Comparing traditional journal writing with journal writing shared over e-mail list serves as tools for facilitating reflective thinking: A study of preservice teachers
Abstract
To determine the conditions that would best encourage reflection in journal writing of preservice teachers in field-based reading internships, the degree of reflective content found in self-contained traditional journals was compared to the reflective content found in journal entries shared over e-mail list serves. Participants were 56 preservice teachers enrolled in reading internships in public schools operating in a variety of journal writing conditions in 1 of 5 semesters from fall 1999 through spring 2001. Results indicate that journals written under shared interactive e-mail conditions were significantly more likely to contain evidence of reflections than traditional journals. Reflections observed were also categorized into types described by Hatton and Smith (1995). Suggestions for implications for encouraging reflectivity during field-based internships in teacher education programs are presented.
Reference
Kaplan, D. S., Rupley, W. H., Sparks, J., & Holcomb, A. (2007). Comparing traditional journal writing with journal writing shared over e-mail list serves as tools for facilitating reflective thinking: A study of preservice teachers. Journal of Literacy Research, 39(3), 357-387. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10862960701613136
Journal
Journal of Literacy Research
Analysis
Is this article part of a larger project or series of studies?
no
Does this study draw on a large, preexisting data set?
no
Research Approach
- Qualitiative
- Quantitative
Geographic Setting
Institutional Context
Certification Level
Programatic Focus
- Elementary
- reading specialization
Research Location Context
- field-based methods course
- Reading and language arts methods course
Preservice Participants
- Undergraduates (university based program)
Preservice Sample Size
145
Duration of Data Collection
Data Sources
- email correspondence
- Reflective journals
Data Analysis Tools
Researcher Positionality
- inside (staying their own students)
Research Questions
"Do journals written through e-mail list serves contain more reflective thought units than journals written as paper-and-pencil journals in notebooks?"
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
"Are there qualitative differences in the type of reflective entries written in journals written through e-mail list serves when compared to journals written as paper-and-pencil journals in notebooks?"
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
"Are student or placement characteristics significantly related to the number of reflective thought units contained in student journals across both journal writing conditions?"
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes