15 In addition, in learning language through blogs, the educators’ role is also
important. The blog is one of the technologies used in learning and teaching. The technology should not be separated from learning itself. The teachers have roles in
selecting the lesson objective, the method of learning, the evaluation, the feedback and also the follow-up activities for learning. The relationship between teachers
and technology directly and indirectly has also important roles in determining the success of the implementation of technology used in learning Venkatsatish, 2012,
pp. 53-54. Arena and Jefferson 2008 also add that teacher as an educator should support the students by giving the questions and comments as well as by doing
discussion together. The teachers also need to know further the use of features of blogs so that they can relate the use of blogs with students’ learning p. 3.
3. Writing Proficiency
In this research, it is also important to discuss the theories related to writing. It is because the main point of this research is about students’ perception on the
use of blogs in Basic Writing class. There are also some experts who discuss the theories related to the writing aspect.
Sampath and Zalipour 2010 say that writing is one of the parts in language learning and teaching. It is also an important part in the education field p.1.
According to Hyland 2003, writing is an activity which is learned, it is not taught. Therefore, its training is done personally. The activity of writing itself is a
way for someone to share personal meanings. The writing also emphasizes individual’s skills and power in constructing his or her own opinions and views on
16 the topic p. 9. Another expert says that writing is a skill which can be learned
and it is a hard work for almost everyone who learns it Longan, 1996, p. 12. Zamel 1982 also adds that writing is a process which contains its technique in it.
The technique of writing relates to the composition of writing such as creating, formulating and making perfect of one’s ideas. There is also revision in the
writing process in which the students learn it from the perspective that someone else can read their writing p. 195.
Grabowski 1996, p. 75 also states the definition of writing. Writing, as compared to speaking can be seen as a more standardized
system which must be acquired through special instruction. Mastery of this standard system is an important prerequisite of cultural and educational
participation and the maintenance of one’s rights and duties…The fact that writing is more standardized than speaking allows for a higher degree of
sanctions when people deviate from that standard as cited in Weigle, 2002, p. 4
B. Theoretical Framework
This research focuses on students’ perception on the use of blogs in Basic Writing class. In attempting to understand and discover the results of this study,
the researcher also needs to find the theories related to this topic’s keywords. They are perception, blog and Basic Writing.
Based on the theories discussed in the theoretical description, the researcher can see obviously that perception relates to someone’s feeling after he or she
experiences something Weisman, 1980. The perception is also not merely affected by someone’s interest, but also by the motivation, desires, personal
characteristics, and attitude that he or she has Vernon 1972; Robbins, 2005. The environment which surrounds her or him can also take an essential role in
