USING BLOGS TO FOSTER REFLECTIVE PRACTICE FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHING STAFF IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Recent studies suggest that blogs may promote reflective practice among educational users (West et al, 2005). This paper examines the adoption and implementation of the use of reflective blogs to support reflective professional development for participants in a Post Graduate Diploma in Third Level Learning & Teaching.This paper arises from an exploratory case study which examined the adoption and implementation of the use of reflective blogs to support reflective professional development for participants in a Post Graduate Diploma in Third Level Learning & Teaching.Consideration of the efficacy of the reflective blogs will include a preliminary examination of blog entries to determine the extent and depth of reflection, and feedback from participants on their personal experiences using blogs. The implications for the use of blogs as a medium to provide and promote critical reflection for teachers, with a focus on connection to praxis in the classroom, will be discussed.