Abstract:

Bologna is the frame for competence based learning already established in most European countries. Thus, the new European Higher Education Area is the actual scenario in which the students must assess educational and professional skills, being them the main actors in their own learning process. The competences they should develop along their way through undergraduate studies will confer a cross-curricular leadership, as well as oral and written abilities.

On the other hand, young people are immersed in an information society which provided them with tools to face the challenge of attempting to broaden their horizons and become global citizens. In this context, the access to information and communication technologies (ICT), may be one of the main advantages to harness their own skills and enhance their learning process.

A blog is defined as a type of website or part of a website, and are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. They are usually interactive tools and can be distinguished from other static websites. They were firstly implemented by Justin Hall in 1984. Since then, over 156 million public blogs are in existence (data updated 16 February 2011).

This project is focused on the construction of a student blog as a learning tool for the laboratory experiments carried out in the Organic and Medicinal Chemistry subjects, at Pharmacy Grade (University of Seville) in order to promote the development of relevant competences. From an educational perspective, the right atmosphere to communicate with other classmates or/and instructors was achieved. Furthermore, the self-production of laboratory experience-based videos that can be downloaded later from Youtube video website, leads to a remarkable input of the student in their own learning procedure, as well as facilitates the task of writing their personal laboratory-notebook.

References:
[1] Benito, A. y Cruz, A. (2005): "Nuevas claves para la docencia universitaria en el espacio europeo de educación superior ". Madrid: Narcea.
[2] Council of Europe higher education series Nº 4 (2006): "Recognition in the Bologna Process: policy development and the road to good practice". Council of Europe Publishing.
[3] a) Scott, P. 2001. The Blog. 2001;
http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis/eval/curriculum/ict/weblogs/.
b) Cebrián, J.L.Mi vida en un blog. 2007;
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/tecnologia/vida/blog/elpeputec/20071105elpeputec_1/Tes
[4] Wikipedia. Blog. http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog

Keywords:

Educational blog, tips for instructors and students, blogging software, free educational video, organic chemistry lab, medicinal chemistry lab.