a motivé les étudiants à s'auto-évaluer régulièrement, à soutenir leur autoréflexion et à promouvoir une auto-efficacité académique positive. Cette étude a mis en évidence les avantages de la rédaction de journaux d'apprentissage en ligne personnalisés.
Mots clés : auto-efficacité académique; journaux d'apprentissage; autoréflexion; enseignement supérieur; série chronologique
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