Too soon to fly the coop? Online journaling to support students’ learning during their Erasmus study visit

Abstract

Undergraduate students whose programme includes a full academic year on an Erasmus study visit require a range of support before, during and after their year abroad. This study focuses on the support provided by the home academic coordinator during the students’ period of study abroad. The research is based on a case-study which explores how the maintenance of an online journal can enhance students’ new learning experiences. The outcomes of this investigation are of interest at a pragmatic level to Erasmus coordinators and educational institutions whose programmes include a study visit or an internship. At a theoretical level, this study brings together a number of areas that have each been the subject of prior research but that so far have not been pulled together, particularly in the context of a study visit to a foreign country. The areas referred to include the benefits and challenges of rolling out educational online journals; the use of blogging in language learning; the design of rubrics as a form of feedback and the activity of reflective writing in an online environment. The findings and the discussion show how the online journal has added a positive dimension to the year abroad, particularly in the areas of communication and feedback, peer support, language learning and technology.